Show your love, hate, or indifference to these weapons. Call them out, correct someone else, tell how they should work, how they do work, how officials define them to work. This isn't a rule discussion specifically, though you are of course free to discuss the rules. You want to say official calls are dumb, do it here.
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Bastard Swords
What game officials want: a weapon that is one-handed to those with a feat but to everyone else it is a two-handed weapon.
What they do: make it a one-handed exotic weapon that you need to the EWP feat to use as such otherwise you use it as a two-handed martial weapon.
Why they are wrong: The size category for a weapon should be the amount of effort it takes for a typical wielder to use it, not necessarily someone with special training (e.g. someone with 3e monkey grip one-handing a greatsword or a PF barbarian with jotungrip) or in a circumstance (e.g. someone using a lance while mounted). By claiming it is a one-handed weapon, but not allowing people to use it one-handed unless they have the EWP, then it is not in fact a one-handed weapon. It then in fact a two-handed weapon and the feat allows you to use one-handed.
What is the solution: Just suck it up and make the bastard sword (and other weapons in this category; e.g. waraxe, katana, etc) a two-handed martial weapon. Then create a feat that allows these weapons (make it so you have to choose the specific weapon with the feat) to be wielded one-handed. They then get the exact outcome they want, a two-handed martial weapon that can be wielded with one-hand when the person has a feat. There is no reason to even make them exotic or bring the EWP feat into it.
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A better solution would be to remove the confusing line:-
A bastard sword is about 4 feet in length, making it too large to use in one hand without special training; thus, it is an exotic weapon.
Then there'd by no doubt that if you try to one-hand a BS without EWP you get a -4 attack penalty.
The description would then read:-
A bastard sword is about 4 feet in length. A character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon.
Not only would this solve any problem, but it makes sense for a weapon that is designed to be used one OR two-handed!
Well I was discussing what they should do if they wanted to have the situation I described: "a weapon that is one-handed to those with a feat but to everyone else it is a two-handed weapon." Not necessarily what I thought the best view should be.
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I agree Pres man. I think the weapon should have been listed as a martial two handed weapon first since that seems to be the easy way to use it. Then those that are exceptional(have EWP) with it would be allowed to use it in one hand.
Obligatory spiked chain reference.
Spiked Chain only weapon worthy in feat in Core.
And thinking back in non-core too (though it was close).
How I revised the bastard sword (and similar weapons) in my 3.5 games is I added the word effectively in the description.
"A bastard sword is too large to use [effectively] in one hand without special training; thus, it is an exotic weapon. ..."
Thus it is a one-handed exotic that you can wield one-handed without EWP at a -4 penalty.
I interpret the second sentence about proficiency as increasing the effort level by one allows you to use the weapon without penalty if you have martial weapon proficiencies.
How this effects the different sized bastard swords [assume wielder is medium]:
If the wielder is using a small bastard sword then it acts similar to the way a rapier would work (by the way, I made rapiers light exotic weapons that can be wielded as a one-handed martial weapon). So you can weapon finesse with it (even without the EWP), you don't get the 1-1/2 Str bonus for two-handing it, I also rule that you can't use Power Attack with it. Without the EWP if you use it in your off-hand to two-weapon fight, you take the penalties as if you are wielding a one-handed weapon. Also without EWP you can't use it in a grapple.
Using a large bastard means you have to treat it in all ways as a two-handed exotic weapon. Since you can't increase the effort above two-handed, you can not wield it without either taking the non-proficiency penalties or you must have the EWP.
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Pffft, so this is only about 3.X... so sad... I think a discussion about the Bohemian ear-spoon from AD&D 1 and the Fauchard-fork from AD&D 2 is well overdue...
My favourite whacky weapon from 3E was the sharktooth staff from Savage Species. Free grapple attempts are sweet!
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3.0 had the Orc crusher, an elastic staff with a large metal head. You planted it in the ground and swung the head back and forth...
And let's not forget the orcish shotput. And the caber!
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Giant laser cannons have no place in D&D. End of discussion!
Pffft, so this is only about 3.X... so sad... I think a discussion about the Bohemian ear-spoon from AD&D 1 and the Fauchard-fork from AD&D 2 is well overdue...
What-ho, did we hear our name invoked all the way over here?
Giant laser cannons have no place in D&D. End of discussion!
But blaster rifles are A-OK.
Pffft, so this is only about 3.X... so sad... I think a discussion about the Bohemian ear-spoon from AD&D 1 and the Fauchard-fork from AD&D 2 is well overdue...
The best weapons in AD&D were found in the monster manuals!
For instance, you have the derro's hook fauchard that has a 1 in 4 chance of dazing an opponent (to use 3E-speak) for 1 round on a hit. And the rutterkin's snap tong that does automatic damage every round after it hits.