Even if you hate Drizzt, Still read this post.

[greycastle]

Alright, quick question.

Drizzt 'seemingly' uses dual scimitars with no penalty (or very little). Now i understand that with some 10fighter/5ranger/1 barbarian (or something of their abouts) he's base attack bonus works out fine. But what about when he only started using two-weapons (e.g. from the R.A. Salvatore books *bless that man*)

Now, obviously, it was made only for story purposes, but the general question is "Why if your trained to use two swords e.g. 2 scimitars, 2 short swords, 2 longswords etc, is it that you suffer penalties for having in the case of longsword or scimitars an extra -2 penalty to melee attacks."

Mainly this is because, a friend of mine wishes to create a Fey-ri Rogue, whos first feat is Two-Weapon fighting *we ruled out the Amibdexterity rule, as it's not used in D20 Modern, or Star Wars*. He wants to use 2 scimitars, and after reading the drizzt books, and seeing the real things, the scimitars (which are really one handed Falchions, though strong fellows (possibly monkey-grippers) have been known to hold one handed falchions) that you should get penalties with them. It's almost to a fact, that Scimitars should be considered small weapons, considering their damage, and size *thought weight would (and should) remain the same*...

Sorry alittle about the rant, but i'd be interested in your opinons.

Thanks ahead. *Cast's Darkness*

 

[Hypersmurf]

Was there actually a question in there?

If so, what was it?

There is a penalty because using two weapons is harder than using one weapon. If you're trained to use two weapons - that is, if you have the Feat - that penalty is smaller, reflecting the fact that you're better at using two swords than someone who isn't trained.

Where is the problem?

-Hyp.

 

[greycastle]

well, i guess theres always a day when Greycastle is made a fool, of but still...

the question was infact, why is it that if you've trained with two weapons of the same time "and only the same time" is it that you suffer an extra -2 (as in the case of dual scimitars)

 

[dcollins]

But what about when he only started using two-weapons (e.g. from the R.A. Salvatore books *bless that man*)...

When the character started out, it was made using AD&D 1st Ed. rules, under which Drow could "fight with two weapons without penalty" (Unearthed Arcana, p. 10).

The current rules have no exception to the fact that it's always easier to wield one than two.

 

[greycastle]

ahh, i'm not complaining about two weapons are hard, but that the bigger the harder...

i just don't see a scimitar *e.g.the one thats pictured in drizzts hands in the FRCS book* is anywhere near the size of a longsword...i believe it's only slightly *by maybe 3 inches or so* longer than a shortsword.

the thing is, is why do you ahve To either go for dual small weapons, or medium/small/tiny combos, without being able to go medium/medium without suffering...

basically: why is scimitar penalized?

 

[Jens]

Ok, so you're basically asking why scimitars are medium-sized weapons?

That's easy--just look at their stats, they're balanced as medium-sized and would be overpowered as small weapons. If you decrease the damage die or the crit range, they will be fine as small weapons and then you will have the same penalties as shortswords.

 

[greycastle]

so baSIcally i'm arguing against something thats perfectly logical?

 

[Darklone]

You have to take into account that Drizzts scimitars were made of superior materials. E.g. use mithral... one scimitar is a light weapon, hence no additional penalties for fighting with two medium-sized weapons.

 

[greycastle]

THANK YOU Darklone

thats what was on my mind! thank you so much!

btw, thank you all, for your advice and such, but especially you Darklone

 

[Hypersmurf]

You have to take into account that Drizzts scimitars were made of superior materials. E.g. use mithral... one scimitar is a light weapon, hence no additional penalties for fighting with two medium-sized weapons.

Uh, what?

According to the DMG, a mithral scimitar weighs half as much as a steel scimitar, but it's still a Medium weapon, and therefore not considered "light" for the purpose of TWF penalties...

Unless this is some weird Magic of Faerun rule?

-Hyp.