3.5 What are the penalties/mechanics of a Small Creature using a Mediums-sized spear? [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 What are the penalties/mechanics of a Small Creature using a Mediums-sized spear? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Harmor
09-05-04, 11:11 PM I have a small creature that would like to use a Medium-sized spear. What exactly are the penalties?

Do I use it like a longspear? (2-handed weapon)

Can I throw it?

Is it range increment the same?

What is the damage?

Thanks.
Hypersmurf
09-05-04, 11:26 PM Inappropriately Sized Weapons: A creature can’t make optimum use of a weapon that isn’t properly sized for it. A cumulative –2 penalty applies on attack rolls for each size category of difference between the size of its intended wielder and the size of its actual wielder. If the creature isn’t proficient with the weapon a –4 nonproficiency penalty also applies.

The measure of how much effort it takes to use a weapon (whether the weapon is designated as a light, one-handed, or two-handed weapon for a particular wielder) is altered by one step for each size category of difference between the wielder’s size and the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed. If a weapon’s designation would be changed to something other than light, one-handed, or two-handed by this alteration, the creature can’t wield the weapon at all.

A spear is a two-handed weapon. A Small creature can't wield a Medium spear at all.

A shortspear is a one-handed weapon. A Small creature could wield a Medium shortspear as a two-handed weapon (at -2 on attack rolls).

In no case does the reach change.

If you have Complete Warrior, look up the Monkey Grip feat as a way to allow a Small creature to wield a Medium spear as a two-handed weapon.

-Hyp.
Harmor
09-06-04, 12:26 AM I ment shortspear.

So does any of the other stats change? Just a -2?

If I'm wearing a buckler with a 2-handed Medium-sized shortspear I would get a -3 to attacks right?
Hypersmurf
09-06-04, 12:34 AM So does any of the other stats change? Just a -2?

Right. The range increment, damage, etc, are the same as normal for a Medium shortspear. You can throw it... but it's ambiguous as to whether it would take a normal attack, or a full round action to throw it.

(In 3E, throwing a two-handed weapon was clearly a full-round action. In 3.5, it's hard to tell whether it's still the same, or if that only applies to improvised thrown weapons.)

If I'm wearing a buckler with a 2-handed Medium-sized shortspear I would get a -3 to attacks right?

Right, and no AC bonus from the buckler.

-Hyp.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harmor 09-05-04, 11:11 PM	I have a small creature that would like to use a Medium-sized spear. What exactly are the penalties? Do I use it like a longspear? (2-handed weapon) Can I throw it? Is it range increment the same? What is the damage? Thanks.
Hypersmurf 09-05-04, 11:26 PM	Inappropriately Sized Weapons: A creature can’t make optimum use of a weapon that isn’t properly sized for it. A cumulative –2 penalty applies on attack rolls for each size category of difference between the size of its intended wielder and the size of its actual wielder. If the creature isn’t proficient with the weapon a –4 nonproficiency penalty also applies. The measure of how much effort it takes to use a weapon (whether the weapon is designated as a light, one-handed, or two-handed weapon for a particular wielder) is altered by one step for each size category of difference between the wielder’s size and the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed. If a weapon’s designation would be changed to something other than light, one-handed, or two-handed by this alteration, the creature can’t wield the weapon at all. A spear is a two-handed weapon. A Small creature can't wield a Medium spear at all. A shortspear is a one-handed weapon. A Small creature could wield a Medium shortspear as a two-handed weapon (at -2 on attack rolls). In no case does the reach change. If you have Complete Warrior, look up the Monkey Grip feat as a way to allow a Small creature to wield a Medium spear as a two-handed weapon. -Hyp.
Harmor 09-06-04, 12:26 AM	I ment shortspear. So does any of the other stats change? Just a -2? If I'm wearing a buckler with a 2-handed Medium-sized shortspear I would get a -3 to attacks right?
Hypersmurf 09-06-04, 12:34 AM	So does any of the other stats change? Just a -2? Right. The range increment, damage, etc, are the same as normal for a Medium shortspear. You can throw it... but it's ambiguous as to whether it would take a normal attack, or a full round action to throw it. (In 3E, throwing a two-handed weapon was clearly a full-round action. In 3.5, it's hard to tell whether it's still the same, or if that only applies to improvised thrown weapons.) If I'm wearing a buckler with a 2-handed Medium-sized shortspear I would get a -3 to attacks right? Right, and no AC bonus from the buckler. -Hyp.