if you can't rohan has no spear support in their army!

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RIP Christopher Lee

Nope, Rohan can't support with throwing spears. Page 71 of the Hobbit rulebook covers throwing weapons. The main "advantage" of throwing spears is a range of 8 inches compared to 6.

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Manners maketh man

Which is an arbitrary and utterly silly rule.
The weapons the figures are holding are obviously spears.
In our group we let spear armed models lend spear support, but we do like the original rules state and if the spear is thrown it is used up and we replace the model with one armed with a hand weapon.

Actually, I think that rule is correct. A Javelin is different from a spear. From the Ancient Roman's time, a Javelin's use is to be thrown (the velites used swords in close combat, not the Javelin).
A spear is not balanced enough to be thrown. A Javelin is almost useless in close combat, because it bends and breaks after the hit.

That may be true, but the weapons that the Rohan soldier miniatures (and in the film) are armed with are not javelins. They are clearly spears. Many spears could easily be used in melee and as throwing weapons.
I have handled spears and javelins in real life. Javelins have a greater throwing range, but this kind of spear can be used as a throwing weapon and to support troops.
However, that is in real life, not in the abstract world of a tabletop game.

I like your idea of allowing them to support, but losing their spear if they throw it. It creates an advantage and a disadvantage, which allows for more tactical depth.

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Respectfully,
Jonathan

Do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly

Battle Companies

I don't agree with many of the cav. rules aka no shielding, the guy on foot pulling a benny hill to support cav. model the charged.