help weapon pike->
'...this is an infantry spear ranging 16 to 22 feet in length...'
help weapon short sword->, oh wait, it is _short_ sword.
Must be somekind of magic, well, a very powerfull teleportation
magic indeed, as the user of sword can hit me before i can react
he can cover a damn _5 meters_ distance to reach me.
Doesnt really matter that ive got few comrades with spears
and other long-range meele weapons.
Doesnt matter that my spear weights about same as my arm and
handling it is rather simple.
Doesnt matter that i dont really need to swing it, i (we)
can simply adjust the directiony with tiny muscle movement and
thrust.
Doesnt matter that i dont really have to thrust, any target coming
towards me at such speed would simply impale himself.
Aaaah, now that ive got few times i can attack too, ha, that must be
it, ive grasped the very wrong end of the spear.

Mmmkay, bullshit aside.
There are many aspects when it comes to meelee combat, really.
Are you going to implement all of those?
mention hitting just from backrow
then retreat as it approaches (repeat n times)
dude with rusty knife, unless i would drop it and use fists
space, not to mention attacking with it
riposte, get a clue

So far, the only effects of the tune are
to see that enemy status makes me to swing my arms like windmill)
(imho locs sucked before, now you could just delete them)
always hit same tank twice)
particular case the boon gives more to already powerfull players,
the harder you hit, the higher the bonus) really suits
all those words of equality and playability for boonless.

So, as we see, the tune has introduced one single aspect of weapon
handling (aspect that is not present in MOST of muds for MANY reasons)
in a rather dumb way, for no other reason than poking
a stick into anthill (read, tuning things 'indirectly' and w/o any goal)
Given the look at many issues that surfaced shortly after the tune has
got implemented (including but not limited to, weps sac vals, first round
resolution, non weapons-wc related damage bonuses), i can assume that it
was either coded during 2-3 beers time, or that wizards have dim clue
how things do really work (i dont really know which one is worse)

Well, i fail to see any merit in the whole tune. I seek enlightement,
please help.