AV: Double Sword: Light blade And Heavy blade?

Starfox · Oct 5, 2008

What's the fuzz? There are several weapons in the PH that already belong to multiple weapon groups.

Hypersmurf · Oct 5, 2008

The distinction becomes important for the Rogue with the Heavy Blade Opportunist feat, for example.

When an OA is provoked, can he use the Heavy Blade Opportunist feat with his double sword? He can, since it's a heavy blade. And can he use the Sly Flourish power as his OA? He can, since it's a light blade. But that only works if you read double sword to be simultaneously a heay blade and a light blade.

If you read it to be separately a heavy blade and a light blade, then he can use HBO with one end... but the feat allows him to use a power, and most of his powers require a light blade, which is the other end.

-Hyp.

Anguirus · Oct 5, 2008

Personally, I see no compelling flavor or mechanical reason for this weapon to be a light blade. I wonder what they were thinking.

Rechan · Oct 5, 2008

darkadelphia said:
It's not really an issue to me. the superior weapon feat, in general, gives you +1 damage over an equivalent military weapon. The Double Sword does a d8 damage instead of the d6 of a short sword. It's right in line with where it should be.

The diff is that it's also a defensive weapon.

The double sword is, quite simply, better than the rapier. Because it has the same stats, but gives you a +1 to ac.

cignus_pfaccari · Oct 6, 2008

Hypersmurf said:
The distinction becomes important for the Rogue with the Heavy Blade Opportunist feat, for example.

When an OA is provoked, can he use the Heavy Blade Opportunist feat with his double sword? He can, since it's a heavy blade. And can he use the Sly Flourish power as his OA? He can, since it's a light blade. But that only works if you read double sword to be simultaneously a heay blade and a light blade.

If you read it to be separately a heavy blade and a light blade, then he can use HBO with one end... but the feat allows him to use a power, and most of his powers require a light blade, which is the other end.

And that's why I'm thinking it's supposed to be the latter. Sure, my bugbear rogue would looooooove to be known as Darth Kudruk, but I really don't think they meant for both ends to be both light and heavy blades.

Brad

mach1.9pants · Oct 6, 2008

personally I read it as the double sword is similtaneously a light and heavy blade. All feats, etc relevant to either work with this weapon, same as a khopesh is both an axe and a heavy blade. Both weapons have a comma between the 2 properties. IF the double sword said (as the damage is) "Heavy blade/light blade" then I would rule the either end being a different thing.

tiornys · Oct 6, 2008

Rechan said:
The diff is that it's also a defensive weapon.

The double sword is, quite simply, better than the rapier. Because it has the same stats, but gives you a +1 to ac.

It's not strictly better, as it occupies both hands. A rapier wielder has options that the double sword wielder does not, such as the ability to wield an implement, the ability to wield a different weapon (usually a dagger or shuriken), or the ability to use a shield.

t~

pemerton · Oct 6, 2008

tiornys said:
It's not strictly better, as it occupies both hands. A rapier wielder has options that the double sword wielder does not, such as the ability to wield an implement, the ability to wield a different weapon (usually a dagger or shuriken), or the ability to use a shield.

True. But if not strictly better, I still worry that it's better.