Expansion and Attacks of Opportunity

[GryffonDurime]

While creating a new character, I recently ran into a bit of a snag, but I'm certain you all can clear it up: if I use Expansion to become a Large creature with a natural reach of 10, and I then equip myself with what would normally be a reach weapon for Mediums (expanded by the power as it claims to include my equipment) does it provide any additional reach? Additionally, since reach weapons can't be used within five feet when Medium-sized, do my large reach weapons now REQUIRE me to be at least ten feet away? Am I making this all more complicated than it needs to be?

Thanks in advance for any illumination you can provide.

[Dhavaer]

A large creature with a reach weapon has reach out to 15 feet and can't attack anything within 5 feet.

[Fourth Tempter]

As it happens, a Large creature with a reach weapon has reach out to twenty feet, and can only attack things that are fifteen or twenty feet away.

[GryffonDurime]

Yeah, that'd be the problem...I'm not exactly sure what can do what, at least by raw vs logic. The SRD doesn't explicitly state that a reach weapon's minimum distance extends--in fact, it refers to it as adjacent, rather than by a set distance--which brings up the question: as a Large creature, would the same reach issue apply to a normally non-reach weapon?

[Tor the Fallen]

Easy way around this: manifest claws of the beast.

[GryffonDurime]

Easy way around this: manifest claws of the beast.

Problem with easy answer: I don't want to take claws of the beast. It does not appeal to the setup of this character, nor do I find it particularly interesting.

[Fourth Tempter]

An easier way around it is to wear a spiked gauntlet, armor spikes, or blade boots.

[GryffonDurime]

An easier way around it is to wear a spiked gauntlet, armor spikes, or blade boots.

Again, the easy answer is problematic because the character is a reach-weapon specialist and thusly such armaments are largely improper.

[Tor the Fallen]

Again, the easy answer is problematic because the character is a reach-weapon specialist and thusly such armaments are largely improper.

Protecting against his main weakness is improper?

[GryffonDurime]

Yes. Yes it is.

I just want to know what effect it would have, as all the straight answers I've seen are conflicting.

[Fourth Tempter]

Again, the easy answer is problematic because the character is a reach-weapon specialist and thusly such armaments are largely improper.

...what? That is akin to saying that a strong man with a greatsword is a weapon specialist, not an armor specialist, and so wearing armor would be improper. How would adding a few spikes to his bracer or blades to his gauntlet, in case someone manages to get within his weapon's reach, be improper?

[Glyphic]

Page 149-150, Player's hand book. Large or Larger Creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their normal reach but can't strke at their natural reach or less. (Ie:, Large creatures can strike at 20-15 ft, but can't hit opponents at 10-5 ft).

The claws/spiked gauntlets are to enable the creature to strike at 10-5 by using their normal reach without having to switch weapons. For added benefit, a person with spiked gauntlets can't be disarmed.

[martyboy74]

By the way, the nice, cheddary, solution to this is the spiked chain.

Or you could take Short Haft (PHB2), but where's the fun in that?

[Closet_Skeleton]

You can always use the spear as an improvised quarter staff within your natural reach. If you're DM is happy with you doing so that is, not that you need a house rule to do this.

[Citizen Joe]

You could fill that 'dead space' with other party members.