Originally posted by Macdallan:

While it is more of a short spear or javelin you basically have to be in an enemy's face to use it and it's got very little vertical range. Something can be chewing on your leg, but slightly below you and you can't hit it. It's not that hard to position yourself properly so you can attack with it but I think it could do with some slight tweaks for melee. It should have at least the same range as a sword, but should probably be somewhere between a sword and the atgeir.

Part of the benefit to a short spear is that it still gives you a half decent amount of reach (unless it's a REALLY short spear, but obviously by the in game model it isn't 3 feet long) and can be used more effectively with a shield than a long spear. The reach benefit is not reflected in the game. The drawback of a spear is the significantly smaller cutting surface and mass than a sword or many other melee weapons, and that you generally have to be more precise with your aim to hit with a spear compared to being able to swing other weapons in a wider arc and still have a good chance to connect with something. I don't think it would ruin weapon and game balance if spears had just a bit more reach.

Yeah but currently attacks can only be aimed horizontaly. I got so frustrated with the bad attack angle that i would often just throw the spear in the enemy in front of me, since at least i can aim up or down with that special attack.