Damage with huge greatsword? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Damage with huge greatsword? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Asken
02-12-06, 03:03 AM Im playing a half-giant (Expanded Psionics Handbook) with 26 in strength, I have a greatsword that has the balanced enchantment from "Arms & Equipmentguide", which makes some size of weapon work as being one less. For instance my half-giant wields a huge greatsword, that then acts as being large due to the balanced enchantment. Him being powerfully built, he can as a medium creature wield a huge greatsword as if it were large and thus use a huge greatsword in one hand, right?

The sword also has the force enchantment from "Arms & Equipmentguide" that can dispel force effects and does 1d6 extra force damage.

What damage does a huge greatsword with said enchantments do... I figured it did 3d6+1d6 force, but im not totally sure that im right on that one...?
Kerri_Evanwood
02-12-06, 03:11 AM I believe a Huge greatsword does a base of 4d6 slashing damage.

As for using it one-handed, I believe you can, but you would incur a -2 penalty for doing so (improperly sized weapon). If you're going by 3.0 rules, there is no -2 penalty (which you might be, as A&EG is a 3.0 publication).
Asken
02-12-06, 04:09 AM Well...

My half-giant is medium, but counts as being large due to powerful build, so he can wield large weapons in one hand.

My sword is huge, but counts as being large because of the balanced enchantment and thus makes me able to wield it without any penalty due to improperly sized weapon... Or?

Im playing 3.5 more or less... A&EG is 3.0 yes, but I read somewhere that any rules from 3.0 that havn't been altered still counts... I might be wrong on that point, but nevertheless my DM has approved of these enchantments, so... :)
Silimaure
02-12-06, 04:17 AM If I remember that enchantment right, it allows a twohanded weapon to be used in one hand, says nothing about being able to use a weapon too large for you in two hands.

I'll have to find my Arms and Equipment Guide.
Tyler Do'Urden
02-12-06, 06:03 AM Nonono... in 3.5, there's no such thing as simply a Large weapon. Weapon sizes have two properties: a size category and a "weight" or handedness category, i.e. light, one-handed, or two-handed. A human's greatsword is a Medium two-handed weapon, not a Large weapon.

Secondly, a half-giant is not treated as being Large for the purpose of what weapons he can weild. He can just weild weapons made for a creature one size larger without changing the weight or getting a -2. So he can weild a Large one-handed weapon in one hand or a Large two-handed weapon in two hands, as opposed to a human who could weild a Large one-handed weapon in two hands with a -2, and could not weild a Large two-handed weapon at all.

Now if what Silimaure said is true, then a half-giant could weild a Large balanced greatsword (base damage 3d6) in one hand.
However, if it turns out balanced lets you treat the weapon as being one size-category smaller or lighter, then a half-giant could weild a Huge balanced greatsword (base damage 4d6) in two hands.

It looks for the most part, that you're playing it correctly and you can swing that rediculously huge sword 'til you turn blue. I just wanted to clear up the weapon size thing a bit.
tarkin
02-12-06, 11:39 AM Tyler is correct, and Balanced does work that way, I believe.

Also note, Balance is expensive. Usually you get more damage from a +1 flaming sword than a +1 Balanced Sword.
Nom
02-12-06, 05:21 PM Nonono... in 3.5, there's no such thing as simply a Large weapon. Weapon sizes have two properties: a size category and a "weight" or handedness category, i.e. light, one-handed, or two-handed. A human's greatsword is a Medium two-handed weapon, not a Large weapon.At the risk of being confusing, 3.5 weapons also have a size as an object, which is distinct from their size category as a weapon.

The weapon size category indicates what size creature the weapon is designed (weapon balance, grip size, etc) for. The handedness indicates how much effort it takes that creature to use the weapon. The size is how big the weapon is when considered as an object, not a weapon. A light weapon is generally 2 sizes smaller than its weapon size category (eg Medium dagger is Tiny), a one-handed weapon is generally 1 size smaller (eg Medium longsword is Small), and a 2-handed weapon is generally the same size category (eg Medium Greataxe is Medium).

For most purposes, you can ignore the weapon's actual size category and just consider its weapon size category - what size wielder the weapon is designed for.

See PH pg 113 which covers all this quite clearly.
demonic_dante
02-12-06, 05:32 PM you could always enchant a gargantuan sword and take -2 attack penalty to deal 5d6 weapon damage, or a colossal sword to (-4 penalty, 6d6 weapon damage).

Imagine how it would feel to fight against a person holding a sword larger than he is (many times larger). Of course you might not be able to fit inside a dungeon, this brings to mind a half-giant vampire with a colossal greatsword, who is no longer limited to having to ask permission to enter because he can just smash it.
Squaba
02-12-06, 06:21 PM I agree with Tarkin, a +1 enhacnment like Flaming adds 1d6 to your damage, why get a more expensive enchantment like balance that esentially only gives you 1d6 more damge anyway?
yuenglingdragon
02-12-06, 07:11 PM I agree with Tarkin, a +1 enhacnment like Flaming adds 1d6 to your damage, why get a more expensive enchantment like balance that esentially only gives you 1d6 more damge anyway?

First of all, the damage from flaming will not be multiplied by a crit. Secondly, when you're a psionic character you might have access to expansion. Expansion increases your size one or two steps depending on the amount of power points used. If you're wielding a huge greatsword (4d6) that damage jumps to 6d6 when you increase size one step and 8d6 with two increases in size. You can't do that with a flaming greatsword.

you could always enchant a gargantuan sword and take -2 attack penalty to deal 5d6 weapon damage, or a colossal sword to (-4 penalty, 6d6 weapon damage).

Doesn't work that way. In addition to the penalty to attack rolls the strength it takes to wield a weapon that is not appropriatly sized increases by one step. A medium creature can not wield a large two handed weapon, though he could wield a large longsword.
demonic_dante
02-12-06, 09:57 PM I'm an idiot. I don't know what i was thinking, however with a half-giant, the balanced enchantment and the monkey grip feat you could wield a gargantuan greatsword at a -2 penalty.

Once again please ignore my idiotic ramblings.
DiplomaticDwarf
02-12-06, 10:36 PM The sword would probably weigh more than the half-giant. One bad swing could kill the entire party.
yuenglingdragon
02-12-06, 11:44 PM I'm an idiot. I don't know what i was thinking, however with a half-giant, the balanced enchantment and the monkey grip feat you could wield a gargantuan greatsword at a -2 penalty.

Once again please ignore my idiotic ramblings.

Monkey grip doesn't stack with powerful build. However, a Half-giant with a balanced greatsword who was able to manifest Expansion would be able to use a gargantuan greatsword. If he was manifester level 7 he could wield a Collossal greatsword.
DiplomaticDwarf
02-12-06, 11:58 PM Monkey grip doesn't stack with powerful build.

Where do you get that?
yuenglingdragon
02-13-06, 12:16 AM Where do you get that?

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=305458
DiplomaticDwarf
02-13-06, 12:20 AM Aaaaahhhhhh. Thanks.
Asken
02-13-06, 02:29 AM For Squaba and Tarkin

Im aware of what you are saying

and for yuenglingdragon's comment

you're right and I didn't consider this when I first read Tarkin and Squabas comments...

Nevertheless...

The reason why I play a fighter with such a big sword is that I want to... (a la Final Fantasy) it's just that simple. I don't want a flaming sword, a chilling sword, a thundering sword or anything like that... I want a BIG sword... :) And that is as explained by Tyler above quite possible with powerful build and balanced enchantment and even if it isn't it has been approved by my DM...

My only questions to start off with was if I had understood the rules correctly and what kind of damage I would do, because I wasn't sure. I got those answers... So thank you guys :D
mvincent
02-13-06, 04:31 PM As a half-giant, you could always just wield a gargantuan sunblade (4d8, which becomes 6d8 with just one size increase... which is almost the same as a Colossal greatsword's 8d6).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Asken 02-12-06, 03:03 AM	Im playing a half-giant (Expanded Psionics Handbook) with 26 in strength, I have a greatsword that has the balanced enchantment from "Arms & Equipmentguide", which makes some size of weapon work as being one less. For instance my half-giant wields a huge greatsword, that then acts as being large due to the balanced enchantment. Him being powerfully built, he can as a medium creature wield a huge greatsword as if it were large and thus use a huge greatsword in one hand, right? The sword also has the force enchantment from "Arms & Equipmentguide" that can dispel force effects and does 1d6 extra force damage. What damage does a huge greatsword with said enchantments do... I figured it did 3d6+1d6 force, but im not totally sure that im right on that one...?
Kerri_Evanwood 02-12-06, 03:11 AM	I believe a Huge greatsword does a base of 4d6 slashing damage. As for using it one-handed, I believe you can, but you would incur a -2 penalty for doing so (improperly sized weapon). If you're going by 3.0 rules, there is no -2 penalty (which you might be, as A&EG is a 3.0 publication).
Asken 02-12-06, 04:09 AM	Well... My half-giant is medium, but counts as being large due to powerful build, so he can wield large weapons in one hand. My sword is huge, but counts as being large because of the balanced enchantment and thus makes me able to wield it without any penalty due to improperly sized weapon... Or? Im playing 3.5 more or less... A&EG is 3.0 yes, but I read somewhere that any rules from 3.0 that havn't been altered still counts... I might be wrong on that point, but nevertheless my DM has approved of these enchantments, so... :)
Silimaure 02-12-06, 04:17 AM	If I remember that enchantment right, it allows a twohanded weapon to be used in one hand, says nothing about being able to use a weapon too large for you in two hands. I'll have to find my Arms and Equipment Guide.
Tyler Do'Urden 02-12-06, 06:03 AM	Nonono... in 3.5, there's no such thing as simply a Large weapon. Weapon sizes have two properties: a size category and a "weight" or handedness category, i.e. light, one-handed, or two-handed. A human's greatsword is a Medium two-handed weapon, not a Large weapon. Secondly, a half-giant is not treated as being Large for the purpose of what weapons he can weild. He can just weild weapons made for a creature one size larger without changing the weight or getting a -2. So he can weild a Large one-handed weapon in one hand or a Large two-handed weapon in two hands, as opposed to a human who could weild a Large one-handed weapon in two hands with a -2, and could not weild a Large two-handed weapon at all. Now if what Silimaure said is true, then a half-giant could weild a Large balanced greatsword (base damage 3d6) in one hand. However, if it turns out balanced lets you treat the weapon as being one size-category smaller or lighter, then a half-giant could weild a Huge balanced greatsword (base damage 4d6) in two hands. It looks for the most part, that you're playing it correctly and you can swing that rediculously huge sword 'til you turn blue. I just wanted to clear up the weapon size thing a bit.
tarkin 02-12-06, 11:39 AM	Tyler is correct, and Balanced does work that way, I believe. Also note, Balance is expensive. Usually you get more damage from a +1 flaming sword than a +1 Balanced Sword.
Nom 02-12-06, 05:21 PM	Nonono... in 3.5, there's no such thing as simply a Large weapon. Weapon sizes have two properties: a size category and a "weight" or handedness category, i.e. light, one-handed, or two-handed. A human's greatsword is a Medium two-handed weapon, not a Large weapon.At the risk of being confusing, 3.5 weapons also have a size as an object, which is distinct from their size category as a weapon. The weapon size category indicates what size creature the weapon is designed (weapon balance, grip size, etc) for. The handedness indicates how much effort it takes that creature to use the weapon. The size is how big the weapon is when considered as an object, not a weapon. A light weapon is generally 2 sizes smaller than its weapon size category (eg Medium dagger is Tiny), a one-handed weapon is generally 1 size smaller (eg Medium longsword is Small), and a 2-handed weapon is generally the same size category (eg Medium Greataxe is Medium). For most purposes, you can ignore the weapon's actual size category and just consider its weapon size category - what size wielder the weapon is designed for. See PH pg 113 which covers all this quite clearly.
demonic_dante 02-12-06, 05:32 PM	you could always enchant a gargantuan sword and take -2 attack penalty to deal 5d6 weapon damage, or a colossal sword to (-4 penalty, 6d6 weapon damage). Imagine how it would feel to fight against a person holding a sword larger than he is (many times larger). Of course you might not be able to fit inside a dungeon, this brings to mind a half-giant vampire with a colossal greatsword, who is no longer limited to having to ask permission to enter because he can just smash it.
Squaba 02-12-06, 06:21 PM	I agree with Tarkin, a +1 enhacnment like Flaming adds 1d6 to your damage, why get a more expensive enchantment like balance that esentially only gives you 1d6 more damge anyway?
yuenglingdragon 02-12-06, 07:11 PM	I agree with Tarkin, a +1 enhacnment like Flaming adds 1d6 to your damage, why get a more expensive enchantment like balance that esentially only gives you 1d6 more damge anyway? First of all, the damage from flaming will not be multiplied by a crit. Secondly, when you're a psionic character you might have access to expansion. Expansion increases your size one or two steps depending on the amount of power points used. If you're wielding a huge greatsword (4d6) that damage jumps to 6d6 when you increase size one step and 8d6 with two increases in size. You can't do that with a flaming greatsword. you could always enchant a gargantuan sword and take -2 attack penalty to deal 5d6 weapon damage, or a colossal sword to (-4 penalty, 6d6 weapon damage). Doesn't work that way. In addition to the penalty to attack rolls the strength it takes to wield a weapon that is not appropriatly sized increases by one step. A medium creature can not wield a large two handed weapon, though he could wield a large longsword.
demonic_dante 02-12-06, 09:57 PM	I'm an idiot. I don't know what i was thinking, however with a half-giant, the balanced enchantment and the monkey grip feat you could wield a gargantuan greatsword at a -2 penalty. Once again please ignore my idiotic ramblings.
DiplomaticDwarf 02-12-06, 10:36 PM	The sword would probably weigh more than the half-giant. One bad swing could kill the entire party.
yuenglingdragon 02-12-06, 11:44 PM	I'm an idiot. I don't know what i was thinking, however with a half-giant, the balanced enchantment and the monkey grip feat you could wield a gargantuan greatsword at a -2 penalty. Once again please ignore my idiotic ramblings. Monkey grip doesn't stack with powerful build. However, a Half-giant with a balanced greatsword who was able to manifest Expansion would be able to use a gargantuan greatsword. If he was manifester level 7 he could wield a Collossal greatsword.
DiplomaticDwarf 02-12-06, 11:58 PM	Monkey grip doesn't stack with powerful build. Where do you get that?
yuenglingdragon 02-13-06, 12:16 AM	Where do you get that? http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=305458
DiplomaticDwarf 02-13-06, 12:20 AM	Aaaaahhhhhh. Thanks.
Asken 02-13-06, 02:29 AM	For Squaba and Tarkin Im aware of what you are saying and for yuenglingdragon's comment you're right and I didn't consider this when I first read Tarkin and Squabas comments... Nevertheless... The reason why I play a fighter with such a big sword is that I want to... (a la Final Fantasy) it's just that simple. I don't want a flaming sword, a chilling sword, a thundering sword or anything like that... I want a BIG sword... :) And that is as explained by Tyler above quite possible with powerful build and balanced enchantment and even if it isn't it has been approved by my DM... My only questions to start off with was if I had understood the rules correctly and what kind of damage I would do, because I wasn't sure. I got those answers... So thank you guys :D
mvincent 02-13-06, 04:31 PM	As a half-giant, you could always just wield a gargantuan sunblade (4d8, which becomes 6d8 with just one size increase... which is almost the same as a Colossal greatsword's 8d6).