I couldn't find anything on this with a quick search, so I thought I'd ask people's thoughts here.
A character with TWF feats picked up a cursed [sword].
The sword always forces that character to employ it rather than another weapon. The sword's owner automatically draws it and fights with it even when she meant to draw or ready some other weapon.
In game, I said he could TWF, but his primary hand had to be the cursed weapon and if he ever made only one attack, it had to be with the cursed weapon.
It works out fine that way, I think. But what does everybody else think?
It didn't come up, but what would you do if the character wanted to Two-Weapon Feint (make a feint with his first melee attack)? Would you have the curse penalty apply to the feint check, etc.?
If he makes an attack roll, he takes a -2 so it's apply for all maneuvers. However, feint isn't a maneuver and uses base attack not an attack roll so no minus.
There is no reason he couldn't two weapon fight and use it as the off hand weapon assuming it's light enough. Also, is his BAB is high enough he could make all but his lowest attack with another weapon and use the cursed sword there.
It says the owner fights with the cursed sword, even if you meant to draw or ready some other weapon. So no, I don't think you could use one weapon for two or three attacks, then only use the cursed one for the last attack.
Because of that same language, I think you'd have to make the cursed weapon the primary weapon for TWF.
From how I read it, the whole point is basically you have this new weapon that you got that you think is the greatest and best thing that's ever been crafted, so you want to use it for everything. You don't want to use any other weapons instead of the cursed one because it's so much better than everything else.
So while I could see TWF with another weapon as your offhand, I really can't see avoiding the use of the weapon in any other way. Even if it's not explicitly RAW, I think it's pretty clearly the intent of having a cursed weapon that forced you to use it.
The reason I mentioned the Two Weapon Feint thing is because allowing the person to feint with the weapon is sort of a way around having to make an attack roll with it (it's probably fine, but thought it was at least relevant).
You added language that isn't in the magic item. that's cool as a house rule but this is a rules question. In the same way you have to attack with a defensive weapon you have to fight with the cursed weapon. Would you tell the player they had to make every attack with a defensive weapon to get the bonus? All it forces you to do is fight with it. It doesn't even say you have to attack with it. You could pull it out and blast someone with a spell, you aren't forced to rush up and swing that sword.
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I think it's certainly open to GM interpretation, but having read the description, I'm kind of wondering if the sword would prevent TWF just because the sword "forces that character to employ it rather than another weapon".
A cursed sword is basically a crazy possessive boyfriend/girlfriend that doesn't like to share.
You added language that isn't in the magic item. that's cool as a house rule but this is a rules question. In the same way you have to attack with a defensive weapon you have to fight with the cursed weapon. Would you tell the player they had to make every attack with a defensive weapon to get the bonus? All it forces you to do is fight with it. It doesn't even say you have to attack with it. You could pull it out and blast someone with a spell, you aren't forced to rush up and swing that sword.
The sword's owner automatically draws it and fights with it even when she meant to draw or ready some other weapon.
I didn't add anything. The spell situation isn't applicable. If the possessor tries to draw another weapon, they automatically draw the cursed weapon.
Do you honestly think circumventing a curse, something that's supposed to be incredibly inconvenient, should be as simple as saying, "Yeah, I've got three attacks. So, I'll just make sure to use my super awesome sword for the first two attacks, then use this crappy cursed sword for the third attack that almost certainly won't hit anyway"?
Defending weapons and cursed weapons really aren't the same thing. A cursed sword actually compels you to use it.