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I was looking over the Equipment section of the PRD, and found what appears to be a contradiction.
Under the heading of "Weapons", there are some descriptions of terms, such as Reach Weapons, Double Weapons, Thrown Weapons, Projectile Weapons, etc. The entry for Double Weapons says:
The character can also choose to use a double weapon two-handed, attacking with only one end of it. A creature wielding a double weapon in one hand can't use it as a double weapon — only one end of the weapon can be used in any given round.
Okay, seems fine, right? Further down the page, you have the descriptions of weapon qualities (Brace, Disarm, Double, Monk, etc.). The entry for Double says:
A double weapon can be wielded as a one-handed weapon, but it cannot be used as a double weapon when wielded in this way — only one end of the weapon can be used in any given round.
The first entry says you can use it two-handed, and the second says one-handed. Is that a typo, or can you use a double weapon any old way you please - one-handed, two-handed, or double?
The second entry's wording can be somewhat confusing, and no it doesn't mean that you can weild it with one hand.
It says that a double weapon can be used as a one-handed weapon, for things like furious focus, extra STR damage, extra power attack damage etc.
The problem is that in the lower section you are looking at the portion related to a weapon sized for a different user.
A Human or Dwarf cannot use a Dwarven Urgosh as a One Handed Weapon... only as a two handed weapon with one end or as a double weapon... both cases are in two hands at the weapon is too big for them to hold in one hand.
A Mountain Giant COULD use it as a one handed weapon and attack with one end... but not as a double weapon... if he holds it in one hand due to great size.
At least that is my two bits on the subject. ;)
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The problem is that in the lower section you are looking at the portion related to a weapon sized for a different user.
No, I'm not. As I explicitly spelled out for your convenience in the OP, the lower section was from the list of special weapon qualities. Please, in the future, read the post carefully before replying, lest you add to the confusion instead of alleviating it.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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The second entry's wording can be somewhat confusing, and no it doesn't mean that you can weild it with one hand.
It says that a double weapon can be used as a one-handed weapon, for things like furious focus, extra STR damage, extra power attack damage etc.
Looking at the context, your explanation doesn't seem to fit. Not to mention, one-handed weapons give *less* damage from STR/PA than the two-handed version noted at first.
Plus, every other time the rules say you can do something "as" something else for certain things, it includes the verbiage of "for the purposes of..." and explicitly lists the affected rules. It doesn't do that here, so your take seems a bit shaky.
The first entry says you can use it two-handed, and the second says one-handed. Is that a typo, or can you use a double weapon any old way you please - one-handed, two-handed, or double?
It is a result of one of the stupid, minor changes Paizo made - the 3.5 PHB specifically mentions using a smaller double weapon as a one handed weapon. Paizo removed that part, which would make it a typo. (Though who really knows. Paizo changed a hell of a lot of things.) So, assuming it is supposed to work as it did in 3.5, a double weapon can be used two handed as a double weapon, or only one end can be used two handed as a two handed weapon.
The only way a double weapon can be wielded in one hand (since they are by default a two handed weapon) is to use one designed for a creature of a smaller size, which would make them a one handed weapon. And if used one handed (which can only be done when using a smaller than normal double weapon), you can not use it as a double weapon.
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The first entry says you can use it two-handed, and the second says one-handed. Is that a typo, or can you use a double weapon any old way you please - one-handed, two-handed, or double?
The one handed use is when it is sized for a smaller creature, such as a Medium human using a halfling's quarterstaff. This is explicitly spelled out in some of the non-OGC text from the 3.5 D&D PHB. It has also been explained in a forum post by Jason, although Jason also explains that forum posts by developers are not official and it contradicts another developer. Result=Frequent Asked Confusion...er...question.
Thazar is correct.
Here is the issue.
In order to use a double weapon one handed it must be one size category smaller.
They did not repeat that knowledge because it is elsewhere in the book.
The game has many situations where you have to reference pages elsewhere in order to devise the correct ruling.
The one handed use is when it is sized for a smaller creature, such as a Medium human using a halfling's quarterstaff. This is explicitly spelled out in some of the non-OGC text from the 3.5 D&D PHB. It has also been explained in a forum post by Jason, although Jason also explains that forum posts by developers are not official and it contradicts another developer. Result=Frequent Asked Confusion...er...question.
Son of a... that is right. The size part is not OGL, so Paizo couldn't use it. They also didn't bother to fix the problem it caused either.
Seems i was a little confused myself in my earlier post.
Anyway the others are right.
And here is Jason's post.