Wyvernhand
First Post
A Large shortsword is called a longsword or perhaps a Greatsword. That is, a 2 foot blade goes to 4 foot blade (with an uncomfortable grip). Decidedly not a Reach weapon.
Except that its not. Again, 3.5 changed the rules. In 3.0, a medium sized longsword was essentially a greatsword in the hands of a small character and a short sword in the hands of a large character.
3.5 changed this. A large longsword is a large longsword. A medium character can use it, but they suffer a -2 penalty for inappropriate size. Monkey Grip doesn't help this.
SRD said: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.
All weapons are now sized to the creature. A medium creature wields medium weapons, a large creature wields large weapons, etc. If the weapon isn't sized for you, its "inappropriate". If a reach weapon is inappropriately sized for you, it doesn't grant reach.