Large Greatsword

[Stormcrow]

Had it raised in a group i DM what are peoples oppinions on;

The length, breadth and weight of a Large Sized Greatsword?

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

Well, not to get technical, but greatswords are technically large.....but I know you mean a greatsword designed for a large-sized creature. And I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be all just the double of a regular one.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Weight: This column gives the weight of a Medium version of the weapon. Halve this number for Small weapons and double it for Large weapons.

A Medium Greatsword is 8 lbs. Therefore, a Large Greatsword is 16 lbs.

I'm no weapons expert, so I can't say anything about the other values.

[RandomNPC]

lets say, big, by wide, by humungorous.

i don't really know, i'd say it should be a reach weapon you can use to attack adjacent foes with.

[Zincorium]

lets say, big, by wide, by humungorous.

i don't really know, i'd say it should be a reach weapon you can use to attack adjacent foes with.

Large creatures already have that reach, which while not entirely realistic is the simple way that WotC has decided to go. Theoretically, reach for most weapons would vary considerably. You just can't reliably slash at someone with a dagger at the same distance you can with a longsword, and many polearms have wildly varying length and thus reach.

Anyway, as far as the OP goes, it'd be around 23% larger than a normal greatsword to retain proportional dimensions and weigh twice as much. That's long, but not really as long as you seem to be thinking.

[Matthew]

Great Swords are probably meant to represent Two Handed Swords.

You can read about how huge they are here:

http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html

[Fax Celestis]

Ever play Final Fantasy VII? Yeah, like that.

[Stormcrow]

Using the 23% theory its about a foot and a half of extra length, proportionally most of that is blade and a little handle to compensate and retain balance. The blade likely then to be three or four inches wide at the base.

The reason i ask is a Human Dragon Shaman i DM for is building one and i wanted an idea realistically of its size. Is it covered by a greatsword proficiency?

[Fax Celestis]

Technically. He still will take a penalty for wielding an off-size weapon (-4 I believe), which he can sub down to -2 if he burns a feat on Monkey Grip.

Neither is very pretty. Tell him to build something else.

[Lothorus]

Technically, yes the proficiency would remain the same, though you'd need to have the Monkey Grip feat or be one of a few races naturally capable of swinging it (like a half-giant).

[Stormcrow]

Or a goliath.
*le sigh* its more for the prestige me'thinks than the combat. Ala Gatsu from Berserk.

Personally, if i was going to bother with a large weapon, i'd make it a scythe.

[Fax Celestis]

Or a goliath.
*le sigh* its more for the prestige me'thinks than the combat. Ala Gatsu from Berserk.

Personally, if i was going to bother with a large weapon, i'd make it a scythe.

That begs the question: What does 2d4 upgrade to? 1d12?

[oriong]

2d4 upgrades to 2d6

[PinkysBrain]

Since it's in the same size category as the wielder I'd say it's about 12 feet long.

[Miles Invictus]

2d6, actually. Check the stats for the Falchion here.

[Stormcrow]

12 feet!!

That becomes completely unreasonable for a 6'4" Human Dragon Shaman no matter his he-man strength :P

[oriong]

It wouldn't be 12 feet I imagine, most Large creatures aren't even that tall, they're more commonly in the 7-10 range. Even the big greatswords aren't actually taller than the average human male, and so a Large greatsword probably wouldn't even be as tall as an Ogre.

[Stormcrow]

I'm thinking 7'5" long, about four inches wide and weighing roughly 20lb.

Thanks guys.

[Matthew]

Two Handed Swords go up to about 70" in length. You increase the length in proportion to the height of the user. It's worth mentioning, though, that many 'Great Swords' are much shorter, depending on your definition a Great Sword *could* be only 40" in length. I think 60-72" to be a reasonable range and probably 75-90" for a Large Great Sword. It wouldn't be anywhere near 20 lbs. More like about 10.

[NullAshton]

A greatsword is an object of the same size as the wielder. Thus, a large greatsword would be a large object, and most likely be the length of a large sized creature.

In the case of a medium creature, it would probably be a couple of meters.

[Raum]

Four inches wide?! If you're after verisimilitude you might want to just scale up from one of the Oakeshott types.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

The reason i ask is a Human Dragon Shaman i DM for is building one and i wanted an idea realistically of its size. Is it covered by a greatsword proficiency?

If you use a weapon sized for a creature one category larger than yourself, the amount of effort it takes goes up. A light weapon becomes a one-handed weapon. A one-handed weapon becomes a two-handed weapon. You cannot wield a larger two-handed weapon at all. A greatsword is a two-handed weapon, and would, therefore, be off limits.

However, as has been mentioned, the feat Monkey Grip can change this. It allows you to use a weapon one size category larger without changing its effort, albeit at a -2 penalty to attack.

[BCOVertigo]

If you use a weapon sized for a creature one category larger than yourself, the amount of effort it takes goes up. A light weapon becomes a one-handed weapon. A one-handed weapon becomes a two-handed weapon. You cannot wield a larger two-handed weapon at all. A greatsword is a two-handed weapon, and would, therefore, be off limits.

However, as has been mentioned, the feat Monkey Grip can change this. It allows you to use a weapon one size category larger without changing its effort, albeit at a -2 penalty to attack.

Is that to say that for the mere price of -4 to hit and 2 feats I , a lowly human, could be the proud wielder of a Huge Bastard Sword? ...That and a Sheath of Holding...

[Shhalahr Windrider]

No. Monkey Grip only works with weapons made for creatures exactly one size category larger than the wielder. It has no effect if the weapon is sized up two or more categories.

[oriong]

I don't think monkey grip affects weapons more than one size category larger than you, but even if it did I seriously doubt you would want to do it.

A Huge Bastard sword would do 3d8 damage, for a -4 to hit, while a Large, monkey gripped Greatsword does 4d6 (the same maximum, higher minimum, slightly larger average damage) for just -2.

[Norsesmithy]

I don't think monkey grip affects weapons more than one size category larger than you, but even if it did I seriously doubt you would want to do it.

A Huge Bastard sword would do 3d8 damage, for a -4 to hit, while a Large, monkey gripped Greatsword does 4d6 (the same maximum, higher minimum, slightly larger average damage) for just -2.

Not really, the best greatsword you can monkey grip is 3d6, the bastard sword is using the EWP Bastard sword to reduce it to single handed, and then Monkey grip to allow you to use a 2d8 one handed, or a 3d8 two handed.

Think of it as monkeygripping a Fullblade, assuming you let your players use one as a Two Handed weapon with the EWP, in 3.5 (not every DM does, mainly to prevent getting a 3d8 with your first level fighter)

[oriong]

Right you are, must have read one right to the table for some reason.

[AmoDman]

Not really, the best greatsword you can monkey grip is 3d6, the bastard sword is using the EWP Bastard sword to reduce it to single handed, and then Monkey grip to allow you to use a 2d8 one handed, or a 3d8 two handed.

Think of it as monkeygripping a Fullblade, assuming you let your players use one as a Two Handed weapon with the EWP, in 3.5 (not every DM does, mainly to prevent getting a 3d8 with your first level fighter)

Wrong, because since the Monkey Grip ONLY affects weapons one size category larger than you are, then you still treat a Huge-Sized Bastard Sword normally - meaning you can't wield one one-handed, two-handed, or otherwise (even if you can wield a large sized Bastard Sword in one hand due to Monkey Grip, the benefit does not carry over).

I already went over this with the Dwarven Waraxe awhile back. Just -2 Power Attack for +4 damage on every hit if you must.

[Norsesmithy]

Then just get EWP full blade, and Monkey Grip, and then call your Large Fulblade a Huge Bastard sword, because it is, if you use weapon equivilency.

Suboptimal, but rolling lots of dice is fun.

[Fax Celestis]

Suboptimal, but rolling lots of dice is fun.

Sounds like Yahtzee is the game for you then.