How can I walk softly and carry a BIG sword?

[Hypersmurf]

when weopens incress in size so do thier reach or at least it says that in SS

When reach weapons increase in size, so does their reach (at least according to SS).

A non-reach weapon doesn't gain reach by increasing in size, even under the SS rules.

-Hyp.

 

[Arkhandus]

Well is it really a "D&D icon" - since that was the original premise?

Fantasy iconic figure, that specifically was tied to D&D (the latter is my assertation).

Now is Cloud an immediate icon for D&D?

The characters from LotR, Arthurian legends, etc, - all "immediately" call a reference (or symbol) to D&D.

Really? I don't seem to recall pre-3E wizards kicking arse with swords as Gandalf does, or D&D wizards ever using spells in the same manner and type as Gandalf, or Aragorn wielding two weapons as a D&D ranger does, or any tales of King Arthur riding a divine steed and laying on hands to heal himself, or Robin Hood talking to animals and casting spells, or Friar Tuck invoking the wrath of God for a Flame Strike, or anything else like that. I don't see how a guy wielding a large sword and wearing armor, and possessed of heroic strength (though in Cloud's case unnatural), has any less in common with these 'icons' of D&D.

Just pointing out, it's hard to tell what the real basis of your argument is.

I think heroes wielding oversized weapons isn't necessarily un-D&Dish, it just isn't realistic, but when has D&D ever emphasized realistic over fantastic?

 

[Moon-Lancer]

--geek mode on---

I wouldn't say ff7 fits the bill, but ff9 is alot like d&d

cloud is a really bad example in my opinion. I think Guts or Siegfried work alot better in a d&d setting. When i think of them i think they could easly fit into d&d without any change (given the fullbade convert to 3.5 via faq)

Guts is probably English or French (although he is really from non historical based world with historical influence), and I want to say that Siegfried's character is actually from Germany... i think.

Clouds background really puts him in Eberron but not a traditional d&d setting. He would probably be a scionic warrior 3.0

Guts is probably barbarian with 2 levels of fighter, and Segfread is probably a fighter. all three probably have power attack.

all three could have this and that from book of 9 swords.

--geek mode off---

anyway i wouldn't recommend ever copying a character but we all take influence from the world around us and in my view big swords can be cool, but they can also be very not cool. It really depends on what art base your drawing from, and how you handle it... lol.

 

[Arkhandus]

Yep yep. I was just saying that the 'archetype' if you will isn't really un-D&Dish.

I never really copy character ideas myself (though some of the players I DM for shamelessly do), but I do use some cool bits and pieces (I have at least one PC I want to use at some point that carries around an oversized greatsword/zanbato, but none resemble Cloud or any similar character; their only resemblence is the vaguely-similar oversized sword).

 

[irdeggman]

Really? I don't seem to recall pre-3E wizards kicking arse with swords as Gandalf does, or D&D wizards ever using spells in the same manner and type as Gandalf, or Aragorn wielding two weapons as a D&D ranger does, or any tales of King Arthur riding a divine steed and laying on hands to heal himself, or Robin Hood talking to animals and casting spells, or Friar Tuck invoking the wrath of God for a Flame Strike, or anything else like that. I don't see how a guy wielding a large sword and wearing armor, and possessed of heroic strength (though in Cloud's case unnatural), has any less in common with these 'icons' of D&D.

Let's see:

Elven wizards (in pre-3.0) also wielded swords (there is arguement as to exactly what race Gandalf was {some say he was a half-elf}).

Arthur wasn't the iconic paladin - Lancelot was (and he did lay on hands). The horse was, well something else - but the core D&D (traditional if you will) paladin was strongly (almost to the point of annoylingly) associated with Lancelot, including the ex-paladin aspects.

Now there is definitely a point with Friar Tuck and Robin Hood, but not all aspects of the class are supposed to be captured by the icon. If you are using that as the basis for argument - well there is no icons for any class then, since none of the literary figures (historical or fictional) ever captured all aspects and abilities that the D&D rules list.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Yep yep. I was just saying that the 'archetype' if you will isn't really un-D&Dish.

I never really copy character ideas myself (though some of the players I DM for shamelessly do), but I do use some cool bits and pieces (I have at least one PC I want to use at some point that carries around an oversized greatsword/zanbato, but none resemble Cloud or any similar character; their only resemblence is the vaguely-similar oversized sword).

Me, too-I really want to play a gnoll warrior who's a tinker and peddler, and carries his wrapped-up Large bastard sword on his cart. *mutters and wishes there were more DMs in his area*

 

[Moon-Lancer]

so were is this airy mountain, rushing glen...?

 

[Half-Orc Bonanza]

Goliath + Monkey Grip = Huge Catergory weapon?

wait, so does Powerful Build for a Goliath mean i can take two-weapon fighting, have a greatsword in each hand ((after Weapon of Choice Feat)) and rip through peoples, and if i use Monkey Grip with them, since they are COUNTED as a large creature, does that mean i'll be able to wield a VERY hefty sword?

 

[Hypersmurf]

wait, so does Powerful Build for a Goliath mean i can take two-weapon fighting, have a greatsword in each hand ((after Weapon of Choice Feat)) and rip through peoples, and if i use Monkey Grip with them, since they are COUNTED as a large creature, does that mean i'll be able to wield a VERY hefty sword?

I'm not sure what the Weapon of Choice feat does. But in general, a Goliath cannot wield a greatsword in one hand. What he can do is wield a Large longsword in one hand.

With Monkey Grip, he can also wield a Large longsword in one hand (but not his off-hand).

With Powerful Build and Monkey Grip, he can wield a Large longsword in one hand for two different reasons, but he can't wield a Huge Longsword at all.

-Hyp.

 

[Three_Haligonians]

I'm not sure what the Weapon of Choice feat does.

-Hyp.

Does it let you dance like Christopher Walken?! Oh man.. that would be great!


J from Three Haligonians