rs2excelsior
2018-01-12, 01:46 PM
Linked this over from the simple RAW thread.
I'm looking at building a character, preferably a barbarian, who can use oversized weapons. Effectively dual-wielding larger weapons would be even better. Given that this (http://www.paperspencils.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Amiri.jpg) is the official artwork for a barbarian in Pathfinder (and the propensity for other ridiculously oversized weapons in their artwork), there seem to be surprisingly few options.
So it seems like if one picked up, for example, a large-sized longsword as a medium character, they can wield it in two hands and get a -2 penalty. Instead of 1d8 the large longsword does 2d6 damage--meaning it's exactly like wielding a medium greatsword, but with an attack penalty. It'd be better just to get a greatsword.
The Titan Mauler archetype is what I'm looking at currently. At 2nd level, you can wield a medium-sized 2H weapon as a 1H weapon, which seems... underwhelming? You can use a shield, sure, but you get a -2 to attack. You could also conceivably dual-wield 2H weapons (which is getting closer), treating each as a 1H weapon, which means a -6 penalty on both attacks if I'm figuring it right (-4 for not wielding a light weapon in your off hand, -2 for oversized weapon)--pretty hefty for a 2nd level character. Or -4 and -2 with a 2H weapon and a light weapon.
At 3rd level, you can use a large 2H weapon in two hands, but get an extra -4 for oversized weapon on top of the existing -2. But the penalty for wielding oversized weapons (all oversized weapons, presumably) goes down by 1, and by another 1 every 3 levels. So picking up a large-sized greatsword at level 3 gives you a -5 attack penalty? (-2-4+1) It would go to zero at 18th level, but at lower levels that seems crippling. Sure, you can use a large longsword in two hands with only a -1 penalty (and no penalty at 6th level), but that's identical to using a medium greatsword.
That said, a barbarian's high strength, rage boosts, and full BAB will help offset those penalties... but you're working from a disadvantage. Are there other options I've missed? Am I miscalculating how the penalties work?
(I am aware of the Impact weapon property, lead blades spell, and magic items that increase the effective size of your weapon. I'm looking for a character that picks up the biggest piece of steel he/she can carry and hits people with it. If I can stack impact on top of that... all the better.)
I'm looking at building a character, preferably a barbarian, who can use oversized weapons. Effectively dual-wielding larger weapons would be even better. Given that this (http://www.paperspencils.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Amiri.jpg) is the official artwork for a barbarian in Pathfinder (and the propensity for other ridiculously oversized weapons in their artwork), there seem to be surprisingly few options.
So it seems like if one picked up, for example, a large-sized longsword as a medium character, they can wield it in two hands and get a -2 penalty. Instead of 1d8 the large longsword does 2d6 damage--meaning it's exactly like wielding a medium greatsword, but with an attack penalty. It'd be better just to get a greatsword.
The Titan Mauler archetype is what I'm looking at currently. At 2nd level, you can wield a medium-sized 2H weapon as a 1H weapon, which seems... underwhelming? You can use a shield, sure, but you get a -2 to attack. You could also conceivably dual-wield 2H weapons (which is getting closer), treating each as a 1H weapon, which means a -6 penalty on both attacks if I'm figuring it right (-4 for not wielding a light weapon in your off hand, -2 for oversized weapon)--pretty hefty for a 2nd level character. Or -4 and -2 with a 2H weapon and a light weapon.
At 3rd level, you can use a large 2H weapon in two hands, but get an extra -4 for oversized weapon on top of the existing -2. But the penalty for wielding oversized weapons (all oversized weapons, presumably) goes down by 1, and by another 1 every 3 levels. So picking up a large-sized greatsword at level 3 gives you a -5 attack penalty? (-2-4+1) It would go to zero at 18th level, but at lower levels that seems crippling. Sure, you can use a large longsword in two hands with only a -1 penalty (and no penalty at 6th level), but that's identical to using a medium greatsword.
That said, a barbarian's high strength, rage boosts, and full BAB will help offset those penalties... but you're working from a disadvantage. Are there other options I've missed? Am I miscalculating how the penalties work?
(I am aware of the Impact weapon property, lead blades spell, and magic items that increase the effective size of your weapon. I'm looking for a character that picks up the biggest piece of steel he/she can carry and hits people with it. If I can stack impact on top of that... all the better.)