Using a 2-Handed Weapon in One Hand

[Pinotage]

Can you use a two-handed weapon in one hand? So, for example, can a fighter wield a glaive in one hand and take a -4 penalty, or can it not be done at all?

Also, how do weapon sizes work with ranged weapons? What size bow can a small character use and what are the penalties for using different size bows?

Thanks

Pinotage

 

[Hypersmurf]

Can you use a two-handed weapon in one hand? So, for example, can a fighter wield a glaive in one hand and take a -4 penalty, or can it not be done at all?

It can't be done at all. Unless it's a lance, and you're mounted.

Also, how do weapon sizes work with ranged weapons? What size bow can a small character use and what are the penalties for using different size bows?

As written, a Small character can wield a Colossal bow, at a -10 penalty.

The penalty is -2 per size category difference between the character and the weapon.

It's an oversight in the rules. A Light weapon a size larger is treated as a One-Handed weapon; a One-Handed weapon a size larger is treated as a Two-Handed weapon; and a Two-Handed weapon a size larger is treated as a larger-than-Two-Handed weapon. A weapon that changes to something other than Light, One-Handed, or Two-Handed cannot be wielded.

However, those designations only apply to melee weapons. So a bow - even though it requires two hands to use - is not, in fact, a Two-Handed weapon. Or a Light weapon, or a One-Handed weapon. So when you use a bow a size larger, it doesn't change to something other than Light, One-Handed, or Two-Handed - it was never any of those in the first place! So the rule doesn't prevent you using that bow. Or the bow two sizes larger. Or, indeed, the bow five sizes larger.

I asked Customer Service about this when 3.5 first came out; they suggested a possible house rule: you can only use a ranged weapon up to two sizes larger or smaller. So a halfling could use a Diminutive or Large bow at -4, or a Tiny or Medium bow at -2, or a Small bow at no penalty, but not a Fine bow, or a Huge or larger bow.

But it's up to your DM if he wants to implement some sort of house rule - that one or another - or none at all.

-Hyp.

 

[Pinotage]

What about using the glaive one-handed as an improvised weapon? Perhaps reduce the damage dice and take the -4 penalty to hit?

Pinotage

 

[xazil]

A medium creature could use a small size glaive as one handed weapon at -2 to hit. But it will not give reach.

 

[Darklone]

Why would it not give reach? A small sized glaive is a reach weapon?

Edit: I didn't find something in the SRD in the inappropriately sized weapon paragraph... is it written somewhere else? Or do you mean 3.0?

 

[xazil]

I was quoted this a while ago when I asked the same thing.

SRD - A typical Large character wielding a reach weapon of the appropriate size can attack a creature 15 or 20 feet away, but not adjacent creatures or creatures up to 10 feet away.

I am assuming that what applies to large characters, as this is in an example, applies to everyone.

 

[Darklone]

Well, the context of that sentence makes it pretty clear IMHO that it's just an example and not something exclusive.

But IMHO and YMMV and so on

 

[Hypersmurf]

I am assuming that what applies to large characters, as this is in an example, applies to everyone.

So you feel a typical Small character wielding a reach weapon of the appropriate size can attack a creature 15 or 20 feet away, but not adjacent creatures or creatures up to 10 feet away?

-Hyp.

 

[xazil]

No, but then my answer was to Darklone who was asking about appropriate sizing, not how far the reach extends.

 

[Hypersmurf]

No, but then my answer was to Darklone who was asking about appropriate sizing, not how far the reach extends.

So you're saying the Large 'example' applies to everyone... but only the first part of it, not the rest of it?

-Hyp.