Hi,

A Bastard Sword does 1d10+1 R, Pen 1

My question, what is the damage 1-H en what's the damage 2-H, is there is difference or is it just theme and mood?

GrtZ,

S.

There don't appear to be any official rules for alternate grips on melee weapons (probably because the bastard sword is the only one specifically allowed to be wielded in two different manners). But, off-hand, I'd suggest dropping the +1 damage and penetration if you use it one -handed (making it equivalent of a standard one-handed sword) and only applying the bonus dam and pen if they use the two-hand grip.

Hi, a Bastard sword is a 'Hand and a half sword' designed to be held in 1h but have the power of a larger 2h weapon. It is not designed to be wielded 2 handed and therefore should not confer any extra damage if used in that manner. Just my input, for what its worth.

I would not adjust damage. Instead give a bonus vs. any disarm attempt if using two hands.

My groups Psyker purchased a good quality Bastard Sword on Iocanthos (the groups Arbitrator is stil teasing him he could have bought a Combat Shotgun for that price...) and I ruled that it gets Pen 2 when used 2handed. Not that much, but at least a little more crunch. Actually, I think the Bastard Sword is a little weak otherwise, especially if compared to a Great Weapon.

Anyway, I would like to see someone fighting with a Bastard Sword one-handed, as I suppose it is rather difficult due to its size and weight. Most Bastard Swords were in fact used two-handed as they evolved as a counter measure in a time where plate-armour became more abundant (due to the evolution of the longbow as a weapon of war) and shields less abundant (the strong protection of plate-armour made them less needed).

Luthor Harkon said:

That sounds good to me. i think it lack the balanced trait of weapons representing the additional weight over a one handed sword. You could let them have that trait back if used with two hands.

And then you have the long sabre which is also two handed but does d10+2 damage with 2 penetration. (Really need to get one mono'ed for my moritat).

As a side note - anyone toy with great weapons or just think 2d10 overpowered and skip it? If so, and with other weapons as well, anyone ever let best quality weapons no longer be unbalanced?

I've been doing some historical reenactment fighting with actual bastard swords, aka longswords. The swords we used are between 115 and 135 cm long and properly balanced metal. It is generally not practical to use the sword onehanded. Sometimes a specific move works better if you let go of one hand, often to control your opponent with the other hand, sometimes to draw a dagger if your weapon is locked, sometimes to get a different angle for an already started attack or parry. But it is absolutely necessary to have two hands available to benefit from the bastard sword. If you are strong you can swing it in one hand, but you loose control and speed and the long blade can give your opponent an unneccessary leverage (force applied times distance from the point of application to the point of rotation) if they strike your blade at the point.

A bastard sword is a twohanded weapon that gives a lot more defensive options and control than a longer and heavier "zweihander", while having better range and punch than a onehanded sword. Also, I agree with everything that Luthor Harkon wrote about the historical context.

There are many types of "Bastard Sword" and depending on the Size and Proposition of the wheilder depends on the best way to use them.

their are normal Swords with an extended grip that allow you to use two hands to Pary Heaver Blows or deliver ones of your own, others use the extended Grip for Control instead of Power with the extra Power coming from a change in the Balance where a Taller or longer Limbed user with larger hands and the right Mussel Development (Not necessarily stronger) can use them one handed no problems, throug to Two-handed Swords with Shorted Grips for verious reasons.

DH seams to have gone with the KISS principle on this one saying the vast majoraty of Bastard Swords do "This" for what ever reason so live with it, also this alows them at a later date to plublish Veriants on the Bastard Sword with no big deal saying stuff like "this a Howjar Sword from the world of Nutjob its a type of Bastard Sword and will [Censored] your [Censored] up in a way a little diffrent to the normal Bastard Sword.".