D&D General How much damage should a Bastard Sword deal if it is used 2-handed, used 1-handed it deals 2d4?

[Horwath]

Depends on your edition. 5e eschews modifiers and advances die type so going to 2d6 may be appropriate.
2e generally keeps dice the same but adds +2 damage. 3e gives a stupidly good multiplier to strength bonus damage (particularly when strength is really high).
1e did it really weird. I won’t even go into it here.

maybe it would have been better if 5E went with:
one handed melee weapons: str mod to damage.
2handed: 2×str mod to damage.

thene there would not be any need for versatility trait in weapons and non-modifier for off-hand attack without fighting style.

 

[Minigiant]

I agree with others.

The 5e longsword is a bastard sword.

If anything there should be a one handed sword that deal 2d4 that isn't versatile to be the model for normal swords.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Longsword(historically) is a two handed weapon, that you could use one handed in some moves(i.e. lunge), but you would want to use it two handed almost all the time.

From my reading, the word "longsword" is pretty much a D&D invention. But a sword of that size would typically be used in a comparable fashion to a modern tennis racket. Not that they where used much in actual battle, serving more as status symbols.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

If anything there should be a one handed sword that deal 2d4 that isn't versatile to be the model for normal swords.

2nd edition boardsword.

 

[Horwath]

From my reading, the word "longsword" is pretty much a D&D invention. But a sword of that size would typically be used in a comparable fashion to a modern tennis racket. Not that they where used much in actual battle, serving more as status symbols.

Longsword - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

edit:

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this is my HEMA training sword,
it would be the most similar to medieval "long sword", definitely a two-hander.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Longsword - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I would say the article is flawed, by neglecting to mention the influence of D&D in popularising the term - I suspect intellectual snobbery.

It's worth pointing out that it includes Zweihänder - the archetypical D&D greatsword - in the category. Of course even these weapons would have been used one or two handed depending on the stroke.

 

[Minigiant]

2nd edition boardsword.
View attachment 144790

That's basically what I do when I DM.

Broadsword and Knightsword are one handed 2d4.

I add a lot of swords, axes, and spears when I DM.

 

[Horwath]

I would say the article is flawed, by neglecting to mention the influence of D&D in popularising the term - I suspect intellectual snobbery.

It's worth pointing out that it includes Zweihänder - the archetypical D&D greatsword - in the category. Of course even these weapons would have been used one or two handed depending on the stroke.

Yes, you can use a greatsword one-handed, but only as some kind of overweight spear, or you need to be "the Mountain".
One handed slashes with that swords are so slow, as being telegraphed from 19th century(read, disadvantage on attack).

Maybe there is room here for return of 3rd ED "monkey grip" feat is some shape...

 

[billd91]

maybe it would have been better if 5E went with:
one handed melee weapons: str mod to damage.
2handed: 2×str mod to damage.

Oh, goodness, no. That's worse than the 3e method.

 

[Umbran]

maybe it would have been better if 5E went with:
one handed melee weapons: str mod to damage.
2handed: 2×str mod to damage.

Because you want folks using both hands on a dagger regularly?