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So, given this FAQ response regarding 2-handed weapons used in one hand:
Power Attack: If I am using a two-handed weapon with one hand (such as a lance while mounted), do still I get the +50% damage for using a two-handed weapon?
Yes.
—Pathfinder Design Team, 05/24/13
Does a bastard sword, wielded in 1-hand gain the +50% Power Attack damage? It is, after all, a 2-handed weapon that just can be used in one hand at the cost of a feat.
Never mind. Just saw the FAQ on this further down the page.
I still think the team made a mistake when they made the ruling I quoted, and would have avoided questions like my thread title if they would have just ruled that a weapon's "handedness" is entirely reliant on how many hands you're using to wield it. Thus, a lance wielded in one hand does not receive +50% Str or Power Attack bonuses. Much simpler, and then they don't need to worry about writing FAQs for every other weapon this comes up for.
It's a 2h weapon that you can use a feat to wield in one hand.
But you actually need to be using 2 hands to get the benefit of increased Str and Power Attack, I believe is the intent of the ruling.
==Aelryinth
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I still think the team made a mistake when they made the ruling I quoted, and would have avoided questions like my thread title if they would have just ruled that a weapon's "handedness" is entirely reliant on how many hands you're using to wield it. Thus, a lance wielded in one hand does not receive +50% Str or Power Attack bonuses. Much simpler, and then they don't need to worry about writing FAQs for every other weapon this comes up for.
While I agree, the Lance is, (and should be), an exception. It's a Two-Handed Weapon, and very associated with knights. So by the rules, you could not either ride with a Lance (without stupid penalties and a check every round) or carry a jousting shield. It has a special exception that while mounted, you can use it with one hand (slot), but it still counts as being used as a Two-Handed Weapon.
Weapons, Two-Handed in One Hand: When a feat or other special ability says to treat a weapon that is normally wielded in two hands as a one handed weapon, does it get treated as one or two handed weapon for the purposes of how to apply the Strength modifier or the Power Attack feat?
If you're wielding it in one hand (even if it is normally a two-handed weapon), treat it as a one-handed weapon for the purpose of how much Strength to apply, the Power Attack damage bonus, and so on.—Pathfinder Design Team, 07/19/13
Bastard Sword: Is this a one-handed weapon or a two-handed weapon?
A bastard sword is a one-handed weapon (although for some rules it blurs the line between a one-handed and a two-handed weapon).The physical properties of a bastard sword are that of a one-handed weapon. For example, its hardness, hit points, ability to be crafted out of special materials, category for using the Craft skill, effect of alchemical silver, and so on, are all that of a one-handed weapon.
For class abilities, feats, and other rule elements that vary based on or specifically depend on wielding a one-handed weapon, a two-handed weapon, or a one-handed weapon with two hands, the bastard sword counts as however many hands you are using to wield it.
For example, if you are wielding it one-handed (which normally requires the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat), it is treated as a one-handed weapon; Power Attack only gets the one-handed bonus, you cannot use Pushing Assault or Shield of Swings (which require a two-handed weapon), and so on.
If you are wielding it with two hands (whether or not you have the Exotic Weapon Proficiency to wield it with one hand), it is treated as a two-handed weapon; Power Attack gets the increased damage bonus, you can use Pushing Assault or Shield of Swings (which require a two-handed weapon), and so on.
An unusual case of the handedness rule is an ability that allows you to treat a two-handed weapon as a one-handed weapon. For example, the titan mauler's jotungrip (which allows you to wield a two-handed weapon with one hand) allows you to wield a bastard sword in one hand even without the Exotic Weapon Proficiency, and (as the ability states) treats it as a one-handed weapon, therefore it is treated as a one-handed weapon for other effects.
—Pathfinder Design Team, 10/28/13
If you're using it in one hand, it's one handed (except the lance). If you're using it two-handed, it's two-handed.
Hey, maybe there should be an FAQ....
It should be FAQ'd to say what the rule actually is. Right now, though, it's easiest just to say that if you're proficient, it's a one-handed weapon. As of the recent ruling, in two hands, it's a one-handed weapon that gains the benefits of a two-handed weapon when wielded in two hands (that should be a weapon quality, Paizo people!). Also, the text in the weapon description about requiring special training to wield in one hand is currently considered by the devs, not to be a description of its handedness, but a strict limitation of the weapon.
The lance is completely different, as it is actually a two-handed weapon, that only requires one hand on horseback. Nothing in the rules specifies it stops being a two-handed weapon at any point.
It's the same with a longsword. The bastard sword is only unusual in that it can be wielded as a martial weapon in two hands. Also, the devs have indicated recently that their intention is for it to gain the benefits of a two-handed weapon (such as the interaction with Two-Handed Fighter archetype) but that is a separate issue. Even one-handed weapons wielded in two hands gain the increased Power Attack damage.
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You know, last time I talked about the Bastard Sword FAQ, here, I was banned.
Also, got a pretty nasty email.
I really want to comment, but I am not fond of being banned.
By the way, I was not the only one banned for questioning this FAQ.
You have been warned.
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You know, last time I talked about the Bastard Sword FAQ, here, I was banned.
Also, got a pretty nasty email.
I really want to comment, but I am not fond of being banned.
By the way, I was not the only one banned for questioning this FAQ.
You have been warned.
I'm also a member of the nasty email club.
There are enough threads, posts, FAQs, and developer comments out there to search through already. We need not add another to the mix.
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Apparently, I am going to repeat this because people are still confused.
For example, if you are wielding it one-handed (which normally requires the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat), it is treated as a one-handed weapon; Power Attack only gets the one-handed bonus, you cannot use Pushing Assault or Shield of Swings (which require a two-handed weapon), and so on.
If you are wielding it with two hands (whether or not you have the Exotic Weapon Proficiency to wield it with one hand), it is treated as a two-handed weapon; Power Attack gets the increased damage bonus, you can use Pushing Assault or Shield of Swings (which require a two-handed weapon), and so on.
Yeah the FAQ is clear, the baseline for a bastard sword is as a 2handed weapon. So even if you'd wield it in 1 hand you'd get the 50% extra damage on a power attack.
I don't want to start a big fight, but I do want to mention for the benefit of anyone reading casually that this is the wrong answer. Nawtyit quoted the relevant bits.
Thanks, Naws, cause RIF (Reading is Fundamental). :)
I confuse myself sometimes. It happens. No worries.
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That's a weird FAQ. Titan mauler barbarian archetype calls this one out specifically saying using a 2 handed weapon in one hand treats it as a one handed weapon for damage.
By my count, they have Titan Mauler that calls it out specifically, a FAQ on bastard sword itself, a FAQ on something that allows the use of a two-handed weapon in one hand (same rule as the bastard sword), and a FAQ saying that the lance counts as a two-handed weapon still when wielded in one hand while charging on a mount for Power Attack and Str bonus.
The problem is that the first FAQ I quoted (with the lance) is worded to be a general rule, merely citing the lance as an example, whereas it appears that the developers wish for a weapons' handedness to be based on how many hands are wielding it at the time, so the lance FAQ is misleading. And that is exacerbated even more by the follow-up FAQs not being anywhere near the lance one.
They would have been better served with one FAQ that reads something like:
You determine your damage bonus from Str and Power Attack when wielding a weapon by how many hands you are using to wield it. If you use a bastard sword, or a longsword, in two hands, you gain the +50% bonuses associated with two-handing a weapon, while if you wield them in one hand, you just get the normal one-handed bonuses. An ability that allows you to wield a two-handed weapon (such as a greatsword) in one hand follows the same rule.
The lance is an exception to this rule; even when wielded in one hand, the lance is treated as being wielded in two hands when used while mounted.
That would have left everything clear, and would have helped them avoid writing 2 or 3 more FAQs on the subject.
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On a side note, what category is a bastard sword if it has the transformative magic ability?
Assuming a bastard sword sized for a medium character, would it be considered a 1-handed weapon (since it is listed as a one-handed exotic weapon), or a two-handed weapon? The FAQ in question does not really clear that up...
First rule of the Rules Forum, and the Bastard Sword:
Don't talk about the Bastard Sword.Second rule of the Rules Forum, and the Bastard Sword:
Don't talk about the Bastard Sword!
God love you, bbt! I'll never doubt making fun of someone's position again!