Stone Spears, and Group Aggro.

[Morgant]

With the removing of Wind blades, the non-metal weapon alternative, and with Axes being pretty useless as weapons with the new combat system, this leaves a gap in weapons and fighting. Well, thinking about the setting of this game, the stone axes, metal armor, stone buildings, and other such things, why not make a Stone spear?
It would cost something like a Branch, 2 String and a Stone to make, and be unlocked with hunting.
Like Unarmed does right now (For some reason), Spears would have Pierce Damage. They could also provide a slight range advantage, maybe being able to strike from a tile away, making them useful for keeping a giant, angry bear off of you, or keeping PUMPKIN THE MAGNIFICENT ARMORED BEAST from lopping your head off with an axe, for you newbies.
I can also see it's use in strategies, with say, a row of villagers using block while holding shields, while the ones directly behind them are using spears to attack the opponent. Plus, this would make a viable option for towns wishing to defend themselves against a large armored opponent, they might not be able to take the attacker down alone, but could swarm over them as a group and due to the pierce damage of spears, have a chance to take him down.
The only problem with that is that currently, say PUMPKIN THE MAGNIFICENT ARMORED BEAST comes into lolbnewbieville, and attacks someone. The one that got attacked can fight back sure, but the rest of the villagers have to just sit back and watch as he tears their comrade a new rectum, unless one of them has Rage, which not everyone invests in, when there's swimming, farming, hunting and such to raise, so I also believe that attacking a villager should make you an enemy of said village for a time, letting them attack as a group if you were careless or reckless enough to wander into their village to attack someone.

[Chakravanti]

Spears were a rather essential part of the era's hunting arsenal. I think someone mentioned that leverage tool for spear throwing too.

[warrri]

The only problem with that is that currently, say PUMPKIN THE MAGNIFICENT ARMORED BEAST comes into lolbnewbieville, and attacks someone. The one that got attacked can fight back sure, but the rest of the villagers have to just sit back and watch as he tears their comrade a new rectum, unless one of them has Rage, which not everyone invests in, when there's swimming, farming, hunting and such to raise, so I also believe that attacking a villager should make you an enemy of said village for a time, letting them attack as a group if you were careless or reckless enough to wander into their village to attack someone.

Imho this should be handled differently. The guy who got attacked can convince other townmembers nearby to initiate combat even without rage, based on his chasrima vs the enemies <insertrandomstat>. So to speak he convinces you that this enemy is a weakling and you dont have to be afraid to attack him. This should of course not leave scents of the villagers.

[Chakravanti]

Hmm...I'm not sure tying it to village mechanics is a good thing. Otoh, tying it to cha doesn't help the guy being attacked. THe game as it is favors attacking people weak than oneself. Perhaps the cha of the assistant+victim vs. Assailant's CHA.

Otherwise I like it Warri.

[Morgant]

Sounds like a good idea, Warri. Or alternately the Chieftain could give out the order to attack, based on his charisma, a Call to arms for the villagers.

[springyb]

A weapon bridging the jump from stone axe to a bronze sword would be nice. If not a spear (since they'd need to make a bunch of new attacks for one) maybe some sort of Bone Knife made from a bone and a branch or something? Have it work like a sword except limit it to "sting" only. It could also be used to skin pelts, which would make it easier for starting hunters to skin better Q pelts because getting higher Q bones is easier then getting higher Q stones.

[theTrav]

I think someone mentioned that leverage tool for spear throwing too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woomera_(spear-thrower)

I doubt these are thematically appropriate though...

I want spears

KILL IT WITH POINTY STICKS!

[fedorstrel]

Wow. War boomerangs. I love it more than slings.

[sabinati]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlatl

[spectacle]

Now that boars are aggressive, it really raises the need for an effective, low-tech melee weapon like a spear.

I suggest having the spear be made from a board rather than branches, that way it's possible for noobs to have access to materials that can slightly improve the quality of their spears.