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D20 SRD says:
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. 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.
If you note the iconic Barbarian is using it two-handed with the exotic weapon proficiency. The rules for using oversized/undersized weapons is at the start of the weapon section in the equipment chapter.
The basics go like this... if the weapon is made for a creature one size larger then you it is one step harder to use (one-handed -> two-handed) and you suffer a -2 penalty.
For a large bastard sword being used by a medium creature, you must have the exotic weapon proficiency to use it in two-hands (with -2 to hit). Without EWP you can't use it at all.
Without EWP you can't use it at all.
Hmm. Couldn't he use it as non-proficient, taking the additional -4 penalty?
Reasoning:
If the Bastard Sword (one handed) is an exotic weapon, then when moving to large, it is still an exotic weapon, but now must be wielded two-handed. So a medium creature who was proficient in Bastard Sword could wield it at a straight -2 penalty. A medium creature who is non-proficient should be able to wield it at an additional -4.
If you take the fact that the Barbarian is proficient in Martial Weapons out of the picture, and assume for a second that he was a wizard picking a medium bastard sword up and using it, you'd say to him. "Hmm. You are not proficient in that weapon. If it were medium, you could wield it one-handed or two-handed, but in either case, you will take a -4 non-proficiency penalty. Because it is large, you'd have to pretend it's a one-handed weapon, which will then turn it into a two-handed weapon because of it's size. You can still wield it, but you will take an additional -2 penalty because it is inappropriately sized for you."
... Okay, yes you could use it that way. Massive -6 penalty for at most 4 extra damage over a great sword.
... Okay, yes you could use it that way. Massive -6 penalty for at most 4 extra damage over a great sword.
Oh, you're right. I'm not saying it's practical, just possible.
"Grog want REALLY big sword."
"But Grog, you really can't swing it effectively."
"Grog no care. Grog want BIG SWORD".
"<sigh> Okay Grog. Here you go."
"Grog now want HUGE DAGGER".
"<sigh>"
Without EWP you can't use it at all.Hmm. Couldn't he use it as non-proficient, taking the additional -4 penalty?
Nope. It's a special case. It just is a two-handed weapon unless you have special training to make it one-handed. Without this training, you cannot take -4 to use it one-handed any more than you could use a greatsword one-handed.
It just is a two-handed weapon unless you have special training to make it one-handed.
"A bastard sword is too large to use in one hand without special training; thus, it is an exotic weapon. A character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon. "
As written, it's the other way around. A bastard sword is an exotic one-handed weapon that has the special case of allowing you to use as if it were a two-handed martial weapon. In the SRD it appears in the Exotic One-Handed table, but not at all in the Martial Two-Handed table.
As written, any character can wield it one-handed non-proficiently as an exotic weapon. A mage picking it up in a dungeon is at no greater disadvantage in wielding it one handed or two. They are simply not proficient in either case.
In fact, given:
Improvised Weapons
Sometimes objects not crafted to be weapons nonetheless see use in combat. Because such objects are not designed for this use, any creature that uses one in combat is considered to be nonproficient with it and takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls made with that object. To determine the size category and appropriate damage for an improvised weapon, compare its relative size and damage potential to the weapon list to find a reasonable match. An improvised weapon scores a threat on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. An improvised thrown weapon has a range increment of 10 feet.
the argument could be made that any oversided two-handed sword could be wielded by any creature capable of lifting it, given a non-proficiency penalty of -4.
"You find an ogre's great sword."
"Da. Mongo find new weapon!"
"it's too big for you to wield"
"Mongo pretend it is improvised lance and take -4 penalty"
[DM looks up damage of similar weapon from table (oh look! greatsword!) and says it does damage as if it were a large greatsword, and threats for x2 damage on a 20]
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Without any feats, a large weapon can be used by a medium creature with a -2 penalty to it, like so:
Light -> One-Handed
One-Handed -> Two-Handed
Two-Handed -> Not Possible
With the feat Monkey Grip, a character could hold a weapon in the same number of hands, but still must keep the -2 penalty.
This makes it possible for the barbarian in my Rise of the Runelords game, for example, to hold the Large Greataxe his ancestor took off a frost giant. He has a -2 penalty to hit with it, and had to take the feat Monkey Grip, but the 3d6 damage makes up for it.
Monkey Grip (unless it has a new incarnation in Pathfinder) doesn't affect reach, because reach is not a factor of weapon size. Its a factor of wielder size modified by whether the weapon is a "reach" weapon. Large polearms in medium hands still only threaten to 10', even if math means the polearm is 22' feet long. Seen that example myself.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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Monkey Grip (unless it has a new incarnation in Pathfinder) doesn't affect reach, because reach is not a factor of weapon size. Its a factor of wielder size modified by whether the weapon is a "reach" weapon. Large polearms in medium hands still only threaten to 10', even if math means the polearm is 22' feet long. Seen that example myself.
What's REALLY goofy is the FAQ ruling that to have reach, you must use a weapon appropriate for your size.
Which means a halfling with a small longspear has more reach than a human with a small longspear.
Try to figure *that* one out.
Without any feats, a large weapon can be used by a medium creature with a -2 penalty to it, like so:
Light -> One-Handed
One-Handed -> Two-Handed
Two-Handed -> Not PossibleWith the feat Monkey Grip, a character could hold a weapon in the same number of hands, but still must keep the -2 penalty.
This makes it possible for the barbarian in my Rise of the Runelords game, for example, to hold the Large Greataxe his ancestor took off a frost giant. He has a -2 penalty to hit with it, and had to take the feat Monkey Grip, but the 3d6 damage makes up for it.
Yes, the best you can have is a character with the Powerful Build trait, like an Half-Giant (which is included in the SRD) and Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword) wielding a Large Bastard Sword One-handed without penalties
(or, if you allow it, a character with Monkey Grip and Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword) wielding a Bastard Sword One-handed with a -2 penalty)Now, if you factor an Half-Giant wielding a Fullblade (think of the Dragon Slayer blade of the manga Berserk, or the Buster Sword of Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII...) made for Large creatures and then manifesting an Augmented Expansion...
Half-Giant -> suitable for Large weapons (you can even do it with a Medium-sized creature with Monkey Grip, albeit at a -2 penalty)
Fullblade made for Large creatures (Arms&Equipments, 3.0, so we have to 'convert' it to the Weapon Size system of 3.5/PFRPG) -> 3d8, two-handed for a Large creature (or a Medium creature with Monkey Grip, albeit at a -2 penalty)
Augmented Expansion -> two-size increment
A real munchkin combo...