Dodging - have we been doing it wrong?

[MarcoSkoll]

That might be true against someone closing inside the arc (which the reach bonus would apply for), but versus someone who's already closed in, would you really want to draw your weapon back to try and sweep and them?

As far as I am concerned, any counter technique should be represented by the polearm wielding character making use of the counter-attack and dodge rules to keep their opponent at arm's length. There are any number of counters and counter counters, but they should be left to the dice to decide. A "this is how the technique would work in a best case scenario" description is not a fair substitute for randomness.

In any case, polearms are less effective if you haven't got the room to use them to their fullest, and if your character hasn't rolled well enough to keep his opponent back, then he should be penalised.

[Mordenkenain]

Yes, I have no issue with the dodging/parrying rules as presented, and the example I presented was merely to make the point of; if the character knows what they are doing, they can still do things to fight, they are not completely stuffed, as seemed to be being suggested. It was not intended to be a 'special case' or something, I was merely refuting

"you realistically can't do anything to me here while I bap you on the head"