Small Weapons?

[Hypersmurf]

Also, if I wanted to make a super cheesy character, I could make a medium sized Fighter, take EWP: Spiked Chain, then use a small-sized Spike Chain and combine that w/ either a Shield or even dual wield 2 small-sized Spike Chains. A -2 to hit is NOT that big a deal for a Fighter. Especially since they can offset it with feats like Weapon Focus.

If you're using two Small Spiked Chains, you're taking a -6 on your attack rolls (assuming TWF) to deal 1d6 damage, 20/x2 critical.

-Hyp.

 

[Scion]

Also, if I wanted to make a super cheesy character, I could make a medium sized Fighter, take EWP: Spiked Chain, then use a small-sized Spike Chain and combine that w/ either a Shield or even dual wield 2 small-sized Spike Chains. A -2 to hit is NOT that big a deal for a Fighter. Especially since they can offset it with feats like Weapon Focus.

So you are taking a penalty to hit, a penalty to damage, and a penalty to various opposed checks in order to gain the benefit of a shield?

ok, sounds like an interesting character

 

[CRGreathouse]

Its not moving at the same power. You didnt understand what I typed, a halfing is using less mass to accelerate the weapon. First off a halfing CAN weild a d6 quarter staff but will take a penalty. Secondly a halfling quarter staff and a human quarterstaff have different diameters. The way D&D displays the size difference is the lower damage die. You are just trying to make a point that makes little sense. Smaller weapons do less damage thats that. Your arguements seem like you are stretching reality ( i realize we are talking about D&D but if your going to bring real world physics into D&D). Go try weilding a log and then try weilding a quarterstaff, you tell me which one you can get more force behind. Just accept the damn damage die and stop trying to change something that doesnt need to be changed. Just be lucky that small polearms still have reach in this edition.

Yep. Bigger weapons have more potemtial for damage, assuming requisite Strength is there. Of course, they might not be as easy to use, but that's mostly modeled with TWF penalties and the loss of Weapon Finesse.

Only if I had my Mangler CRGreathouse... only if... *inside joke*

One day its glorious history will be told from... (well, frankly from one seedy bar to a nearby assassin's guild, but that's what secrecy is all about, right?)

 

[RigaMortus]

If you're using two Small Spiked Chains, you're taking a -6 on your attack rolls (assuming TWF) to deal 1d6 damage, 20/x2 critical.

-Hyp.

Yes, if I wanted to go the 2 weapon route. Only -2 if I wanted to just use one spiked chain and a shield. Again, no big deal for a fighter.

 

[RigaMortus]

So you are taking a penalty to hit, a penalty to damage, and a penalty to various opposed checks in order to gain the benefit of a shield?

ok, sounds like an interesting character

The only penalty I am taking is a -2 to hit. The fact that the weapon does 1d6 instead of 2d4 isn't a penalty. That is the damage the weapon does. However, I am also gaining a lot of flexability. I can maintain a good distance from the opponent w/o the chance to get hit, and if the enemy moves up on me and tried to hit me, I now have a shield bonus. I can disarm w/o worrying about getting an AoO against me. I can make trip attempts.

You are gaining a lot more than the mere benefit of a shield.

My original point was though... How can a "medium" sized Spike Chain and a "small" sized Spiked Chain both have the same Reach?

 

[Scion]

the range comes from spending the feat.

There are better weapons for damage and crit range, but they dont have the reach.

Anyway though, the medium/small weapons work that way to make the small races viable. Hence why spears do exactly the same thing.

Using a spear already does most of what you are saying anyway, but the feat allows to use both lengths at the same time.

::shrugs:: there are other ways to get a shield bonus as well, I dont see a big problem.

 

[RigaMortus]

the range comes from spending the feat.

There are better weapons for damage and crit range, but they dont have the reach.

Anyway though, the medium/small weapons work that way to make the small races viable. Hence why spears do exactly the same thing.

Using a spear already does most of what you are saying anyway, but the feat allows to use both lengths at the same time.

::shrugs:: there are other ways to get a shield bonus as well, I dont see a big problem.

Yes, the spear and other reach weapons do the same thing. I was just using the Spiked Chain because it has a lot more versatility (being able to attack 5' and 10' away).

I don't think it is a "big problem". The original poster (and others) were complaining how it was silly to have rules which differentiate between a "medium" sized longsword and a "small" sized longsword. I was just pointing out one of the other "sillyness factors" in the way the weapons system is set up, which is, how smaller weapons of the same "type" can have the same reach?

 

[Scion]

::shrugs:: cat vs commoner

 

[FireLance]

Yes, the spear and other reach weapons do the same thing. I was just using the Spiked Chain because it has a lot more versatility (being able to attack 5' and 10' away).

I don't think it is a "big problem". The original poster (and others) were complaining how it was silly to have rules which differentiate between a "medium" sized longsword and a "small" sized longsword. I was just pointing out one of the other "sillyness factors" in the way the weapons system is set up, which is, how smaller weapons of the same "type" can have the same reach?

Like, how a dagger and a greatsword have the same reach?

Or, how a one-handed exotic weapon like the whip can have a 15-foot reach (although you do not threaten the area into which you can make an attack).

From that perspective, I don't see a problem with an exotic one-handed reach weapon.

 

[nimisgod]

there is an exotic light reach weapon: the kusari-game (DMG 3.5)