Half -Elf alternate racial trait: Ancestral Arms

[bigkilla]

OK. So I am working on a Half-Elf Rogue for a possible upcoming game and was looking at the alternate racial trait Ancestral Arms.

Ancestral Arms: Some half-elves receive training in an unusual weapon. Half-elves with this racial trait receive Exotic Weapon Proficiency or Martial Weapon Proficiency with one weapon as a bonus feat at 1st level. This racial trait replaces the adaptability racial trait.

So I take it if I Take this trait with say Bastard Sword I could use the Bastard Sword one handed with no penalties but if I use it two handed I would take the non proficiency penalty as I would not have the Martial Proficiency Bastard Sword. Does that sound about right? It sound a little weird to me but I believe thats how it would work.

[hello, my name is ninja]

I'd make an exception for the B-sword and D-waraxe if I was the DM, but if your playing PFS or something like that, RAW yep that's how it would work.

[Trample]

bigkilla wrote:

OK. So I am working on a Half-Elf Rogue for a possible upcoming game and was looking at the alternate racial trait Ancestral Arms.

Ancestral Arms: Some half-elves receive training in an unusual weapon. Half-elves with this racial trait receive Exotic Weapon Proficiency or Martial Weapon Proficiency with one weapon as a bonus feat at 1st level. This racial trait replaces the adaptability racial trait.

So I take it if I Take this trait with say Bastard Sword I could use the Bastard Sword one handed with no penalties but if I use it two handed I would take the non proficiency penalty as I would not have the Martial Proficiency Bastard Sword. Does that sound about right? It sound a little weird to me but I believe thats how it would work.

No, you could use it fine. You're really just using a one handed weapon two-handed, which you can do with a longsword for example.

[cfalcon]

No.

"Description: Due to its size, a bastard sword is an exotic weapon. A character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon."

A bastard sword is an exotic weapon. The stat blocks show that it's a one handed weapon as well.

You can use it two-handed as a martial weapon. You don't have to use it two-handed as a martial weapon: you can also use it two-handed as the type of weapon that it already is (exotic). The can allows it by direct parsing of rules. You can always use any one handed weapon in two hands unless something says you can't.

If it were phrased "When used with two hands, the bastard sword is a martial weapon", then you'd run into the issue with strict parsing. But, it's not, so train away!

[james maissen]

bigkilla wrote:

So I take it if I Take this trait with say Bastard Sword

Might I suggest that you consider a reach weapon instead? Reach allows for easier flanking than non-reach.

You could even elect for the bladed scarf or the like to have reach but also threaten adjacent.

Unless the bastard sword has some role-playing significance I would give thought to other weapons, or simply going for skill focus: stealth instead.

-James

[MisterSlanky]

james maissen wrote:

You could even elect for the bladed scarf or the like to have reach but also threaten adjacent.

The bladed scarf is no longer a reach weapon.

[Glutton]

may i ask where that was updated?

[MisterSlanky]

Glutton wrote:

may i ask where that was updated?

Adventurer's Armory.

[bigkilla]

james maissen wrote:

bigkilla wrote:

So I take it if I Take this trait with say Bastard Sword

Might I suggest that you consider a reach weapon instead? Reach allows for easier flanking than non-reach.

You could even elect for the bladed scarf or the like to have reach but also threaten adjacent.

Unless the bastard sword has some role-playing significance I would give thought to other weapons, or simply going for skill focus: stealth instead.

-James

Yeah I'm wanting it more for a roleplaying type deal than a "give me the bestest weapon to keel things with" type weapon. Just something that he can at times use so he could possible dual wield a whip in his offhand or switch it up to 2handed use for more effect. Its for flavor not effect.