We all know how stupidly hard it can be to find your favored weapon in a dungeon crawl and then have it be the size you actually need.
So I devised two systems in my last sleepless night, to over come this problem:
1. This is similar the simple approach, many GMs took in 3.5: As long as the weapon's intended size category doesn't differ from your own by more than one size category you can use it without penalties as a weapon of the next appropriate of its type, for example:
Dagger < Short sword < Longsword < Bastard sword < Greatsword (this also includes the changes in damage types, as the weapon with it's size is different to handle for different size creatures)
Kukri < Scimitar < Falchion etc.
If the weapon is intended for something more than one size category different from you own, you get the usual penalties (only 2 less of course) because the hilts are just too big or small to have a resonable grip on them. You also have to use them as a weapon of the appropriate size difference, for example a small character with a large size dagger (2 size categories difference) would use it like a small size longsword with a -2 penalty.
2. The other version would be to apply penalties as the books state, but to give players the options to have the hilts of weapons rebuilt for their appropriate size. Again with the rebuilt hilt the weapon changes to a different type according to its size:
Dagger < Short sword < Longsword < Bastard sword < Greatsword (including wepon damage)
Kukri < Scimitar < Falchion etc.
At the cost of the weapon cost difference. So for example a small character wants to have a medium size dagger (2 gp) to be rebuilt as a small size short sword (10 gp), it would cost 8 gp to rebuild it.
For such a change to be made a magical weapon's enchantment would not have to be broken.
But also a small size short sword rebuilt to be a medium size dagger would cost 8 gp.
I'm not sure wether to add an extra cost for magical weapons or not, for example pay for the masterwork again (paying for the whole enchantment would beat the purpose)
Craft DCs for such a rebuilding process, i'm not sure yet.
This method would make sure that a small character doesnt get for example a cheaper short sword by just buying a dagger of the next larger size category.
So what do you think? Personally i think the latter approach might work out very well and make for stylish fluff for characters, like Amiri, the iconic Barbarian who wield's a giant's short sword as a greatsword.
The only problem (with both approaches) is that weapons that don't exist in different versions can't be rebuild just like that, like halberds. But better have small size halberds that cant be rebuilt in different sizes than have no halberds for other than medium size characters at all.
Considering the considerable damage difference between different size weapons, I don't think it's at all fair to just allow use without penalty or adjustment.
I actually haven't encountered the problem you mention.
Considering the considerable damage difference between different size weapons, I don't think it's at all fair to just allow use without penalty or adjustment.
I actually haven't encountered the problem you mention.
what damage difference? If a small character uses a medium handaxe as a small battle axe, they do the same damage.
As for not having encountered the problem I guess either you or your GM doesn't use the random treasure system.
The whole 'other weapon then specialized' makes a case for martial weapons proficiency being important. Lord knows, it needs something of a boost!
3.5 bunged up 3E's weapon sizing, which worked pretty well.
3.5 bunged up 3E's weapon sizing, which worked pretty well.
It did work well, except that weapons for larger than one-handed large creatures only existed some Monster Manual entries, and some weapons only existed in a single size variation (halberd for example).
That's why I'm not intending on going back to that.I also dont want to tell my 6 players out of which all are new to pathfinder, one new to d20 system as a whole and 2 have never even played a pnp roleplaying game before that about half a chapter and one of the biggest tables of the core book is obsolete. I generally don't like using houserules that erase established rules with so many system newbies. But this is just the lesser of the two reasons why I won't use 3.0 weapon sizes.
So any opinions, actually on my ideas?
Second option.