Ogre's bastard sword, is it balanced?

[John Q. Mayhem]

I like bastard swords, and I like the idea of fullblades. I haven't seen any of the fullblades in published products, so here is mine. This is intended to be a bastard sword for Large creatures, or a slightly-better-than-greatsword for Medium creatures.

Fullblade, Large weapon. Damage: 1d8+1d6 slashing. Crit: 19-20/x2. Cost: 115 gp. Weight: 25 lbs.

The fullblade is a massive sword, clearly not designed for use by Medium creatures. It is occasionally called an ogre's bastard sword. This weapon can be wielded as a Martial two-handed by a Large creature, or one-handed with the feat Exotic Weapon Proficiency (fullblade). A Medium creature can wield a fullblade two-handed with the feat Exotic Weapon Proficiency (fullblade). In either case, this feat requires 15+ Str.

While I'm a tad bit leery about mixed die types in weapons, this looks balanced. It's the same improvement over a greatsword as a bastard sword is over a longsword (+1 average damage, +2 max damage).

 

[Staffan]

With the 3.5e rules, you just make it a Large bastard sword. I think the step up from 1d10 is 2d8 (don't have any books to check). A Medium-size character with EWP: Bastardsword could use a Large bastardsword as a two-handed weapon with -2 to hit.

 

[Creamsteak]

And, I'll tag in that if you want the fullblade to be a fullblade for medium sized creatures, you lose the -2 to hit. That's entirely an option if you want the fullblade in your game. Of course, then a character can monkey grip a large fullblade (3d8) with the -2 to hit.

Edit: As far as balance is concerned, I do think that the 2d8 fullblade for medium sized characters may often be far too good. The Large Bastard Sword 2d8 -2 for medium characters is weaker than a greatsword and a +4 damage bonus from power attack. A large greatsword (3d8) is almost always weaker than the same +4 damage bonus from power attack since your sacrificing 10% chance to hit.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

This is for 3.0 (AU actually). Evidently weapon damage changes with size increase has changed considerably in 3.5. If a Large greatsword does 3d6 damage, and a Medium character can wield it for the low, low cost of -2 to attack...bah. Bloody well ridiculous.

 

[Creamsteak]

Erm... I might have made an assumed "Monkey Grip" on that thing.

A medium character cannot ever wield a large two-handed weapon. It is simply too large.

Normally a character can wield a large longsword as if it was 1 hand heavier. In that case, it is a 2 handed weapon. A large light weapon like a shortsword goes from light -> one handed. A one handed weapon -> two handed. A two handed -> too heavy.

Monkey grip allows a character to use a large weapon with it's usual handing. A large longsword can be wielded like a normal longsword. The -2 penalty for using the miss-sized weapon still applies.

So you can monkey grip a large greatsword (3d6) for a -2 penalty to attack with power attack. Or you can monkey grip a large longsword in one hand (2d6) for a -2 penalty to attack.

You cannot apply monkey grip to your off hand (so no double greatswords for you!)

 

[Geoff Watson]

This is for 3.0 (AU actually). Evidently weapon damage changes with size increase has changed considerably in 3.5. If a Large greatsword does 3d6 damage, and a Medium character can wield it for the low, low cost of -2 to attack...bah. Bloody well ridiculous.

-2 to attack, AND a feat.

Power Attack is better.

Geoff.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Alright. I don't have 3.5, so I'm not familiar with all the new rules. Is it balanced for a Medium creature to take a feat and be able to do 1d8+1d6 damage instead of 2d6?

 

[Creamsteak]

Balance is relative. Your adding +2 average damage. That's the same as weapon specialization or (Power Attack + Weapon Focus). If you give the weapon a -1 to hit, it matches up with just 1 feat (Power Attack). I still don't think that it is too powerful as just an exotic proficiency, just a little better than power attacking for 1. Afterall, it only applies to a single (slightly more expensive and less common) weapon.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

I'm thinking it's +1 average, +2 max, Creamsteak. Thanks for your replies, though.

 

[Creamsteak]

I'm thinking it's +1 average, +2 max, Creamsteak. Thanks for your replies, though.

Oh, that's right, your using 1d6+1d8. I was assuming you were going straight to 2d8 (which is the natural progression).