Hello again Belegarth forumites! I have been lurking for the last several days reading up on as much spear fighting information that I can find. One thing I notice is all the guys I see on YouTube and such fighting with 8 foot spears don't have back shields on.
A little history, I have been rolling sword and board with a standard Edhellen round shield and a long mace since Armageddon 2012, and I've been loving it. However, three weeks ago at practice, I was able to use a good friend's six foot glaive. Being a scrawny noodle-armed 135lb sissy, I can't swing hard enough reds, so I was using it like a heavy little spear. And it was outrageously fun! I loved it, and so I think I have fallen in love with the idea of being a spearman.
Skip forward in time a bit, last week I got my hands on an 8 foot band pole, which I immediately turned into a 4" diameter low profile spear. Now that I have it, I've been looking up all kinds of advice and tips that I can find with spears. Sadly, there isn't very much out there, but from what I see, nobody wears big back shields. Even Batman, a guy I have a ton of respect for after watching him spear it up at Armageddon, never once wore a back shield.
That was my plan, in my mind, to wear my standard Edhellen round shield across my shoulders. That way when I stand stabbing at people, they have a harder time hitting me on that side. Is that a bad idea? I don't know how it could be, but I don't see anyone else doing it, so I am worried there might be a very good reason I am overlooking.
One final thing. Another point that I see a lot, especially on these forums, is that learning how to be a good spearman is a lot of hard but rewarding work. I read that it really isn't recommended for newbs like me, but I had so much fun using my friend's that I really want to try. Does anyone have any final tips or tricks for operating one of these that I could find useful? Techniques or just different ways of thinking or even outlooks on the attitude of a spearmen, I am like a sponge soaking up whatever information I can find.
I really appreciate anything and everything. Thanks in advance!