Talk:Basket-hilt Broadsword (3.5e Equipment)

What? i dont even... OP much? 2d6 and a shield in one hand? obviously not even trying to be balanced. a buckler sword would be cool, it just needs to have a reasonable damage, like 1d6, not greatsword damage. Zau 08:59, 14 October 2011 (MDT)

I'd say treat it like a buckler attached to a bastard sword: 1d10 damage, 2-handed weapon, +1 shield bonus to AC, -1 to attacks, EWP makes it a 1-handed weapon. The price needs to go up though; it should at least be equal to the price of a shield and a sword; probably 20-100% higher still. JazzMan 10:51, 14 October 2011 (MDT)

That is still straight up better than a bastard sword, the extra cost doesn't matter. maybe make it give +1 AC, 1d8 damage, an extra +1 AC when fighting defensive/Combat Expertise/total defense. Zau 13:19, 14 October 2011 (MDT)

Well, it's going to be straight-up better than a bastard sword, because it's not a bastard sword. A longsword is straight-up better than a shortsword as well. If you reduce the damage to 1d8 then it's straight-up better than a longsword, so you've still got the same problem. The only thing I can think of to make it less powerful without making it useless is to say that you only get the AC with EWP, but then you'd probably need to add something else or again nobody would ever use it. JazzMan 14:03, 14 October 2011 (MDT)

you don't get my point. a short sword is NOT "straight up" better than a long sword. a short sword is a light weapon, which is different than a long sword. they aren't comparable, they have different uses. this being better than a longsword is justified, as it is an exotic weapon, however, it is not justified in being better than a bastard sword, because they are in the same class. an exotic weapon is usually a better version of a martial weapon, like how a bastard sword is a better longsword, if you are proficeint. this weapon makes the bastard sword pointless, with this weapon there is not reason to use a bastard sword, it is superior in every way. in short, this replaces a bastard sword, as in their is no reason to use a bastard sword instead of this, unlike how a bastard sword does not replace a long sword, because some people can't waste a feat on exotic weapon prof, and a long sword does not replace a short sword, because sometimes you need a light weapon. do you see the difference? Zau 20:16, 15 October 2011 (MDT)

No need to patronize; I get exactly what your point is, I just disagree with you. My point is, the weapon as you have designed it completely nullifies the longsword/buckler combo, because it's better in every way (unless you are only granted the AC with EWP, but that makes it a rather bleh weapon -- and without the feat, it's exactly equal in every way to a longsword). I stand by my last post: 2-handed, 1d10, permanent +1 to AC, permanent -1 to attacks, EWP makes it a 1-handed weapon. Why would someone use this?

• Longsword vs. BHS (without EWP): choose the longsword to go sword-and-board; otherwise choose the greatsword/buckler over the BHS (this is the same as longsword vs. bastard sword without EWP)
• Longsword vs. BHS (with EWP): choose the BHS for better damage (also the same as longsword vs. bastard sword w/ EWP) JazzMan 17:16, 16 October 2011 (MDT)
• Bastard sword vs. BHS (without EWP): choose the BHS if you want the AC/attack tradeoff, otherwise choose the bastard sword (or better yet, a greatsword)
• Bastard sword vs. BHS (With EWP): choose the bastard sword to go sword-and-board (you can get better AC through bigger shields) or choose the BHS to go two-weapon fighting (you shift the attack penalty to your primary attack, but also get to keep the AC bonus)
• Bastard sword/buckler vs. BHS (without EWP): choose the BHS to keep your AC bonus; choose a greatsword to increase damage and remove the attack penalty at the cost of -1 AC
• Bastard sword/buckler vs. BHS (with EWP): choose the bastard sword to go sword-and-board (you can get better AC through bigger shields) or choose the BHS to go two-weapon fighting (you shift the attack penalty to your primary attack, but also get to keep the AC bonus)

You will have to give me the benefit of the doubt if I messed something up, but I think that's every combination of longsword/bastard sword/buckler/EWP, and as you can see each weapon has its uses in differing situation; no one weapon is straight-up better than any other. JazzMan 17:16, 16 October 2011 (MDT)

As an IRL instructor in scottish broadsword, I wanted to say this is pretty awesome. I like what you have done with my favored weapon. I wanted to add a few points though... take these as you will. This content will certianly find its way into my game with some modifications.

• This sword is not, and cannot be weilded two-handed. It can be half-sworded but that is something different.
• It is not comparable to the longsword really... it was a little closer to the short sword and was only termed 'broad' in comparison to the small sword then popular on the mainland. The longsword was much longer (usually 38" to 40" vs 30" to 32") and was used very differently.
• You can be easily disarmed with this sword, but the basket actually aids in disarming others. That said, I like your system and I mention this only for historical accuracy.
• Although one-handed, this blade is in no way 'light' nor is it finessable as the rapier/epee/light saber is. Even though you have the gaurds of tierce, quarte, prime, second, and quinte, they are not the same.

User:jtpurdom 13:05 22 May 2012 EST

I think the reason that he thought to put weapon finesse on it is because of the visual similarities to a fencing sword with a hand enveloping guard. So he thought they were similar. I also may put my hat in the ring to figure out a way to balance this based on the history. [Signed Cataru]