Can a halfling use a bastard sword 2-handed?

[CRGreathouse]

The bastard sword is a special case of a weapon caught between medium and large.

Not mechanically.

It's a Medium-size Exotic weapon and a Large Martial weapon. A Small PC can wield it in both hands with a -4 penalty, or can take EWP (if they have the requisite Str) and remove that penalty.

 

[IceBear]

See Xahn'Tyr....I told you so

Karinsdad has never let me down with his tenacity

IceBear

 

[Xahn'Tyr]

question

Is it possible for a halfling fighter to wield a bastard sword two-handed if he spends a feat on exotic weapon proficiency?

answer

your halfling ... suffers no attack penalty if she has Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword) and uses two hands

I guess the unwritten rule on this board is "He who posts last is right, regardless of what the rules say." but I'm out of this one.

 

[Xahn'Tyr]

double post

 

[BlindKobold]

PHB page 103

"A Medium sized character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon"

Actually... this implies that it is an exotic weapon (as opposed to a martial weapon) to anyone who is not a Medium sized character.

You can twist it in several ways actually... depends where you put the emphasize...

"A Medium sized character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon"

Only medium characters get this weapon as a MARTIAL weapon, all others don't get it and must spend a feat to use it.


"A Medium sized character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon"

Characters can use it two-handed, NPCs and monsters must take a feat to use it.

"A Medium sized character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon"

A medium character gets it as a martial weapon. No one else gets it as a martial weapon.

Slight variations on interpretations. So what YOU think it implies may be COMPLETELY different from what it actually means, from what someone else thinks it implies or what the creaters actually meant.

 

[KarinsDad]

Not mechanically.

It's a Medium-size Exotic weapon and a Large Martial weapon. A Small PC can wield it in both hands with a -4 penalty, or can take EWP (if they have the requisite Str) and remove that penalty.

Only partially.

It's not a medium sized exotic weapon with respect to a medium sized character.

They cannot use it one handed at all. But, they can use other medium sized exotic weapons with the -4 penalty.

See Xahn'Tyr....I told you so

Karinsdad has never let me down with his tenacity

IceBear

Actually IB, I think I'm going to change my thinking on this one.

Technically, a small sized character can use it in two hands with a -4 penalty since the description of Bastard Sword does not say that he cannot. It should say that and it does imply that, but it does not explicitly state that.

Personally, I think it is poorly written. It should be a ML weapon. As such, medium characters should not be able to use it one handed (which they cannot) merely due to size and small characters should not be able to use it two handed (which they can) merely due to size. The exotic weapon feat should then be used to allow mediums to use it one handed and small to use it two handed.

So, technically in response to the original question, a small character can do that.

But, I think that a small sized character should not be allowed to use it at all without the feat (but technically, they can with the -4 penalty), just like medium sized characters cannot use it one handed at all without the feat (medium sized character can use it two handed because they can use large weapons two handed). YMMV.

 

[novyet]

Since I saw this brought up in the d&d faq, that was quoted a few posts back. Did they remove the str 13 requirement for the waraxe and the bastard sword?
Quote from the faq
There is no Strength requirement to use a bastard sword. A bastard sword is a Medium-Size weapon.

Quote from the SRD
Proficiency with the bastard sword or the dwarven waraxe has a prerequisite of Str 13+.

Which one is right?

Thanks

 

[Caliban]

Since I saw this brought up in the d&d faq, that was quoted a few posts back. Did they remove the str 13 requirement for the waraxe and the bastard sword?
Quote from the faq
There is no Strength requirement to use a bastard sword. A bastard sword is a Medium-Size weapon.

Quote from the SRD
Proficiency with the bastard sword or the dwarven waraxe has a prerequisite of Str 13+.

Which one is right?

Thanks

There is no strength prerequisite for using the bastard sword 2-handed as a martial weapon .

The Exotic Weapon Proficiency for using the bastard sword has a prerequisite of a 13+ strength.

 

[novyet]

There is no strength prerequisite for using the bastard sword 2-handed as a martial weapon .

The Exotic Weapon Proficiency for using the bastard sword has a prerequisite of a 13+ strength.

Thanks Caliban, we can always count on you!

 

[CRGreathouse]

But, I think that a small sized character should not be allowed to use it at all without the feat (but technically, they can with the -4 penalty), just like medium sized characters cannot use it one handed at all without the feat (medium sized character can use it two handed because they can use large weapons two handed). YMMV.

Yes, but a Medium-size character can use a bastard sword one-handed without the feat - at a -4 penalty.