Rangers and bastard swords

[Bran Mak Morn]

Hi guys, a quick question regarding the rules relating to the ranger's ability to be equipped with two blades.

Provided the superior military weapon talent is taken, it seems the ranger may be eventually equipped with two bastard swords.

Do you know something in the rules hindering such a possibility?

Thank you in advance

Bran

 

[mjukglass]

Nope. Go get em tiger!

 

[Volabit]

Off Hander

Not sure, but I think on pg 217 where it describes weapon properties, the Off-Hand property says something about an off-hand weapon is light enough that you can hold it in your off-hand and still attack effectively while holding a weapon in your main hand. Also on pg 215, the last paragraph of Weapon Catagories makes pretty much the same comment about how some weapons are so light you can wield them in your off-hand and still be able to attack effectively either one. But not two attackes just with one or the other, unless you have abilities that allow you to.

 

[Bran Mak Morn]

Yes but the ranger's ability gives him the chance to handle one handed weapons, and the bastard sword is among them, as off hand weapons.... but it seems anyway strange to me to have a character with two bastard swords....

 

[Otterscrubber]

Yup, dual wielding bastards swords was my first choice. When I hit level 2 i retrained out of it though for the AC of TWD. Seems like a good idea but its a feat to get basically +1 damage on average, and from then on out you're crossing your fingers that you find two magic bastard swords. If it happens i'll retrain into it but I went for TWD and enlarged breath weapon for my dragonborn ranger.

 

[Blackbrrd]

50% of all melee characters will be using bastard swords.
25% of all melee characters will be using rapiers
25% of all melee characters will use some other weapon

... thats my theory!

 

[small pumpkin man]

Well, it's one point of damage per weapon die, which scales nicely with encounter powers, daily powers, and twin strike, and makes it better than weapon focus, which is a perfectly acceptable heroic feat. (as well as better than two weapon fighting which two weapon defence needs, which seems kinda bleh to me).

 

[Craith]

50% of all melee characters will be using bastard swords.
25% of all melee characters will be using rapiers
25% of all melee characters will use some other weapon

... thats my theory!

Count me in the last 25%, Longsword or Shortsword, not yet decided. Flavour trumps Stats

 

[Plane Sailing]

I presume that it is something they added to the ranger to prevent them falling far behind the archer-ranger with his 1d10 damage bow on all his attacks.

 

[Kzach]

Do you know something in the rules hindering such a possibility?

A good DM with a modicum of sense.

 

[Otterscrubber]

A good DM with a modicum of sense.

It's a feat for +1 Damage overall, not unbalanced at all. Especially considering scimitar dance is pretty much a solid paragon feat from 11 on, I can't see how any melee ranger with the stats to get it won't take that anyways. If you are a low dex melee ranger then ya, 2 bastard swords is the way to go for shizzle

 

[med stud]

From a mechanical perspective, +1 damage for a feat isn't that bad. The image of some guy running around with two bastard swords might be jarring but you can solve that by calling the bastard swords something else. As long as they are medium sized, deal 1d10 damage and have +3 prof you are golden.

 

[Bran Mak Morn]

A good DM with a modicum of sense.

Ya I know, I'm the Dm in the case, but it's much more difficult to stop a player using a rule contained in the official PH than in other supplements...
it would be perceived as something unfair...

anyway...it seems it may be done...provided I don't like the image of a human running over and fighting with two such big swords...

 

[Abdomens]

I have no problem with it. It's balanced first of all.

Second, flavourwise I imagine a ranger using bastard swords is not using large medieval type swords, but rather something more of a katana. And then it's a cool image.

 

[The_Pugilist]

I presume that it is something they added to the ranger to prevent them falling far behind the archer-ranger with his 1d10 damage bow on all his attacks.

You could always use dual wielded Warhammers, Battle Axes, or Flails. You don't get the extra proficiency +1 that swords have, but you do get the damage.

Axes are what my crazy Orc Ranger will be using, should I get a chance to play any time soon. Plus then at Paragon level you can take Deadly Axe.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

House rule:

the ranger can only use nonversatile weapons in his left hand!

 

[Cadfan]

Dudes, bastard sword = katana. Of course the ranger can have two.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

Well, it's one point of damage per weapon die...

Where did you see that "per weapon die." part? I don't recall reading that in the books. Is that in the erratta?

 

[rhm001]

Dudes, bastard sword = katana. Of course the ranger can have two.

[requiredanimecomplaint]It's SO anime! Total wrongbadfun![/requiredanimecomplaint]

 

[szilard]

Maybe it is just me, but I've been wanting to play a ranger who dual wields hand axes or javelins or something that can benefit from both dual wielding and ranged powers without switching weapons...

-Stuart