Dervishes and Scimitars... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dervishes and Scimitars... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mregecko
02-16-07, 10:46 PM Ok, so what I've been pondering.

Dervish 3rd level ability, Slashing Blades, says "A dervish treats the scimitar as a light weapon (rather than a one-handed weapon) for all purposes, including fighting with two weapons."

Now, I'm assuming this means an appropriately sized scimitar (i.e. M for a M-sized creature).

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.

Does this logic work:

Scimitars are treated as LIGHT weapons. Weapons of a size category higher are treated as one weapon-effort category higher (in the light/one-handed/two-handed spectrum)...

Therefore, for a 3rd lvl Dervish, LARGE weapons are treated as one-handed.

Up another size class, HUGE weapons are treated as Two-Handed. Could a Medium Dervish use this to 2h-wield a 2d6 Huge Scimitar? Understanding a -4 penalty would apply (which would be easy to soak at high enough levels).

This would also allow Dervishes to Powerattack with say a Large scimitar in mainhand and a Light scimitar in offhand...

-- Gecko
Prince Vine
02-16-07, 10:49 PM No. It applies only to an appropriately sized scimitar, giving special rules to its use. Compare this to the way any double weapon is, can be treated as a one handed and light weapon, it doesn't make it a one handed and light, but it is treated as such.
jaelis
02-16-07, 10:50 PM I would say yes. A dervish could wield a Large scimitar (1d8) as a 1H weapon, or a Huge scimitar (2d6) as a 2H weapon.

But given the attack penalties, she would be much better off using a longsword or greatsword instead... the extra point of threat range isn't worth it.
mregecko
02-16-07, 10:53 PM But given the attack penalties, she would be much better off using a longsword or greatsword instead... the extra point of threat range isn't worth it.

It might be if you get improved crit... But point taken, there are better slashing weapons with good crits.

It was a thought. ;-)
mregecko
02-16-07, 10:55 PM No. It applies only to an appropriately sized scimitar, giving special rules to its use. Compare this to the way any double weapon is, can be treated as a one handed and light weapon, it doesn't make it a one handed and light, but it is treated as such.

The only reason I thought this might not be the case... It says specificially "For all purposes" which of course applies to Power Attack as well. If you can't elect out of using your scimitars as light for purposes of power attack (which you definitely cannot do with a Dervish wielding appropriately sized scimitars), then why would they be exempt from the standard "One effort category larger" SRD ruling?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mregecko 02-16-07, 10:46 PM	Ok, so what I've been pondering. Dervish 3rd level ability, Slashing Blades, says "A dervish treats the scimitar as a light weapon (rather than a one-handed weapon) for all purposes, including fighting with two weapons." Now, I'm assuming this means an appropriately sized scimitar (i.e. M for a M-sized creature). 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. Does this logic work: Scimitars are treated as LIGHT weapons. Weapons of a size category higher are treated as one weapon-effort category higher (in the light/one-handed/two-handed spectrum)... Therefore, for a 3rd lvl Dervish, LARGE weapons are treated as one-handed. Up another size class, HUGE weapons are treated as Two-Handed. Could a Medium Dervish use this to 2h-wield a 2d6 Huge Scimitar? Understanding a -4 penalty would apply (which would be easy to soak at high enough levels). This would also allow Dervishes to Powerattack with say a Large scimitar in mainhand and a Light scimitar in offhand... -- Gecko
Prince Vine 02-16-07, 10:49 PM	No. It applies only to an appropriately sized scimitar, giving special rules to its use. Compare this to the way any double weapon is, can be treated as a one handed and light weapon, it doesn't make it a one handed and light, but it is treated as such.
jaelis 02-16-07, 10:50 PM	I would say yes. A dervish could wield a Large scimitar (1d8) as a 1H weapon, or a Huge scimitar (2d6) as a 2H weapon. But given the attack penalties, she would be much better off using a longsword or greatsword instead... the extra point of threat range isn't worth it.
mregecko 02-16-07, 10:53 PM	But given the attack penalties, she would be much better off using a longsword or greatsword instead... the extra point of threat range isn't worth it. It might be if you get improved crit... But point taken, there are better slashing weapons with good crits. It was a thought. ;-)
mregecko 02-16-07, 10:55 PM	No. It applies only to an appropriately sized scimitar, giving special rules to its use. Compare this to the way any double weapon is, can be treated as a one handed and light weapon, it doesn't make it a one handed and light, but it is treated as such. The only reason I thought this might not be the case... It says specificially "For all purposes" which of course applies to Power Attack as well. If you can't elect out of using your scimitars as light for purposes of power attack (which you definitely cannot do with a Dervish wielding appropriately sized scimitars), then why would they be exempt from the standard "One effort category larger" SRD ruling?