How can I walk softly and carry a BIG sword?

[Three_Haligonians]

Ok,

The truth is I know how to do the "walk softly" part, it's pretty straight forward. My question is about the other half and is directed at all you "oversized weapon" experts out there:

I am looking for a way to let a Medium sized character wield a Large sized greatsword without penalty. Can it be done?

According to the PHB, your average medium sized character cannot wield a large greatsword (even with the -2 size difference penalty) because there is no such "grip" beyond two-handed. As far as I can tell, the Monkey Grip feat will allow the use of such a weapon because it actually states "You can wield a larger light weapon as a light weapon, or a larger two-handed weapon in two hands [ Complete Warrior p. 103 ]". Though, to be fair it also states "...the amount of effort it takes you to use the weapon does not change". So I am a little confused here but, assuming things go my way on this, that means I can use the large greatsword with a -2 penalty for size difference.

Is there anywhere to go from here to get rid of that penalty? Obviously, Wield Oversized Weapon fits the bill but I'm talking about pre-epic levels.

Just curious if it can be done. I mean, if Cloud or Ichigo can do it, why can't I?

J from Three Haligonians

 

[Beowolf]

monkey grip does it, you can weild a two handed weapon, the way 3.5 does the weapon sizes and the monkey grip feat are a bit confusing. i do belive that you take a -2 penalty on large weapons as part of the feat, it just lets you use larger weapons.

 

[FireLance]

Just curious if it can be done. I mean, if Cloud or Ichigo can do it, why can't I?

How do you know they're not just using Monkey Grip and taking the attack roll penalty?

Otherwise, I think there's a spell in one of the recent WotC books (most likely Complete Mage) that allows you to increase the size of a weapon you wield by one category. Depending on whether the spell affects the weapon or yourself, you might be able to work it into an oil or some other magic item.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Just curious if it can be done. I mean, if Cloud or Ichigo can do it, why can't I?

I'd assume Cloud and Ichigo are taking the -2.

-Hyp.

 

[Storyteller01]

Anyone here have a link to a picture about this? It has a blonde girl holding a giant gun, done in anime style? The caption reads 'So I take a -4 to hit. Big Deal!' (or something similar).

 

[Sejs]

Strongarm Bracers let you count as 1 size category larger for the purpose of what weapons you can wield, so that'd let you do it without taking the -2.


On the other hand, that's coming from your gear rather than from you. Definite loss of cool factor there.

Personally I'd just take the -2 to hit for using Monkey Grip. Toss on Weapon Focus (Greatsword) to help offset the hurt and off you go.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

i thought monkygrip in 3.5 was really broken (aka it sucks) and would only let you wield a large long sword in one hand or something.

A fullblade would work. Its a large greatsword/bastard sword. its 2d8. No penalty. Its a exotic weapon.

 

[Hypersmurf]

i thought monkygrip in 3.5 was really broken (aka it sucks) and would only let you wield a large long sword in one hand or something.

What it lets you do is wield a Large weapon without it counting as a designation higher.

Normally for a Medium creature, a Large longsword is a two-handed weapon and a Large greatsword is too large to wield.

For a Medium creature with Monkey Grip, a Large longsword is a one-handed weapon and a Large greatsword is a two-handed weapon.

A fullblade would work. Its a large greatsword/bastard sword. its 2d8. No penalty. Its a exotic weapon.

As far as I know, the Fullblade has not been updated to 3.5; were I to do so, I'd call it a Large bastard sword (in 3E, it was also named an 'Ogre's Greatsword', suggesting it is designed for a Large creature; the mechanics fitted a bastard sword better, however). As such, there would still be a -2 penalty for a Medium creature...

-Hyp.

 

[UltimaGabe]

i thought monkygrip in 3.5 was really broken (aka it sucks) and would only let you wield a large long sword in one hand or something.

The problem with it, to my understanding, is that it's never worth it. In every case, it's more advantageous to simply Power Attack for 2 (netting the same attack penalty), which raises your average damage by 4 with a two-handed weapon (as opposed to the average for more enlarged weapons, which, I think, was 2.5 or something). So there's no reason to spend a feat to do something you could have already done even better, except for the "flavor" of wielding an incredibly large weapon.

 

[Corsair]

Unless you already have power attack and routinely power attack for your entire BAB.