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

[Horwath]

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

you can always use common sense or just say that it cannot be used with light and 1h finesse weapons as their grips are to short to offer leverage for two hands. maybe add thrown property to this rule for good measure(at least for throwing attack).

 

[Umbran]

you can always use common sense or just say that it cannot be used with light and 1h finesse weapons as their grips are to short to offer leverage for two hands. maybe add thrown property to this rule for good measure(at least for throwing attack).

So, you just reintroduced the versatility you were saying you could get rid of, by defining the weapons that aren't versatile.

 

[Horwath]

So, you just reintroduced the versatility you were saying you could get rid of, by defining the weapons that aren't versatile.

got rid of it as a specific weapon property that has to be written in, but just used as a general rule for all 1h melee weapons that lack light/finesse property. 3.5e style
As table in PBH is kind of very selective on what is versatile and what is not and clearly should be.

 

[toucanbuzz]

Back to original post, you don't want to render pure 2-handed weapons pointless, so I wouldn't do anything that hits or exceeds the 12 range (either 2d6 or d12). Otherwise, absolutely no point in ever taking a 2-handed weapon. A d10 is simplest, a d4+d6 a little more complex.

 

[Steampunkette]

I'd keep Versatile as a thing, 'cause it's a nifty feature, then make it actually work in interesting ways with combat styles and stuff.

As for the Bastard Sword, I'd go 2d4/3d4. Better average rolls than Longswords and Greatswords, but it's harder to get max damage out of it.

 

[Nefermandias]

3e did 1 1/2 x Str mod, right? So a Str of 20 would be +5 and 1/2 more again would be +7?

Yes, but it wasn't uncommon to have a +6 Manual of STR and Belts of Giant STR back in 3.5e

 

[Horwath]

Yes, but it wasn't uncommon to have a +6 Manual of STR and Belts of Giant STR back in 3.5e

yeah, but they tried to solve the 3.5e problem in 5e where it does not exist.

 

[Umbran]

got rid of it as a specific weapon property that has to be written in

You will still have to write down somewhere which weapons it does or does not apply to. Whether you list that a weapon is "versatile" or "only one handed" or whatever, it still has to be stated.

 

[billd91]

Yes, but it wasn't uncommon to have a +6 Manual of STR and Belts of Giant STR back in 3.5e

And high strength giants wielding two-handed weapons were pretty nasty to fight up close. And power attack made the discrepancy between one-handed weapons vs two-handed weapons worse.

 

[Horwath]

And high strength giants wielding two-handed weapons were pretty nasty to fight up close. And power attack made the discrepancy between one-handed weapons vs two-handed weapons worse.

well, they should be nasty to fight up close.