Medium character, huge bastard sword

[escaflowne777]

Regardless of penalties, could a human with the EWP and monkey grip use a huge bastard sword two handed?

 

[prospero63]

No.

Inappropriately Sized Weapons

A creature can’t make optimum use of a weapon that isn’t properly sized for it. A cumulative -2 penalty applies on attack rolls for each size category of difference between the size of its intended wielder and the size of its actual wielder. If the creature isn’t proficient with the weapon a -4 nonproficiency penalty also applies.

The measure of how much effort it takes to use a weapon (whether the weapon is designated as a light, one-handed, or two-handed weapon for a particular wielder) is altered by one step for each size category of difference between the wielder’s size and the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed. If a weapon’s designation would be changed to something other than light, one-handed, or two-handed by this alteration, the creature can’t wield the weapon at all.

EWP and Monkey Grip reduce the effort of a medium to large weapon from two-handed to not-possible to become a 2 handed weapon. By going from large to huge, you go from 2 handed to requiring more than two hands (or "not possible), which I don't think there is a rule to handle (I'd house rule it to allow a 4 armed creature to use however).

The penalty would be -4 I think (I'm too lazy to do the actual math. I know I wasn't too lazy to look up and link stuff. Sad ain't it...)

 

[Thurbane]

Strongarm Bracers (MIC) + Monkey Grip = meduim creature wielding huge weapons at a -2 penalty. I think it's a bit cheesey myself, but apparently it's RAW. The bracers call out that they don't stack with Powerful Build, but remain silent on Monkey Grip. I also assume that if he had EWP:BS, he could wield it one handed!

 

[frankthedm]

Strongarm Bracers (MIC) + Monkey Grip = meduim creature wielding huge weapons at a -2 penalty. I think it's a bit cheesey myself, but apparently it's RAW. The bracers call out that they don't stack with Powerful Build, but remain silent on Monkey Grip.

Then they probably dont work since monkey grip has similar working to PB.

 

[Thurbane]

Then they probably dont work since monkey grip has similar working to PB.

Well, that was my initial thought as well, but I've seen it discussed at length, and the concesus seems to be that RAW supports them stacking.

FWIW, I wouldn't allow it in my game - I'm a firm believer in DM fiat.

 

[mvincent]

Regardless of penalties, could a human with the EWP and monkey grip use a huge bastard sword two handed?

Ask your DM.

I believe the exact wording on monkey grip says that it's useable on weapon one size larger...so a strict reading might imply that it would be useless on a weapon two sizes larger... but that seems overly literalistic and not what the writer intended. The 3.5 FAQ (if desired) provides an example of powerful build (which has similar wording) aiding a medium character to wield a huge weapon:
"A Medium creature with the powerful build racial trait, such as a goliath or halfgiant, with the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (fullblade) feat could also wield a Huge fullblade."

However (also from the 3.5 FAQ, if desired) EWP Bastard sword does not actually allow you to wield a larger bastard sword in two hands:
"The bastard sword, lance, and dwarven waraxe are all twohanded
weapons that can be used in one hand under the correct
circumstances (the bastard sword and dwarven waraxe are
shown on Table 7–5 as one-handed exotic weapons, but they’re
really two-handed weapons). Treat all three of these weapons
as two-handed weapons when determining who can use them
and how. For example, a Small character cannot use a lance or
bastard sword made for a Medium creature, even when
mounted (in the case of a lance) or when the Small character
has the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword) feat."

Still, a DM could ignore this ruling, or allow you to instead use a fullblade (which is effectively an oversized bastard sword... but the EWP Fullblade feat would evidently allow you use a larger sized one in two hands).

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Not quite on point, but a Medium PC can still get to use a Huge weapon if he:

1) Has Monkey Grip or Powerful build, coupled with

2) The spell Enlarge or the Psionic Power Expansion (either by caster/manifester or device), and then

3) Picks up the weapon

Of course, by that point, he's not truly size M (at least, not at that moment), having grown a bit, but if you have a PC who is trying to boost his damage output by grabbing the biggest weapon in the room...

 

[mvincent]

a Medium PC can still get to use a Huge weapon if he:

Pedantic note: any medium PC could wield a huge, light weapon without any special ability.

Also on that note (for the OP): any medium PC could wield a huge sunblade (which is bastard sword sized) without any special ability (since it is light).

 

[Hypersmurf]

Then they probably dont work since monkey grip has similar working to PB.

Monkey Grip lets you wield a weapon of a category one size larger than yourself.

Strongarm Bracers let you wield weapons as if you were one size larger.

So if you are Medium, Monkey Grip lets you wield a weapon of a category one size larger than [yourself], where [yourself] is considered Large due to the Bracers.

As far as I'm concerned, the FAQ's answers quoted above are bollocks in both cases 'but they're really two-handed weapons' is nonsense, and as mvincent notes, the other answer contradicts what the Powerful Build ability actually says.

-Hyp.

 

[mvincent]

'but they're really two-handed weapons' is nonsense

Well, I would support a DM's right to make his own decision on it in regard to the bastard sword, but I agree: it does seems a bit inconsistent and unintuitive to me (as this sort of thing was certainly allowed in 3.0). As always, thank you for giving me a new perspective.

as mvincent notes, the other answer contradicts what the Powerful Build ability actually says.

But it seems intuitive and what the writer intended. Since literalisms can lead to some extreme oddities (humorous examples provided on request), I've got to think RAI beats RAW. At the very least, I support a DM's right to decide.