I was wondering how to handle the damage of a Two-Handed weapon wielded in one hand. So, I decided to take a look at the FAQ. However, there seem to be two FAQs addressing this question, and they appear to be conflicting.
https://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fm#v5748eaic9qno
https://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fm#v5748eaic9quw
Did I miss some important difference between the two?
That would make a lot of sense.
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?
This FAQ might just refer to weapons like bastard sword. That is actually a one handed weapon. They might just call it "normally" when wielding it with martial weapon proficiency instead of exotic weapon proficiency.
This is a stretch however, since the answer seems to assume the opposite: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.
However this might be just bad wording. So for now I assume one FAQ talkes about one-handed weapons that can be used two-handed with different proficiency while the other talkes about two-handed weapons used in one hand.
I was actually thinking about your two examples. Lance while mounted and shield brace while not mounted.
Two handed weapons are large or unwieldy enough that they can ONLY be used with both hands. Bastard swords and your lance situation are specific exception examples.
Exactly, this is the reason I was looking for an FAQ, because it seemed weird to apply the increased damage even though the weapon is wielded in one hand.
The problem with the two FAQ's posted above, is that they say the exact opposite of each other. One states that you treat it like a one-handed weapon. The other says you do get the damage bonus. They can't be both right. Thus assuming one might refer to one-handed weapons like a bastard sword while the other might refer to actual two-handed weapons. However this is not what is written in the FAQ's so I can't be sure.
I should probably provide some context regarding the exact rules to ensure people understand why I was looking for an FAQ.
Two-Handed: Two hands are required to use a two-handed melee weapon effectively. Apply 1-1/2 times the character’s Strength bonus to damage rolls for melee attacks with such a weapon.
This bonus to damage is increased by half (+50%) if you are making an attack with a two-handed weapon, a one handed weapon using two hands, or a primary natural weapon that adds 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier on damage rolls.
So, RAW is clearly dependent on the type of weapon you're using when it comes to two-handed weapons. This also means that weapons like the bastard sword, katana, and dwarven waraxe do not get a damage bonus unless you wield them with two hands, because they are categorized as one-handed weapons. They fall into this category even though your proficiency might limit your ability to wield them one-handed.
Category one-handed
A character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon.
However, there are situations where you might wield weapons from the two-handed category in one hand.
While mounted, you can wield a lance with one hand.
You can use a two-handed weapon sized appropriately for you from the polearm or spears weapon group while also using a light, heavy, or tower shield with which you are proficient.
RAW this means that you do get the increased damage in both cases, even though you’re wielding the weapon in just one hand. This is because, for two-handed weapons, RAW is only dependent on the type of weapon you're using, as previously established.
This seemed to be an exploit to me, so I decided to look for an FAQ and found two FAQs that are clearly conflicting. The idea that one might refer to weapons like the bastard sword makes the most sense so far. However, these weapons were already clearly addressed in RAW and don't really need an FAQ. Also both FAQs discuss two-handed weapons.
If I am using a two-handed weapon with one hand
Weapons, Two-Handed in One Hand
So I’m still uncertain what this means.
Normally you cannot wield a two-handed weapon in one hand. There are two possible ways that you can do that. The first is if the weapon states in its description you can do so. The second is if you have a feat or class ability that allows you to do so. Unless otherwise stated all other aspects remain the same.
Looking at the description of the lance it falls under the first example, and it makes no mention of any other changes except for the fact it can be used one handed when mounted.
Looking at the description of the second FAQ it specifies to treat the weapon as a one-handed weapon. Due to the wording of the question that FAQ only applies to feats and class abilities that state it is treated like a one-handed weapon. If the feat simply specified that it allows you to wield a two-handed weapon in one hand then that FAQ does not apply.
So, it is going to depend on the description of the feat, class ability or the weapon. If it uses something like “treated as a one-handed weapon” it falls under the second FAQ, otherwise the first FAQ applies. That is RAW, but of course the GM is free to adjust it in their own campaigns as they see fit.
From a real-world perspective when you use the lance mounted you are leveraging the mass and momentum of the mount, not just your own. But you are limited to how much of that you can use based on the limits of your own body.
Bastard swords and Dwarven waraxes are examples of two-handed weapons UNLESS you have the Exotic weapon proficiency feat. In that case, they become one-handed weapons.
They are in the one-handed category. You can clearly see that, if you look at the table in CRB. Obviously the weapons hit points won't change because you hold it with two hands. However you seem to be correct that they are treated as two-handed weapon considering your abilites as of this FAQ.
This however changes nothing about my analysis. They still don't get the damage bonus unless you use both hands ;)1) They sometimes clarify rules that seem obvious to you, but were in dispute nonetheless. The bastard sword scenario probably applies here
That is true, I should defenetly keep that in mind.
Looking at the description of the second FAQ it specifies to treat the weapon as a one-handed weapon. Due to the wording of the question that FAQ only applies to feats and class abilities that state it is treated like a one-handed weapon. If the feat simply specified that it allows you to wield a two-handed weapon in one hand then that FAQ does not apply.
Thank you, this must be the important difference I was asking for in my original post and explains the difference between the two FAQs.
The main difference between the two FAQs, is that in the case of the second one the ability that lets you use a two-handed weapon in one hand will say something to the effect of "treat this as a one handed weapon".
If you look at the lance, it doesn't say that. It says you can use a lance in one hand while mounted.
Compare that to the Bladed Brush feat for instance, which says "When wielding a glaive, you can treat it as a one-handed piercing or slashing melee weapon and as if you were not making attacks with your off-hand for all feats and class abilities that require such a weapon (such as a duelist’s or swashbuckler’s precise strike)."
The ability calls out treating a glaive (a two-handed weapon) as a one-handed weapon. Which would include for how it interacts with power attack.
Thank you, this must be the important difference I was asking for in my original post and explains the difference between the two FAQs.
Yep! That's the big difference, the second FAQ is specifically referring to weapons/ability/feats that use verbiage like "treat as a one handed weapon".