Two-handed weapon use question

[szilard]

If you use a weapon two-handed, you apply 1.5 times your strength bonus. What happens if you have a strength penalty? It makes no sense for your penalty to be increased... and it probably ought to be ameliorated somewhat. Did I miss something in the rules about this?

-Stuart

 

[Darklone]

Strange. In the SRD at least there's nothing about a str penalty ... except for bows.

They simply failed to consider someone with a str penalty using a two handed weapon?

Edit: I didn't even find something that a str penalty decreases one's damage!

 

[Geoff Watson]

It says 'bonus', not 'modifier', so penalties aren't increased.

Geoff.

 

[Darklone]

Right. But I didn't find where it says that a penalty is applied to the damage. But that should be somewhere...

 

[szilard]

Strength (Str)

Strength measures your character’s muscle and physical power. This ability is especially important for fighters, barbarians, paladins, rangers, and monks because it helps them prevail in combat. Strength also limits the amount of equipment your character can carry.

You apply your character’s Strength modifier to:

* Melee attack rolls.
* Damage rolls when using a melee weapon or a thrown weapon (including a sling). (Exceptions: Off-hand attacks receive only one-half the character’s Strength bonus, while two-handed attacks receive one and a half times the Strength bonus. A Strength penalty, but not a bonus, applies to attacks made with a bow that is not a composite bow.)
* Climb, Jump, and Swim checks. These are the skills that have Strength as their key ability.
* Strength checks (for breaking down doors and the like).

-Stuart

 

[Darklone]

Duh. Ok. It's there. Brainfart here. You apply your strength modifier to .... damage rolls when using a melee weapon.

So you apply the str penalty to a twohanded weapon.

Thanks Stu.