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2 years ago ::
Jun 12, 2011 - 6:34AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Apr 10, 2011
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What’s the difference between a longsword and a large short sword? I mean they have the same dmg, same critical, require same effort for a medium size creature to wield (one handed) and in most ways they seem the same (including weight), might even be the same length for all I know…. But according to the size rules in page 113 on players handbook. The large short sword will take a -2 penalty on attack roll when wielded by a medium creature….This doesn’t make much sense to me. What do you think? Ps: A huge short sword and a greatsword are also the same as far as I can tell. Still the huge short sword will take a -4 penalty on attacks when wielded by a medium creature…
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2 years ago ::
Jun 12, 2011 - 8:26AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Oct 19, 2010
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What’s the difference between a longsword and a large short sword? I mean they have the same dmg, same critical, require same effort for a medium size creature to wield (one handed) and in most ways they seem the same (including weight), might even be the same length for all I know…. But according to the size rules in page 113 on players handbook. The large short sword will take a -2 penalty on attack roll when wielded by a medium creature….This doesn’t make much sense to me. What do you think?
Ps: A huge short sword and a greatsword are also the same as far as I can tell. Still the huge short sword will take a -4 penalty on attacks when wielded by a medium creature…
They might have the same damage dice, but they are not the same weapon. A short sword (or gladius) has a broader blade than the long sword (or battle sword), even though it is shorter. If you make the sword bigger the center of the weight is completely off.
The long sword is however broader again than the greatsword (or zweihänder), and simply making it bigger buggers the center of the mass for a normal character.
The three weapons, although they share certain similarities, are three completely different weapons (from completely different ages). When it comes to balance and use the short sword is comparable to a dagger morethan it is comparable to a long sword. The Great sword is comparable to a spear or lance rather than a long sword. They just all happen to be double edged pointy metal sticks.
I just got married, 16.7.2011, to a sexy librarian :D Suck it fate, there's no justice in the real world. There's no way I deserve this  -------------- The most interesting rules always kinda taste like lasagna
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2 years ago ::
Jun 12, 2011 - 11:50AM
#3
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The way a weapon is made will have an effect on how it is used. A small longsword may be similar in size to a medium shortsword but if both are made to be used with one hand the grip on the small longsword may be too small for hands of a medium sized creature. The way those two weapons are used will also change which will affect things like balance and construction methods.
If you want something better to question ask about shortspear, spear, longspear, and lance and how they interact with various size wielders. When all the "spears" are a wooden shaft with a spearhead on it I have a hard time distinguishing them. I really believe a small spear and a medium shortspear should be all but indistinguishable from each other.
I can definitely see why there is a -2 penalty but would waive that penalty for certain weapons.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 13, 2011 - 3:21PM
#4
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From a flavor perspective, it's all about balance and grip. For instance the short sword shown in the PHB is balanced closer to the hilt and the hilt has a larger pommel whereas the longsword is balanced more towards the middle of the blade and it's pommel is much smaller.
The short sword is very good at stabbing, the balance makes it easier to angle the blade how you want and the large pommel makes it easier to keep your grip when the hilt is covered in blood or when drawing the blade back out of the enemy. If you increase it's size proportionately however the balance while it stays in the same place relative to the blade gets much father away from you, making it much harder to use for stabbing and the even bigger pommel makes it all but impossible to slash with.
Et in arcadia ego~Even in paradise I am here Est Sularus Oth Mithas~My Honor Is My Life You, sir, are a liar. Or delusional. I like your style.- Zombie_Babies Spoiler:
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The two editions are very different...and make for two different games.
In general, 3.0/3.5 is built around more-or-less full freedom in terms of character customization.
In contrast, 4.0 is built around balance and ease of play.
Honestly, I think WotC should have maintained both lines as parallel games.
(real life friends came up with this not me) The Resident Nonexistant Antichrist Neanderthal Amish Werewolf Jesus Delusion.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 21, 2011 - 10:53AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Aug 21, 2007
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If you check page 27n of DMG, you will find a variant rule that let you use weapons of different sizes as a weapon of another size.
Example: a large longsword, becomes a medium Greatsword.
That is, if your DM lets you. I wouldn't
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1 year ago ::
Jan 07, 2012 - 6:54AM
#6
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A Huge Short Sword also has a Huge hilt, so you need Huge hands to hold it without penalty. The spears, though, I don't get. A Spear, for example, is in all ways a Large Shortspear, but gets a x3 crit multiplier.
A related question is what are the rules for when a weapon is counted as light; the SRD doesn't seem to be so clear on this. I would presume light is just one category smaller than one-handed, but there are some weapons which count as light even when they're only one-handed (though only for Weapon Finesse, I think). Could a Large person also use a Tower Shield, say, as a weapon?
By the way, do you double the weight of Large weapons? I can't actually find the source.
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