A few dual-weilding unarmed attacks and a Bastard Sword questions....

[DM_Matt]

Can one wield a bastard sword two-handed and still use an unarmed attack with feet or other body parts?

In martial arts feats such as deflect arrows that require a free hand, can you (if oyu have the EWP for the BS) take one hand off and use it for that, or, for that matter, an unarmed attack?

If so, is there any way to actually attack with a BS with two hands, but still have your other hand free the rest of the time?

Is it in any way dependant on whether it is before or after your turn that you take your hand off?

Can you take your hand off at the end of your turn after attacking?

 

[RogueJK]

This is sorta related to the Greatsword+Armor Spikes TWF issue. It's up to the individual DM whether or not it is legal.

By the rules, the only way to attack with a two-handed weapon (or two weapons dual-wielded) and another part of your body is with the Multiweapon Fighting feat from the MM. This is explained in the FRCS errata where they describe how to use Bladed Boots. Your feet/shoulders/knees/etc. are considered off hands when determining penalties.

If your DM allows it, you could attack with a Bastard Sword two-handed and an unarmed attack with your feet or other surface with -2 to all attacks if you have both the Ambidexterity and Multi-Weapon Fighting feats.

[Edit] Based on the planned character progression that you posted in another thread, I'd like to point out that, as a DM, I wouldn't allow the Ambidexterity gained from being a Ranger to apply to this. You would have to take Ambidexterity and Multiweapon Fighting as regular feats.[/Edit]

Letting go of a weapon is a free action. You could, conceivably, attack with a BS two-handed, and then let go with one hand, as a free action, at the end of your turn. However, unless you have the EWP:BS, you would receive a -4 penalty to any attacks made while the BS is in only one hand. This penalty would apply to AoOs made and any attacks made before you place the other hand back on the sword.

 

[Gromm]

A simple answer. No.
Reasons- too many to name most of them are covered by Rogue.
The rest have to do with balance issues and the like.

 

[Zhure]

I've got an NPC monk with a monk's belt (grants TWF and Ambi) who is proficient with EWP: Bastard sword. He fights sword/unarmed at -2/-2. I think it's a perfectly valid extrapolation off the base rules though there are some sticky issues:

-Since monks fighting unarmed don't have an "offhand" there's a question whether it can work at all.

- He can't use his UAB at -3 for iterative attacks, he has to use the standard BAB at -5 for extra iterative attacks.

- Since he's using the standard twf rules, he has to use 1/2x STR bonus on his offhand unarmed strike instead of full value.

In play it's not terribly effective. The character would do more damage by just using his unarmed attacks, but then he'd lack flavor (and wouldn't qualify as an officer in the campaign world's military -- they need swords as per the empire's restrictions and I didn't want to introduce butterfly swords).

I hope that rambling assisted.

Greg

 

[Astlin]

I've got an NPC monk with a monk's belt (grants TWF and Ambi) who is proficient with EWP: Bastard sword. He fights sword/unarmed at -2/-2. I think it's a perfectly valid extrapolation off the base rules though there are some sticky issues:
-Since monks fighting unarmed don't have an "offhand" there's a question whether it can work at all.
- He can't use his UAB at -3 for iterative attacks, he has to use the standard BAB at -5 for extra iterative attacks.
- Since he's using the standard twf rules, he has to use 1/2x STR bonus on his offhand unarmed strike instead of full value.
In play it's not terribly effective. The character would do more damage by just using his unarmed attacks, but then he'd lack flavor (and wouldn't qualify as an officer in the campaign world's military -- they need swords as per the empire's restrictions and I didn't want to introduce butterfly swords).
I hope that rambling assisted.
Greg

Yes. Once you pick up a non-monk weapon, you are no longer fighting 'Unarmed' and loose all of the Monk abilities associated with fighting unarmed.

If you are planning on going this route, I would suggest dropping Monk after a couple of levels (4?) and going Fighter. You would be doing a nice bit of damage with your bare hand and the Fighter levels would really help out your HP and BAB.

Sorry, Monks are just not good fighters. They are a niche class. (I play one)

Astlin