2 hands [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

2 hands [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Pau_wolf
03-14-07, 04:05 PM if a character has a weapon to wield in 2 hands, what should he do if he needs a free hand to deflect arrows or cast spells? Can he put the blade on the ground and hold a sword with only 1 hand for 1 turn? If he can, does this need an action of some kind? Or maybe it needs an action to take again the sword in 2 hands? Maybe this can be done only with weapons for 1 hand, wielded with 2 hands. What do you think?
Cthulhu-LQ
03-14-07, 04:12 PM The way I rule it, at the beginning of your turn, as a free action you can hold a two-handed weapon with only 1 hand so you have a free hand until the beginning of your next turn.
Obviously, when holding the weapon with only 1 hand, you can't use it but you don't have to drop it either.
Eightbitmage
03-14-07, 04:19 PM You cannot fight with a two handed weapon in one hand, but you can hold a two handed weapon in one hand. Even though it is a weapon it is still an object, and if a person can hold an eight pound weight in one hand I can't see why they couldn't hold an eight pound greatsword with just one hand, especially if they balanced it against their shoulder or something. It probably shouldn't be more than a free action.
Ced666
03-14-07, 04:35 PM That's something I never thought about. In the same kind of thinking, how would you manage a cleric that uses a one-hand weapon and a heavy shield ?

From the srd:
A heavy shield is so heavy that you can’t use your shield hand for anything else.

So, he must drop its weapon to cast the spell ?
Crimson_Concerto
03-14-07, 04:43 PM So, he must drop its weapon to cast the spell ?Yes.

I agree with everybody else here that a character fighting with a two-handed weapon can let go of the weapon with one hand as a free action to hold it with only the other, not be able to wield it, and be able to use the other hand for something else. However, I think that placing the free hand back on the weapon to be able to wield it again should count as a move action, same as drawing a weapon.
shadowoftreefrog
03-14-07, 04:53 PM We play with the player being able to hold the 2hander with one hand and that its a free action to let go, but that its a swift action to grab it again. As far as with a shield yeah he would need to drop or re-sheath the weapon if the spell has a somatic componet. He can cast the spell still wearing the shield but not if his hand is busy.

Sometimes if the spell description specifically says two hands are required (burning hands or whatever) then we rule you can't cast it while holding your sword or large heavy mace or whatever in your offhand. But were generally pretty lenient on the shield.
High Octane
03-14-07, 04:56 PM Yes.

I agree with everybody else here that a character fighting with a two-handed weapon can let go of the weapon with one hand as a free action to hold it with only the other, not be able to wield it, and be able to use the other hand for something else. However, I think that placing the free hand back on the weapon to be able to wield it again should count as a move action, same as drawing a weapon.

I disagree.

Why do you think you always see Hennet with a spear? 2 handed weapon he can hold in 1 hand while casting spells then switch back and do 1.5x str damage (which admittedly probably is +1 or lower) with the most damaging simple weapon there is, the longspear.
DarkRhystar
03-14-07, 05:40 PM Free action to switch a two-handed weapon from being wielded in two hands to being held in one hand and a free action to switch back.

Simple enough. :)
Crimson_Concerto
03-14-07, 05:44 PM Why do you think you always see Hennet with a spear? 2 handed weapon he can hold in 1 hand while casting spells then switch back and do 1.5x str damage (which admittedly probably is +1 or lower) with the most damaging simple weapon there is, the longspear.

A) Art has nothing to do with game mechanics.
B) I never said he couldn't hold the weapon in one hand. In fact, I said he could. I just said that switching back to two hands, to properly fight, should require the same action as drawing any other weapon.
Gottwick
03-14-07, 05:52 PM I'm about to run a cleric for the first time in 3.5, so I read up on shields today. It seems clear that light and heavy shields prevent somatic gestures with the using hand. Bucklers don't.

What about material components?
What about a divine focus?
Gottwick
03-14-07, 05:54 PM I just said that switching back to two hands, to properly fight, should require the same action as drawing any other weapon.
I wouldn't rule that way. Reaching a hand to a weapon and pulling it from its scabbard takes more time than simply dropping it from your shoulder. And remember, you can draw a weapon as part of a move action. If it sounds like it takes even less time than that, I'd call it a swift action.
Crimson_Concerto
03-14-07, 06:25 PM I wouldn't rule that way. Reaching a hand to a weapon and pulling it from its scabbard takes more time than simply dropping it from your shoulder. And remember, you can draw a weapon as part of a move action. If it sounds like it takes even less time than that, I'd call it a swift action.

Well, drawing a weapon from a scabbard also sound to me like it takes less time than reaching down to pick up a weapon off of the ground, but they are still both move actions.

To clarify, I consider dropping the weapon from one hand to be a free action, just like dropping anythign else. You just have the benifit that you can still carry it with you wherever you go. It's picking the weapon back up with the other hand that is the move action.

I rule the way I do because in all of these cases, the weapon is going from "not in use" to "in use." I consider all of them the same as drawing a weapon, and so you can of course do it as part of another move action, just like drawing a weapons, and I even let it benefit from the Quickdraw feat.
trapspringer
03-14-07, 06:29 PM I don't think I'd let a monk deflect while wielding a greatsword because deflecting arrows is a reaction.

Casting spells is cool, becuase you can think "Ok, now I'm 'gunna cast a spell... free my hand... make some gestures... and spell away."

With deflect arrows, you think something more like "oh shi-."

But thats just me. It just seems like the goal of the "you must have a free hand" is to make sure the character in question isn't the ultimate melee bad ass. I don't think a spell slinger will be threatening that an time soon.
johnhansen
03-14-07, 06:56 PM While both draw a weapon and pick up an item are move actions, on page 141 of PHB it has a side note for draw a weapon if you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can combine this action with a regular move. Making it less difficult.
Crimson_Concerto
03-14-07, 07:03 PM While both draw a weapon and pick up an item are move actions, on page 141 of PHB it has a side note for draw a weapon if you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can combine this action with a regular move. Making it less difficult.

I don't really think difficulty has too much to do with it, but you know, this topic has come up multiple times, and at this point there's probably an FAQ ruling or something, and if there isn't, then it probably should be completely up to the DM. This debate has never gone anywhere, and I can see this one isn't going to either, so let's just agree to disagree before this gets silly?

In other news for the OP: There's no real "Official Ruling" if you can't find it in the FAQ, so it's pretty much up to how you think it should work and nothing else.
Cthulhu-LQ
03-14-07, 07:53 PM I don't think I'd let a monk deflect while wielding a greatsword because deflecting arrows is a reaction.
That's why I rule it as I said. At the beginning of your turn, you may choose as a free action to only hold your greatsword with 1 hand. So you can't use it, but you have a free hand until the beginning of your next turn, which allows you to deflect arrows.
Gottwick
03-14-07, 08:45 PM It's a matter of opinion. Close the thread. Before someone comes in and shouts "YOU'RE NERFING QUICKDRAW!"
Kouk
03-14-07, 09:45 PM I swear I read in an article by one of the designers about this but I can't find it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Pau_wolf 03-14-07, 04:05 PM	if a character has a weapon to wield in 2 hands, what should he do if he needs a free hand to deflect arrows or cast spells? Can he put the blade on the ground and hold a sword with only 1 hand for 1 turn? If he can, does this need an action of some kind? Or maybe it needs an action to take again the sword in 2 hands? Maybe this can be done only with weapons for 1 hand, wielded with 2 hands. What do you think?
Cthulhu-LQ 03-14-07, 04:12 PM	The way I rule it, at the beginning of your turn, as a free action you can hold a two-handed weapon with only 1 hand so you have a free hand until the beginning of your next turn. Obviously, when holding the weapon with only 1 hand, you can't use it but you don't have to drop it either.
Eightbitmage 03-14-07, 04:19 PM	You cannot fight with a two handed weapon in one hand, but you can hold a two handed weapon in one hand. Even though it is a weapon it is still an object, and if a person can hold an eight pound weight in one hand I can't see why they couldn't hold an eight pound greatsword with just one hand, especially if they balanced it against their shoulder or something. It probably shouldn't be more than a free action.
Ced666 03-14-07, 04:35 PM	That's something I never thought about. In the same kind of thinking, how would you manage a cleric that uses a one-hand weapon and a heavy shield ? From the srd: A heavy shield is so heavy that you can’t use your shield hand for anything else. So, he must drop its weapon to cast the spell ?
Crimson_Concerto 03-14-07, 04:43 PM	So, he must drop its weapon to cast the spell ?Yes. I agree with everybody else here that a character fighting with a two-handed weapon can let go of the weapon with one hand as a free action to hold it with only the other, not be able to wield it, and be able to use the other hand for something else. However, I think that placing the free hand back on the weapon to be able to wield it again should count as a move action, same as drawing a weapon.
shadowoftreefrog 03-14-07, 04:53 PM	We play with the player being able to hold the 2hander with one hand and that its a free action to let go, but that its a swift action to grab it again. As far as with a shield yeah he would need to drop or re-sheath the weapon if the spell has a somatic componet. He can cast the spell still wearing the shield but not if his hand is busy. Sometimes if the spell description specifically says two hands are required (burning hands or whatever) then we rule you can't cast it while holding your sword or large heavy mace or whatever in your offhand. But were generally pretty lenient on the shield.
High Octane 03-14-07, 04:56 PM	Yes. I agree with everybody else here that a character fighting with a two-handed weapon can let go of the weapon with one hand as a free action to hold it with only the other, not be able to wield it, and be able to use the other hand for something else. However, I think that placing the free hand back on the weapon to be able to wield it again should count as a move action, same as drawing a weapon. I disagree. Why do you think you always see Hennet with a spear? 2 handed weapon he can hold in 1 hand while casting spells then switch back and do 1.5x str damage (which admittedly probably is +1 or lower) with the most damaging simple weapon there is, the longspear.
DarkRhystar 03-14-07, 05:40 PM	Free action to switch a two-handed weapon from being wielded in two hands to being held in one hand and a free action to switch back. Simple enough. :)
Crimson_Concerto 03-14-07, 05:44 PM	Why do you think you always see Hennet with a spear? 2 handed weapon he can hold in 1 hand while casting spells then switch back and do 1.5x str damage (which admittedly probably is +1 or lower) with the most damaging simple weapon there is, the longspear. A) Art has nothing to do with game mechanics. B) I never said he couldn't hold the weapon in one hand. In fact, I said he could. I just said that switching back to two hands, to properly fight, should require the same action as drawing any other weapon.
Gottwick 03-14-07, 05:52 PM	I'm about to run a cleric for the first time in 3.5, so I read up on shields today. It seems clear that light and heavy shields prevent somatic gestures with the using hand. Bucklers don't. What about material components? What about a divine focus?
Gottwick 03-14-07, 05:54 PM	I just said that switching back to two hands, to properly fight, should require the same action as drawing any other weapon. I wouldn't rule that way. Reaching a hand to a weapon and pulling it from its scabbard takes more time than simply dropping it from your shoulder. And remember, you can draw a weapon as part of a move action. If it sounds like it takes even less time than that, I'd call it a swift action.
Crimson_Concerto 03-14-07, 06:25 PM	I wouldn't rule that way. Reaching a hand to a weapon and pulling it from its scabbard takes more time than simply dropping it from your shoulder. And remember, you can draw a weapon as part of a move action. If it sounds like it takes even less time than that, I'd call it a swift action. Well, drawing a weapon from a scabbard also sound to me like it takes less time than reaching down to pick up a weapon off of the ground, but they are still both move actions. To clarify, I consider dropping the weapon from one hand to be a free action, just like dropping anythign else. You just have the benifit that you can still carry it with you wherever you go. It's picking the weapon back up with the other hand that is the move action. I rule the way I do because in all of these cases, the weapon is going from "not in use" to "in use." I consider all of them the same as drawing a weapon, and so you can of course do it as part of another move action, just like drawing a weapons, and I even let it benefit from the Quickdraw feat.
trapspringer 03-14-07, 06:29 PM	I don't think I'd let a monk deflect while wielding a greatsword because deflecting arrows is a reaction. Casting spells is cool, becuase you can think "Ok, now I'm 'gunna cast a spell... free my hand... make some gestures... and spell away." With deflect arrows, you think something more like "oh shi-." But thats just me. It just seems like the goal of the "you must have a free hand" is to make sure the character in question isn't the ultimate melee bad ass. I don't think a spell slinger will be threatening that an time soon.
johnhansen 03-14-07, 06:56 PM	While both draw a weapon and pick up an item are move actions, on page 141 of PHB it has a side note for draw a weapon if you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can combine this action with a regular move. Making it less difficult.
Crimson_Concerto 03-14-07, 07:03 PM	While both draw a weapon and pick up an item are move actions, on page 141 of PHB it has a side note for draw a weapon if you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can combine this action with a regular move. Making it less difficult. I don't really think difficulty has too much to do with it, but you know, this topic has come up multiple times, and at this point there's probably an FAQ ruling or something, and if there isn't, then it probably should be completely up to the DM. This debate has never gone anywhere, and I can see this one isn't going to either, so let's just agree to disagree before this gets silly? In other news for the OP: There's no real "Official Ruling" if you can't find it in the FAQ, so it's pretty much up to how you think it should work and nothing else.
Cthulhu-LQ 03-14-07, 07:53 PM	I don't think I'd let a monk deflect while wielding a greatsword because deflecting arrows is a reaction. That's why I rule it as I said. At the beginning of your turn, you may choose as a free action to only hold your greatsword with 1 hand. So you can't use it, but you have a free hand until the beginning of your next turn, which allows you to deflect arrows.
Gottwick 03-14-07, 08:45 PM	It's a matter of opinion. Close the thread. Before someone comes in and shouts "YOU'RE NERFING QUICKDRAW!"
Kouk 03-14-07, 09:45 PM	I swear I read in an article by one of the designers about this but I can't find it.