Importance of Reaching?

[arandomperson12]

Why is reaching considered so good? It is one extra hit before the enemy closes the distance.

[Sprucery]

Well, one extra hit is typically a significant increase in the (damage done/damage received) ratio. Also, allies.

[Nebukadnezar]

- slow races (Naga) benefit from being able to attack without repositioning too much
- slow gods (Chei): same
- against other polearm users (gnolls, shoals) you're on even footing
- very useful in combination with allies
- in addition to getting an extra hit against most monster who want to attack you you also have the benefit of exposing you less (LOS)

[goodcoolguy]

Reaching can be exploited in many ways. Allies, cloud producing spells and effects (e.g. conjure flame and corpse rot), terrain (water, lava, plants), foot speed advantage, and, probably the best, spectral weapon. Gives you a bit of an edge against other polearm users too vs. other weapon classes. Polearms are good.

[TonberryJam]

If you find yourself in a situation where a monster or monsters can't reach you, then reach is very, very good.

A few things that reach may benefit from as follows: allies, clouds, a few god abilities, movement speed, very high strength and weapon damage, a few spells like conjure flame that block tiles, a few spells that control where an enemy will be for a few turns, etc.

[Sandman25]

Also polearms are especially great when you are attacked by monsters with polearms because it means you are attacked by a single monster in corridor, you don't get constricted, and of course you avoid getting attacked while moving adjacent.

[HardboiledGargoyle]

Reaching, like summoning and pacification, is an absolute failure. All three are obviously overpowered to anyone with an understanding of crawl mechanics, and all are "balanced" only by the fact that, when used heavily over the course the game, they are incredibly annoying and unfun.

I don't have an understanding of crawl mechanics, please explain this to me.