Large Lances


Rules Questions


So I have seen other threads about this topic, but no definite answers and unsure if I've missed one. A medium creature cannot wield a large 2 handed weapon according to the inappropriately sized weapons rules. However a lance says it can be wielded in one hand while mounted, so does that mean that A) A large lance cannot be used in any capacity, B) A large lance can't be used on foot, but can be used while mounted in one hand, or C) A large lance can't be used on foot, but can be used on a mount as a 2 handed weapon since it would be counted as a large one handed weapon?


2 people marked this as a favorite.

A) correct, it's still oversized
B) No to either
C) No, it' still a large 2-handed weapon for classification purposes.

The Exchange

I disagree with TxSam. I would go with "C." For reference, see Amiri's large bastard sword. If you can use a medium weapon one-handed under specific circumstances, then you can use a large version of that weapon as a two-handed weapon under the same circumstances.

We can slice and dice the exact differences in the language of the two weapons if we want, but I would add "why bother?" A large lance would be completely unusable if you were dismounted (voluntarily or otherwise). I'd rather invest in a really nice, really enhanced, medium lance.

Liberty's Edge

4 people marked this as a favorite.

A bastard sword is a 1 handed weapon exotic weapon that can be used as a 2 handed weapon if you aren't proficient with it.

A lance is a 2 handed weapon that can be used one-handed under a specific circumstance.

What matter is under what column they are in table 6-4 weapons in the CRB.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

I agree with Diego and TxSam.

The lance is a two-handed weapon. It doesn't matter that you can use it sometimes as a one handed weapon, it is in the two handed "category".

You cannot use large two-handed weapons if you're medium.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I'm with the majority of the opinion here.

"You cannot use large two-handed weapons if you're medium."

There are a few select ways in which you can get around this (namely Titan Mauler and Titan Fighter) but they come with their own limitations (mostly in attack penalties).


DeathlessOne wrote:
There are a few select ways in which you can get around this (namely Titan Mauler and Titan Fighter) but they come with their own limitations (mostly in attack penalties).

It wouldn't necessarily be a terrible option though.

Since Spirited Charge triples the damage you're going from 3d8 (~13.5) to 6d6 (~21) damage by using a weapon q size larger. You could potentially stack with an Impact weapon for 9d6 (~31.5), and maybe enlarge yourself and your mount to take it to 12d6 (~42) damage.

That's a lot of effort, but even if you only use some (or even 1) of those options it's still a decent chunk of damage, it just depends if it's worth what you're losing (eg. An Impact weapon costs a +2 bonus, which means you're losing that +2 to hit and +6 to damage on a charge, which means you're not really going from ~13.5 to ~21 damage, you're going from ~19.5 to ~21 damage and losing the bonus to hit). I dunno if it's worthwhile, but it's something to think about.


Also, consider the accuracy boosting classes, such as Slayer, Warpriest, Inquisitor, etc, etc (even the variant multiclass option for Magus if you've got a lot of bonus feats). It becomes even more viable as an option.


Considering its the only full bab that would be made and has a bunch of built in bonuses already, it probably won't miss unless its against a really AC tanky boss. There is also the consideration that once you already have a +5 enhancement bonus, impact doesn't take away anything besides opportunity cost of different enhancements (but vicious+bane would give an additional 16 damage instead of impact's 7.5).


AwesomenessDog wrote:
There is also the consideration that once you already have a +5 enhancement bonus, impact doesn't take away anything besides opportunity cost of different enhancements (but vicious+bane would give an additional 16 damage instead of impact's 7.5).

Yeah Impact alone almost certainly isn't worth it, but if you werr to stack 2 or 3 size increases it becomes more impactful. 1 size increase is +7.5 damage, the 2nd increase is +10.5, and the 3rd is +10.5 again. If you somehow got a 4th size increase (Tiefling?) it takes you to 18d6 (~63) damage, which is a +21 damage increase.

Again it's a lot of effort, and maybe not worth basing your build around, but it's something to consider.

Also Vicious plus Bane would give ~+20 damage (the +2 static damage from Bane would be tripled on a charge). It's worth noting that Bane is less likely to be viable unless you have a floating-Bane like an Occultist, Inquisitor or high-level Magus, or your campaign has a specific enemy-type that comes up all the time.


I did have a build based around vital striking (because my moves would always be spend bodyguarding or doing something else) with an oversized bastard sword (while my dancing tower shield hovered around me), with impact and enlarge made my damage dice 6d8, which then got multiplied to 24d8=~108 damage from just the weapon on a hit...

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Large Lances All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.