Changing grip from 1h to 2h?

[SteelDraco]

What kind of action is it to change your grip on a weapon (say, a dwarven waraxe or a bastard sword) from a one-handed grip to a two-handed grip? I'm in the process of building a Spellsword, and it occurred to me that it would be quite effective to cast Wraithstrike (from Comp Arcane, all attacks this round are resolved as touch attacks, swift action to cast), then switch to a 2h grip on my weapon, and then full attack with massive Power Attack. I have to start with one hand free to cast spells, but I'm not sure what kind of action it is to switch. My assumption was a free action, but I figured I'd better check.

 

[RandomPrecision]

Can't find that action anywhere, but since readying a shield is a move action, I'd assume putting another hand on a sword is a free action.

 

[Brain]

Since it's not defined, it's up to the DM. From what I've seen in campaigns I've played, we agreed that it was a free action. Seems right to me, but some DMs might disagree.

For instance in one game, I normally walk around with a shield with fortification incase of sneak attacks, but once in combat pop it into a glove of storing and grip my weapon two-handed, then full attack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

In the 3E Main FAQ, Skip Williams said it's a free action.

Then, in the 3.5 Main FAQ, Andy Collins said it's a move action.

Then, in the Rules of the Game column, Skip Williams said it's a free action.

-Hyp.

 

[Aftersox]

I've always played changing your weapon from 1H to 2H as a free-action. If the character has something else in his other hand though he will have to sheath it or put it away. When the character has something in his off-hand already I call it a move action. If the character has Quick Draw then it's free-action again.

 

[dcollins]

My personal best ruling would be "free action, but only one per round".

 

[Ryltar]

Make it a swift action, then .

 

[Klaus]

aka Swift action, right?

 

[dcollins]

Not when you play Core Rules-only. Then it's "DM puts reasonable limits on what you can really do for free", and in this case it's "one".

 

[FireLance]

I'd rule that it's a free action, but the character has to make the decision on his turn, before he attacks, and the effects last until his next turn. It is similar to deciding which opponent to use the Dodge feat against, or how much to Power Attack or use Combat Expertise for. I wouldn't make it a swift action as it would imply that he cannot take any other swift action on a round in which he switches his grip, and I tend to restrict the swift action to magical effects.