Is the hospitaleer from 'Defenders of the Faith' worded wrong...or just broken??

[The Souljourner]

I don't know...

That whole business of 'Small Longswords' seems a bit redundant.
Isn't that anothewr way of saying 'short sword'?

Let me give you a "longsword" with a hilt the diameter of the fat end of a baseball bat and you can explain how wielding the giant's shortsword is just as easy as a normal longsword.

Weapons made to be wielded by bigger or smaller people have very different requirements on what feels "comfortable". Could you wield a longsword with a 4" diameter hilt? Sure... but it'll suck.

There's really no problem in-game with weapon sizes (in my experience of 3.5, which is about 5 sessions per month since it came out)... and they make COMPLETE logical sense.

-The Souljourner

 

[Hypersmurf]

That whole business of 'Small Longswords' seems a bit redundant.
Isn't that anothewr way of saying 'short sword'?

Of course not. A shortsword deals piercing damage. A longsword deals slashing damage.

Try using that shortsword against a zombie, or try making it Vorpal... you'll be wishing you had a Small Longsword then!

-Hyp.

 

[Storyteller01]

It's all about the balance of the weapon for it's use by the wielder. In this case a small longsword is not balanced for use the same ways as a short sword. Simple as that.

Imagine trying to fight effectively with your little brother's small wooden sword as opposed to an adult-sized wooden dagger. There'll be a difference. In the case of crafted weapons it is noticeable enough to effect the weapon's use.

Wouldn't your bro's wooden sword just be a poor club??

 

[Storyteller01]

Of course not. A shortsword deals piercing damage. A longsword deals slashing damage.

Try using that shortsword against a zombie, or try making it Vorpal... you'll be wishing you had a Small Longsword then!

-Hyp.

That's a mechanical change though. A wakizashi (japanese short sword) DOES do slashing damage.

 

[Storyteller01]

Let me give you a "longsword" with a hilt the diameter of the fat end of a baseball bat and you can explain how wielding the giant's shortsword is just as easy as a normal longsword.

Weapons made to be wielded by bigger or smaller people have very different requirements on what feels "comfortable". Could you wield a longsword with a 4" diameter hilt? Sure... but it'll suck.

There's really no problem in-game with weapon sizes (in my experience of 3.5, which is about 5 sessions per month since it came out)... and they make COMPLETE logical sense.

-The Souljourner

But, mechanically, a small longsword does the same damage as a shortsword. One is piercing while the other is slashing. A basic mechanics change.


Isn't a giants longsword (mechanically) a greatsword they use one-handed??

Why complicate matters?

 

[Spatula]

Why not start a new thread rather than hijack this one?

 

[Storyteller01]

Why not start a new thread rather than hijack this one?

Good point. Technically, I did start this one both it has definitenly gone off track. Sorry guys.