Weapon Sizes and the Bastard Sword

[Hypersmurf]

So a typical one-handed weapon wielded by a halfling has more hit points then!?

"The hp value given is for Medium armor, weapons, and shields. Divide by 2 for each size category of the item smaller than Medium, or multiply it by 2 for each size category larger than Medium."

A Medium longsword (Medium one-handed blade) has 5 hit points. If wielded by a halfling, it's treated as a Small two-handed blade, with 10 hit points divided by 2... 5 hit points.

-Hyp.

 

[Thanee]

Why would it be treated as a small weapon?

Does that mean, there is no penalty for inappropriate size then (i.e. medium longsword wielded by halfling)?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hypersmurf]

Why would it be treated as a small weapon?

Because otherwise its hit points would change

Does that mean, there is no penalty for inappropriate size then (i.e. medium longsword wielded by halfling)?

The penalty is applied a paragraph before the designation changes

-Hyp.

 

[Thanee]

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Of course, the weapon never changes its size, that's what morphing weapons are for.
Also, the weapon never changes its hardness or hit points, they are based on what the weapon is listed as.

However, apart from the listed designation, there is also a wielder-specific designation (as per the above-quoted paragraph), on which any penalties to attack are based. This is what the wielder 'uses' the weapon as.

A medium-sized wielder with special training uses a medium bastard sword as a one-handed exotic weapon. If the size category of the weapon increases, so does the designation... and it is then designated as a two-handed exotic weapon for the wielder.

A medium-sized wielder without special training uses a medium bastard sword as a two-handed martial weapon. If the size category of the weapon increases, so does the designation... and it is then impossible to use, which comes after two-handed.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hypersmurf]

A medium-sized wielder without special training uses a medium bastard sword as a two-handed martial weapon.

Two-handed, as a martial weapon.

You keep putting 'two-handed' in the wrong position in the sentence.

-Hyp.

 

[Thanee]

I just realize, that a weapon, which you need two hands to wield and which you cannot wield in one, is a two-handed weapon for you, and that this designation is specific to the wielder.

Light, One-Handed, and Two-Handed Melee Weapons: This designation is a measure of how much effort it takes to wield a weapon in combat. It indicates whether a melee weapon, when wielded by a character of the weapon’s size category, is considered a light weapon, a one-handed weapon, or a two-handed weapon.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I just realize...

Oh, I’ve learned many things about Hypersmurf over my time here… He’s doesn’t just have an uncanny understanding of the rules. He’s also has an uncanny understanding of the language of the rules.

But mostly I’ve learned that Hyper is the lawyer that every player should have on retainer.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I just realize, that a weapon, which you need two hands to wield and which you cannot wield in one, is a two-handed weapon for you, and that this designation is specific to the wielder.

The designation defines the measure of effort (absent exceptions); the effort does not determine the designation.

The bastard sword is designated a one-handed weapon; it has an exception that means it can't be wielded in one hand without special training. That doesn't make it a two-handed weapon; it makes it a one-handed weapon with a special rule.

-Hyp.

 

[Thanee]

Ok, so you say, that the designation change rule does not apply to that part also.

Can a medium-sized human use a colossal bastard sword in two hands then (with the appropriate penalty to attack)?

Since the rule, that disallows weapon use by size does not apply according to you, that should work, yes? There is the special rule after all, that specifically allows a bastard sword (no mentioning of size) to be wielded in two hands as a martial weapon, just not in one, and special case rules take precedence over general ones, no?

A character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon.

Bye
Thanee