Archmage, with a crossbow slung across his back

[delericho]

It is generally considered a free action to switch one-handed to two-handed, and then he'd be considered armed for the purposes of Attacks of Opportunity.

You sure about that? Because I'm sure I recall reading (either in the FAQ or errata) that it should be considered a move action, just like drawing a weapon in the first place. I recall it, because I also recall thinking, "that's just stupid - not in my game".

 

[Simm]

My second D&D charecter was an elven wizard who believed that magic should be a last resort. This was made more interesting by the fact that the world was low magic and he fought with the best magic weapon that had been found (+2 shocking intellegent longsword). I was at best a second string fighter but seem to be inrdinatly lucky in close combat.

 

[Mercule]

You sure about that? Because I'm sure I recall reading (either in the FAQ or errata) that it should be considered a move action, just like drawing a weapon in the first place. I recall it, because I also recall thinking, "that's just stupid - not in my game".

Erm.... I wouldn't even consider it a free action. "Not an action" is more like it. Having sparred with bastard swords and katanas (boken, actually), I've gotta say that changing your grip is just part of wielding the thing.

 

[Eltharon]

My 20th level wizard had a +3 flaming, holy bastard sword, and even wasted two feats on exotic weapon pro and weapon focus. He kicked ass anyway, so I never felt bad about it.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Never see weapons used after 3-4 levels. They all carry something in my games but never use them.

 

[Gez]

My single-classed wizard, after being captured by badguys and managed to escape, had to fought an ogre while naked, out of spells, and armed only with a dagger found on a previous enemy. At level 5.

Doesn't really answer the question, since it wasn't really a dagger that was part of that character's inventory. But yeah, there are situations where a backup weapon is needed, even after third level.

Most of my multiclassed spellcasters spend probably more time fighting with weapons than with spells.

 

[Tamlyn]

I answered "All the time". My 12th level Elven Sorcerer just acquired a nice little magic longsword that is usually used at least once per battle. Lots of AoO and he tends to get mixed up in the middle of the fight with the big boys. Plus the DM has started tthrowing these cute little anti-magic zones at us. We also had a Helm's Deep type situation against a lot of low-level orcs. He used his longbow quite a bit in that situation and saved his impressive magic for when it was more effective.

 

[ThirdWizard]

By 3rd level all weapons are erased from the character sheet with disgust and never used again.

 

[Pbartender]

You sure about that? Because I'm sure I recall reading (either in the FAQ or errata) that it should be considered a move action, just like drawing a weapon in the first place. I recall it, because I also recall thinking, "that's just stupid - not in my game".

Yes, I'm sure.

The rulebooks don't really discuss in any place that I can find. The closest is a mention in the PHB 3.5 FAQ... A question about using Quick Draw during a full attack:

This situation is actually improved if the melee weapon is a two-handed weapon. A character can hold a two-handed weapon in one hand; he just can’t attack with it while it’s held like that. Thus, he wouldn’t even have to drop the weapon in order to draw and throw the dagger. If Krusk the 6th-level barbarian had Quick Draw, he could swing his greataxe (using his full base attack bonus), then leave the axe in his off-hand while drawing a javelin with his primary hand (free action), and finally throw the javelin (using his base attack bonus –5). If Krusk were drawing a ranged weapon that required two hands to use (such as a bow), he’d have to drop his greataxe.

Notice that it doesn't require any action -- as Mercule suggested, not even a free action -- to change grips on the great axe.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

My archivist carries around a bastard sword. He's a bit insane, and tends to confuse readings from his gloves of object reading with his own past experiences. So right now, he's carrying around a bastard sword that belonged to some famous general, and seems convinced that he's going to lead the troops to victory. The troops have all been dead for a couple hundred years, of course, but that doesn't stop him from swinging this sword around with all the skill that he can muster: 5 bab - 2 str - 4 non-proficiency penalty = total -1 to attack at 11th level.