I was talking with a member of my gaming group and he’d mentioned a plan he had with his barbarian character. The character wields an Earthbreaker, a two handed weapon. He said that in the Complete Warrior there is a feat that allows a maul (also a two handed weapon) to be wielded with one hand, and it works similar to the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feats work.
He postulated that considering the similarities between Mauls and Earthbreakers, would it be balanced to be able to take an equivalent feat to the one in CW but for the Earthbreaker instead of the Maul. I believe his desire it to free up a hand in order to carry a shield and up his AC. The Barbarian has already died twice in the campaign (once being resurrected, the other time being re-incarnated [going from a human to an orc in the process]).
Since I don’t think he has internet access right now, I thought I’d post this. Is the idea of a feat for one handed usage of an EarthBreaker feasible? Are there already any feats in pathfinder that do this that we’ve missed?
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I believe the feat in question is called "Monkey Grip" and it doesn't just specify mauls. It states that you can use ANY two-handed weapon in a single hand, albeit at a -2 penalty to hit (if I recall correctly). So yes, I don't see any problem with allowing the feat to work with an Earthbreaker as it is broad enough to include any such weapon already.
I believe the feat in question is called "Monkey Grip" and it doesn't just specify mauls. It states that you can use ANY two-handed weapon in a single hand, albeit at a -2 penalty to hit (if I recall correctly). So yes, I don't see any problem with allowing the feat to work with an Earthbreaker as it is broad enough to include any such weapon already.
Hmm . . . He mentioned Monkey Grip as an option as well, so I was thinknig he was refering to another feat for the maul specifically. I'll have to research this once I get access to my books again.
Earthbreakers ARE Mauls - and if you really want a one-handed Earthbreaker - use a Small one. They're martial weapons any way. ^_^
Mauls are not two-handed weapons, they are one-handed exotics that can be wielded two-handed with martial weapon proficiency (see bastard swords and dwarven waraxes). From what I remember, earthbreakers are two-handed martial weapons, like a greatsword or greataxe.
So no, exotic weapon proficiency shouldn't allow them to be wielded as a one-handed weapon. Strictly speaking, monkey grip (3.5) does not allow you to do this either. Monkey grip (3.5) allows you to use a weapon sized for a larger creature with the same effort. So you could wield a large longsword with one hand (at a -2 penalty) but you couldn't wield a medium greatsword with one hand (assuming you are medium of course).
Now if you used the 3e version of monkey grip, then it does allow you to wield a two-handed weapon with one hand. But the restrictions are greater in that you have to pick the specific weapon you wish to be able to do this with, and you still take the -2 penalty.
If the player wants to use a shield, then he should look at the feat(s) in one of the pathfinder books (3th or 4th book of the crimson throne), that allows you to use a klar (sp?) and an earthbreaker together.
Mauls are not two-handed weapons, they are one-handed exotics that can be wielded two-handed with martial weapon proficiency (see bastard swords and dwarven waraxes). From what I remember, earthbreakers are two-handed martial weapons, like a greatsword or greataxe.
So no, exotic weapon proficiency shouldn't allow them to be wielded as a one-handed weapon. Strictly speaking, monkey grip (3.5) does not allow you to do this either. Monkey grip (3.5) allows you to use a weapon sized for a larger creature with the same effort. So you could wield a large longsword with one hand (at a -2 penalty) but you couldn't wield a medium greatsword with one hand (assuming you are medium of course).
Now if you used the 3e version of monkey grip, then it does allow you to wield a two-handed weapon with one hand. But the restrictions are greater in that you have to pick the specific weapon you wish to be able to do this with, and you still take the -2 penalty.
If the player wants to use a shield, then he should look at the feat(s) in one of the pathfinder books (3th or 4th book of the crimson throne), that allows you to use a klar (sp?) and an earthbreaker together.
*Ahem* "A character can use a maul two-handed as a martial weapon." Complete Warrior, page 157. Seems that if you're using it proficiently, all other considerations are basically irrelevant save for those tied to proficiency requirements. You can use a bastard sword with proficiency two-handed as a martial weapon, even take various 'weapon specific' feats with Bastard Sword last I checked without having the exotic weapon proficiency feat precisely because it is wielded two-handed as a martial weapon. Without the exotic weapon proficiency feat you're slurping on that -4 non-proficiency attack penalty when swinging one around one-handed, but hey, if that's what it takes *shrugs*.
A two-handed weapon one size smaller than your own [a Medium two-handed weapon becomes one-handed at size Small] becomes one-handed whilst a weapon two sizes smaller than your own becomes a light weapon. Frankly, neither the Maul nor the Earthbreaker is outstanding enough a weapon to warrant classification as an Exotic Weapon, imo. YMMV of course. ^_^
Here is the only thread I could find quickly referring to mauls compared to earthbreakers. I do seem to recall one of the Paizo "big kahunas" themselves clarifying that the earthbreaker is a reworked maul for Paizo's purposes as well - serious thread necromancy might be required to get that to happen however.
*Ahem* "A character can use a maul two-handed as a martial weapon." Complete Warrior, page 157.
Yup. And on p. 154, the chart clearly places the maul in the exotic one-handed melee weapons catagory.
Without the exotic weapon proficiency feat you're slurping on that -4 non-proficiency attack penalty when swinging one around one-handed, but hey, if that's what it takes *shrugs*.
Actually you can't wield it one-handed without proficiency. "A maul is too large to use in one hand without special training (the appropriate Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat)." [CW p.157] And of course the bastard sword and the dwarven waraxe both have similar statements on p.121 of the PH.
Frankly, neither the Maul nor the Earthbreaker is outstanding enough a weapon to warrant classification as an Exotic Weapon, imo. YMMV of course. ^_^
Well the maul is equally qualified to be an exotic as both the dwarven waraxe and the bastard sword. Now whether those should be exotics ...
Here is the only thread I could find quickly referring to mauls compared to earthbreakers. I do seem to recall one of the Paizo "big kahunas" themselves clarifying that the earthbreaker is a reworked maul for Paizo's purposes as well - serious thread necromancy might be required to get that to happen however.
Well if their intention was to make it a "maul", then they had lots of fail. It is clearly stated as two-handed martial weapon and the damage and crit is equal to the greataxe. It seems more likely they tried to make it a "great hammer" than a "maul". If they wanted to rework the maul but not have the exact same states that could have made a one-handed exotic that can be wielded two-hands with the martial weapon proficiency that does 1d8 damage and has crit x4.
EDIT: Durrr, I forgot to post the real thing I wanted to. The feat that allows you to use both a klar and an earthbreaker and keep the AC from the klar is called "Thunder and Fang" and is on p.28 of A History of Ashes (PF#10).
Well if their intention was to make it a "maul", then they had lots of fail. It is clearly stated as two-handed martial weapon and the damage and crit is equal to the greataxe. It seems more likely they tried to make it a "great hammer" than a "maul".
Exactly:
Maul = blunt dwarven waraxe
Earthbreaker = blunt greataxe
EDIT: Durrr, I forgot to post the real thing I wanted to. The feat that allows you to use both a klar and an earthbreaker and keep the AC from the klar is called "Thunder and Fang" and is on p.28 of A History of Ashes (PF#10).
Thanks Pres man, found the feat.
Actually, thank you everyone for your feedback and input on this. My buddy likes the idea of Thunder & Fang, but doesn't have the right feats to pick it up in a timely manner.
But where that lead is just getting a buckerto use with the Earthbreaker and keep the Earthbreaker two handed. I think he mentioned there's a feat called improved buckler defense that would help him out with using it. Any further suggestions?
But where that lead is just getting a buckerto use with the Earthbreaker and keep the Earthbreaker two handed. I think he mentioned there's a feat called improved buckler defense that would help him out with using it. Any further suggestions?
Doh! I am such a moron, I should have suggested the IBD from the get go, but the whole Paizo earthbreaker thing got me stuck in Paizo feat mode. Dang it. Just be aware that some people would argue that the IBD only works with two weapons (and maybe double-weapons). I would disagree due to the matching description with the standard buckler rules, but it is something to be aware of.
give him the Thunder and Fang feat from the Varisia Player's companion. it allows you to wield an earthbreaker one handed with a klar in the other hand. the Klar can be used as a weapon or as a shield when needed.
You have been about 4 years ninja'ed on that suggestion. ;D