| Kazaan |
Oh, it isn't?
It is not listed, as an One-handed weapon?
It doesn't have the hit points of an One-handed weapon, without a feat?
It can't be a Blackblade, without a feat?
Does not a Monk of the Empty Hand treat it as a Club?
No, it isn't, because we're talking about wielding, not its category as an item. Just as a Large Longsword doesn't change in HP or hardness because of virtual category when wielded by a Medium character as opposed to a Large character, a Bastard Sword, as an item, is always and forever a one-handed weapon whether you consider it lying on the ground or in the hand of a creature. However, in regards to wielding it, it may be virtually considered something other than a 1-h weapon based on applicable rules elements and one of those rules elements, specific to the Bastard Sword (along with the Katana, Dwarven Hammer, and certain others), is that you treat it as if it were a 2-h weapon if you lack EWP and determine proficiency based on whether or not your character is proficient with martial weapons.
So, once again, a Bastard Sword is a 1-h weapon as an item regardless of who wields it so things that must be considered even if the weapon is lying unattended use this criteria. A Huge Bastard Sword can be a black blade, even if its "chosen Magus" is incapable of wielding it. If a weapon enchantment requires that the weapon be a one-handed or light weapon, it can be put on a Bastard Sword. HP and Hardness consider it as a 1-h weapon and crafting DC considers it as an exotic weapon. But a completely different list of rules elements that apply to how it is wielded come into play that may or may not agree with its "handiness" category as a weapon. So it can be a 1-h exotic weapon when regarding HP, Hardness, DC to craft, and whether or not it can be a Black Blade, but simultaneously a 2-h martial weapon when considering how a specific individual may wield it and what abilities and rules elements it does or doesn't cooperate with. And, since wielding an improvised weapon is a matter of wielding, we must consider its effort to wield category specific to that character. Thus, you can't "dodge" the proficiency requirement by saying, "I'm swinging it around as an improvised weapon" because for that specific character, while it may as an item be a 1-h exotic weapon with all physical and magical qualities thereof, they wield it as a 2-h weapon and it interacts with feats, abilities, and other rules elements pertaining to making attacks as if it were a 2-h weapon.
| Kazaan |
Wow.
I wish I could rant with such clarity.
The key is to use bold for emphasis rather than CAPS. It pops, but doesn't convey the implication that you are YELLING. Proper grammar and spelling are a must and a strong, erudite vocabulary helps greatly. Additionally, know how to vary sentence structure; semicolons are a boon if you know how to properly use them.