Bastard sword and exotic weapon master

[Question]

The exotic weapon master has a ability that lets you apply 2x str bonus for a exotic, one handed melee weapon rather than 1.5 when wielded 2 handed.

How does the bastard sword factor into this?

 

[irdeggman]

It is a one-handed exotic weapon.

It requires 2 hands to use as a martial weapon - but is still technically a one handed weapon so when using 2 hands you still only apply 1 1/2 times your str mod. Not withstanding anything special, like the benefits of the prestige class.

 

[Question]

My question was whether one needed to gain exotic weapon proficiency(bastard sword) to gain the benefits of the PRC in regards to one handed exotic weapons.

 

[irdeggman]

Well since the requisite is that he must have weapon focus in the exotic weapon before he can get that abililty and in order to get weapon focus you must be proficient in the weapon and the bastard sword is an exotic weapon - I'd say he does.

Now a case could be made that you can use the bastard sword 2 handed as a martial weapon and that certain classes get proficiency in all martial weapons - I would say that is a stretch to make that apply.

Especially since the book goes into detail about racial familiarity and exotic weapon proficiency and the dwarven weapons can't be used without exotic weapon proficieny in the first place (well without penalty).