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Is it possible for a Medium PC to use a Large Orc Double Axe which is a two handed weapon?
I can see the -2 penalty to attack rolls but I would think a 1 handed Large weapon wielded by a Medium Character would require 2 hands to use.
I have a similar situation in my campaign. I allowed a player to take Monkey Grip for his fighter using a large greatsword. As per Monkey Grip rules, a character can use a weapon one size larger at a -2 penalty with no increase in the amount of effort (ie its "handedness" doesn't change.) Monkey Grip is in D&D 3.5e Complete Warrior.
Essentially the character took a -2 penalty to hit for an extra d6 of damage. At an average of 3.5 points extra, Monkey Grip is less powerful than Power Attack. That doesn't stop the character from averaging 25 points of damage per hit at 4th level. Ouch. I need to start writing tougher encounters.
Zo
Is it possible for a Medium PC to use a Large Orc Double Axe which is a two handed weapon?
I can see the -2 penalty to attack rolls but I would think a 1 handed Large weapon wielded by a Medium Character would require 2 hands to use.
From PRD -> Equipment -> Weapon Size:
"Weapon Size: Every weapon has a size category. This designation indicates the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed.
A weapon's size category isn't the same as its size as an object. Instead, a weapon's size category is keyed to the size of the intended wielder. In general, a light weapon is an object two size categories smaller than the wielder, a one-handed weapon is an object one size category smaller than the wielder, and a two-handed weapon is an object of the same size category as the wielder.
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. For example, a Small creature would wield a Medium one-handed weapon as a two-handed weapon. 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."
Basically, since a Double Axe is a Two-Handed melee weapon, only a creature of the size of the weapon or larger can wield it.
In other words, a Large Double Axe is:
* a Two-Handed weapon for a Large creature
* a One-Handed weapon for a Huge creature (with a -2 to hit due to size difference)
* a Light weapon for a Gargantuan creature (with a -4 to hit due to two size difference)
Colossal creatures cannot wield a Large Double Axe at all, since it would be too small for them; on the other end, Medium creatures (or smaller) cannot wield it, too, since it would be a, uh, Three-Handed (or more) weapon - a category that doesn't exist.