Halivar
First Post
In D&D, you can wield bastard swords one of two ways: two hands on the hilt, or one. In reality, bastard swords were much more specialized. Using the bastard sword, or "hand-and-a-half" sword the way it was really intended was more of a martial art, which required intense training and practice. Hand-and-a-half sword techniques bear a lot of similarity to eastern sword techniques.
In the hand-and-a-half sword technique, the primary hand is on the hilt, while the off-hand lies flat against the center of the blade. The off-hand acts as a pivot, changing grips to parry and block attacks from opposing blades. This allows the use of as much dexterity as a quarterstaff would.
HAND-AND-A-HALF SWORD TECHNIQUE
You are skilled at using the bastard sword as a defensive, as well as ofensive weapon.
Prerequisites: Martial weapon proficiency (bastard sword/2-H), Exotic weapon proficiency (bastard sword/1-H), +1 BAB or higher.
Benefit: When wielding a bastard sword with one hand on the hilt and the other on the blade, you gain a +2 deflection bonus to AC. All attacks use your one-handed damage modifier. You cannot carry anything in your off-hand, and you cannot use your off-hand to perform somatic components to spells.
HAND-AND-A-HALF WEAPON FINESSE
You are an expert at wielding the bastard sword as an offensive weapon.
Prerequisite: Hand-and-a-half sword technique
Benefits: When fighting using the hand-and-a-half sword technique, you may elect to use your dexterity modifier instead of your strength modifier on attack rolls. This feat may only be taken once.
In the hand-and-a-half sword technique, the primary hand is on the hilt, while the off-hand lies flat against the center of the blade. The off-hand acts as a pivot, changing grips to parry and block attacks from opposing blades. This allows the use of as much dexterity as a quarterstaff would.
HAND-AND-A-HALF SWORD TECHNIQUE
You are skilled at using the bastard sword as a defensive, as well as ofensive weapon.
Prerequisites: Martial weapon proficiency (bastard sword/2-H), Exotic weapon proficiency (bastard sword/1-H), +1 BAB or higher.
Benefit: When wielding a bastard sword with one hand on the hilt and the other on the blade, you gain a +2 deflection bonus to AC. All attacks use your one-handed damage modifier. You cannot carry anything in your off-hand, and you cannot use your off-hand to perform somatic components to spells.
HAND-AND-A-HALF WEAPON FINESSE
You are an expert at wielding the bastard sword as an offensive weapon.
Prerequisite: Hand-and-a-half sword technique
Benefits: When fighting using the hand-and-a-half sword technique, you may elect to use your dexterity modifier instead of your strength modifier on attack rolls. This feat may only be taken once.