Weapon-Specific Feats, Size, and Silly Rules


Rules Questions

Dark Archive RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32

Mechanically speaking, a longsword for a small creature (1d6, 19-20/x2) is completely identical to a shortsword for a medium creature. The question is, though, are they actually interchangeable? Can the gnome fighter toss his small longsword to the human rogue (who then wields it like a shortsword)? Or does the rogue suffer the "inappropriately sized weapons" penalty?

Say the gnome fighter has Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization (longsword) and the party defeats a medium-sized foe who wields a powerfully enchanted shortsword. Well, it would be a considerable upgrade for our gnomish friend.... but can he apply his feats to the new weapon or not?

Grand Lodge

No.
To help you understand, think thicker or thinner grips, fitted for smaller or larger hands.


The difference is slashing vs piercing damage. You stab with a shortsword, but you cut with a longsword.

There are optional rules that allow for exactly that sort of exchange, so it would not break your game to allow it.


No, by RAW none of that works.

A small longsword will forever stay a small longsword.

In case if the medium shortsword, I might allow the gnome to get it refitted with a handle for smaller characters, get the balance fixed etc and turn it into a small longsword.
But that's not RAW.

Scarab Sages

Am I the only person who thinks it is weird that in fantasy games no one sharpens their short swords? Every sword I have picked up has an edge and a point.

Paizo Employee Design Manager

aku wrote:

Am I the only person who thinks it is weird that in fantasy games no one sharpens their short swords? Every sword I have picked up has an edge and a point.

Most Rapiers have an edge too, but that tends to be somewhat ancillary to their main purpose. BBT and Quatar are both right here though, a small longsword is still a small longsowrd, even with a medium person wielding it. On top of that, you take the penalties for using an Inappropriately Sized Weapon.

"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."


I should have said "there were optional rules".. specifically in 3.x. Those did not make it into Pathfinder.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Weapon-Specific Feats, Size, and Silly Rules All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.