Bastard Sword

BASH MAN · Post by **BASH MAN** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:05 pm

Because there are no specific descriptions of the weapons in the PHB, bastard sword is simply listed as a 1-handed weapon that does 1d10 dmg. There is no listed purpose in using it 2 handed.

Other than the fact that like 50% of the magic weapons a party finds are magical longswords, is there a reason not to take a bastard sword as a weapon as opposed to longsword? For that matter, is there any reason to use a bastard sword 2 handed?

Personally, the way I would do it is as follows: Bastard sword requires a 13 STR to wield 1-handed, and it does 2d4 dmg in one hand. In two hands, it does 1d10. In my own house rules, using any weapon in 2 hands is a +1 dmg bonus, so this is a significant boost over using it 1H, while not making the 1H bastard sword so much better than the 1H longsword.
_________________
Basic Action Games http://www.bashrpg.com

Check us out for free demos and downloads or visit us onFacebook.

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:53 pm

If you use a bastard sword two-handed you give up a shield, which is a significant loss when you consider the assumed max AC, and the fact that monsters will outstrip the party in terms of attack bonus to AC, and, they will nearly always deal more damage, and there will often be more of them... so, anything you can get that gives you a +1 even to AC is worth it. Extra damage is ok, but if you can't hit what you're going for, it won't matter.

That said: there is no reason anyone should use any of the weapons, except those they decide for themselves. If your reason to use a longsword is "there are more of them that are magical" I feel sorry for you.

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:19 am

I'd probably just give an additonal +1 to damage with a bastard sword or something similar. However, reading what you've done in your game, I think I might just adopt that. This hasn't really occured yet with my C&C campaign so I hadn't given it much thought till now.

Moriarty the Red
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

BASH MAN · Post by **BASH MAN** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:01 am

serleran wrote:
If you use a bastard sword two-handed you give up a shield, which is a significant loss when you consider the assumed max AC, and the fact that monsters will outstrip the party in terms of attack bonus to AC, and, they will nearly always deal more damage, and there will often be more of them... so, anything you can get that gives you a +1 even to AC is worth it. Extra damage is ok, but if you can't hit what you're going for, it won't matter.

Exactly my question-- why use longsword and shield when you could use bastard sword and shield and do more damage per hit?
_________________
Basic Action Games http://www.bashrpg.com

Check us out for free demos and downloads or visit us onFacebook.

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:13 am

BASH MAN wrote:
Exactly my question-- why use longsword and shield when you could use bastard sword and shield and do more damage per hit?

I dunno, maybe my lean fighter with low strength and high dexterity isnt interested in using heavy weapons since it's not part of his character concept.
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:19 am

LOL ... This reminds me of the issues I had with the Rapier, Scimitar, and Shortsword.

As it stands, the only reason would be the EV. A longsword's EV is 3 where as the bastard sword's EV is 4. If you are tough on EV, then this may become a factor.

I really think that by adopting your house rule and allowing the one handed use to do 2d4 damage and the two handed use to do 1d10+1 in my mind fixes this little issue. Sure, you still do more in terms of minimum damage when you compare it to a longsword but, the Bastard sword will still be more encumbering than the longsword.

Moriarty the Red
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

Dragonhelm · Post by **Dragonhelm** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:52 am

I guess if I were to house-rule it, I'd say that bastard swords are 1d8 one-handed, and 1d10 two-handed. You get more damage with two hands, but lose a shield.

As for why one should pick any weapon over another...because it fits the character and it looks cool.
Third edition provided their own solution to this "problem" which included the exotic weapon proficiency feat, threat ranges, etc. It became far more complicated than it needed to be, IMO.

As for magic weapons, it's real easy to scratch out "longsword" and write in "bastard sword." Of course, you'd do that on your scrap paper, NEVER on a module!
_________________
Trampas Whiteman
---DragonHelm--->
Dragonlance Nexus

Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 2:20 pm

The 2d4 one handed and d10 two handed is how I handle it as well.
_________________
Never throw rocks at a man with a Vorpal Sword!

ChaosImp · Post by **ChaosImp** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:25 pm

I'm actually trying to sell one of my Bastard swords , so if any of you collect swords I'm letting it go for $70 dollars ( it cost me 60). Just a warning though the weapon is sharp so don't go winging it around in live roleplay in case you behead someone. You will find if you use it one-handed you just don't have the same cordination with it as you do using it two-handed ( I guess the game writers were right), although you won't need a thirteen strength to use it.

Cheers

Imp.

ChaosImp · Post by **ChaosImp** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:31 pm

Just an update; it comes with a leather sheath.

IMP

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:50 pm

One other factor to consider, though the PHB does not address it: availability. SOme weapons, such as daggers, axes (not battle axes, per se), short sword (basically a long knife) and others (sling, quarterstaff, short bow) should be nearly always possible to get despite the "tech level" of the settlement. Others, like rapiers, require a more advanced settlement to manufacture, on a consistent basis, anyway, unless the town weaponsmith is very skilled (but that would be an exception.) Also, the length of time needed to make such things would be a heavy factor, assuming its not already in stock.

Hmm, gives me an idea. I'll get back to this.

BASH MAN · Post by **BASH MAN** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:08 pm

Oh, that is true, Price/availability could be the issue. In my own, BASH! Fantasy system, I actually have the price of the weapon be the reason for its lack of commonality. A bastard sword is the same in one hand as a longsword, and the same as a greatsword in 2 hands by the rules, but it costs more than either one.
_________________
Basic Action Games http://www.bashrpg.com

Check us out for free demos and downloads or visit us onFacebook.

Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:35 pm

serleran wrote:
One other factor to consider, though the PHB does not address it: availability. SOme weapons, such as daggers, axes (not battle axes, per se), short sword (basically a long knife) and others (sling, quarterstaff, short bow) should be nearly always possible to get despite the "tech level" of the settlement. Others, like rapiers, require a more advanced settlement to manufacture, on a consistent basis, anyway, unless the town weaponsmith is very skilled (but that would be an exception.) Also, the length of time needed to make such things would be a heavy factor, assuming its not already in stock.

Hmm, gives me an idea. I'll get back to this.

This how I intend to handle things in my next campaign, only the most common of weapons will be available in most villages and towns. (Crossbows, lances, 2H swords, polearms, Bastard swords and such will only be found in major population centers.)
_________________
Never throw rocks at a man with a Vorpal Sword!

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:47 pm

Xaltotun wrote:
Hi everyone, a new guy here!

How exactly should a bastard sword work? I've read some threads about house ruling it, but I would like to know the by-the-book way.

Xaltotun

You generally just swing it and hope to hit something.
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

Traveller · Post by **Traveller** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:22 pm

gideon_thorne wrote:
You generally just swing it and hope to hit something.

Especially since a bastard sword is nothing more than a longsword with an extra-long hilt so it could be used with two-hands. Now, I don't believe I was part of the discussion on bastard swords on the forums, but I don't see a need to make up an elaborate house rule when the simple answer smacks one in the face.
_________________
NOTE TO ALL: If you don't like something I've said, PM me and tell me to my face, then give me a chance to set things right before you call a moderator.
My small homage to E.G.G.

Troll Lord Games

Bastard Sword

Bastard Sword

Re: Bastard sword

Re: Bastard sword