spears

[Llewellyn]

okay hey there everyone, new to forums but I had a question. my group have started playing 3.5 at the moment and I've come across something that needs answering. We killed a couple of Kobolds and got some spears (small) now seeing as how for a small creature they are a two handed weapon but can a medium creature hold the spear one handed and use it as a short spear without penalty? looking at stats shortspear and spear (small) both have the same damage and crits.

edit: okay I was wrong on the crits, spear is x3 and shortspear is x2

[Lightlawbliss]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/weapons.htm


Inappropriately Sized Weapons
A creature can’t make optimum use of a weapon that isn’t properly sized for it. A cumulative -2 penalty applies on attack rolls for each size category of difference between the size of its intended wielder and the size of its actual wielder. If the creature isn’t proficient with the weapon a -4 nonproficiency penalty also applies.

The measure of how much effort it takes to use a weapon (whether the weapon is designated as a light, one-handed, or two-handed weapon for a particular wielder) is altered by one step for each size category of difference between the wielder’s size and the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed. If a weapon’s designation would be changed to something other than light, one-handed, or two-handed by this alteration, the creature can’t wield the weapon at all.

[mythmonster2]

You would wield it with the stats a Small Longspear would have, but you take a -2 penalty to hit with it. Relevant passages:

Inappropriately Sized Weapons: A creature can’t make optimum use of a weapon that isn’t properly sized for it. A cumulative –2 penalty applies on attack rolls for each size category of difference between the size of its intended wielder and the size of its actual wielder. Thus, a human wielding a Small dagger takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls (one size category different), and an ogre wielding a Small longsword takes a –4 penalty (two size categories different). If the creature isn’t proficient with the weapon (a wizard attempting to wield a Small battleaxe, for instance), a –4 nonproficiency penalty also applies.

The measure of how much effort it takes to use a weapon (whether the weapon is designated as a light, one-handed, or twohanded weapon for a particular wielder) is altered by one step for each size category of difference between the wielder’s size and the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed. For instance, a Small greatsword (a two-handed weapon for a Small creature) is considered a one-handed weapon for a Medium creature, or a light weapon for a Large creature. Conversely, a Large dagger (a light weapon for a Large creature) is considered a one-handed weapon for a Medium creature, or a two-handed weapon for a Small creature. If a weapon’s designation would be changed to something other than light, one-handed, or two-handed by this alteration, the creature can’t wield the weapon at all.
Edit: Swordsage'd

[Llewellyn]

okay thanks for that, guess I missed that part about if it changes to a different category we can't even wield it