Proposed item (sort of)...

[Peregrinus]

Anyone who's played with me for any length of time knows there is one thing that bothers the hell out of me: the male, two-handed sword walking and running animations. Why? They look stupid and are downright inaccurate as to how one walks with a two-handed weapon (unless one is marching in a parade). Since I'm betting the animations are hard to replaces and involve programing well beyond most of our skill levels, I thought of a partial solution that would solve the problem for weapons that are 1 or 2 handed.

Put simply, an invisible shield. I even know how to design (and have designed it in the toolset) so that all it does is force the character to use the one-handed animations. It has to have the following stats (explanation to follow after base stats):

Mithril Light Shield
Bonus Feat: Shield Prof.
AC Penalty: -1 Shield
-80% Weight Reduction

Why Mithril? Simply put a mithril light shield has no penalties associated with it's use, it has 0% Spell failure and an Armor Check Penalty of 0 (a normal light shield has a 5% spell failure and a -1 Armor check penalty). The Bonus Feat is so that any class can use the item. Unless I am sorely mistaken this wouldn't allow a character to equip other shields, only the shield with the bonus feat. The Armor Check Penalty is so there is no benefit to using the item, as a light shield's armor class is 1, the -1 negates that. The weight reduction makes it so that the you have as little weight as possible from the item which is obstinately to reflect a one handed fighting style rather than the game forcing a person to use a two handed style.

What advantages are there in this item? None besides allowing more role-play options. In fact, using this item in combat is actually disadvantageous as you would not get the benefits of fighting with a two-handed weapon (1.5 Str to damage rolls, 2x bonus on power attack). Provided it could be easily swapped out during combat as the base item is a shield, but again, that fits the goal of giving characters more options to role-play. I'd also make the item a quest item or tag it as stolen or something so that it cannot be sold, and then make it so the item is free from some NPC that all a character has to do is talk to.

Any thoughts?

[Alterity]

Sounds like an interesting idea.

So basically, you have a sword in your right hand, and this item in your left, and when you charge into combat you actually use the one handed weapon style, because that is what it assumes you are using right? Well, just one thing to note then. If this is meant for your two-handed swords, then you can't use a sword with them unless you give them monkey-grip as well (Further decreases because of the -2 to attack bonus if you are using a shield). This would also make sense if you are for whatever reason using any two handed weapon, say a spear, or a greataxe, in one hand. How many people can safely say they hit well when only using one hand to wield a greataxe?

But if you just mean it for one-handed weapons that have the potential to be held as two-handed weapons, then this works fine, except perhaps it may seem wierd if your one hand is out holding a shield, and theres nothing attached to it.

[Wired]

Are the female animations better?

[Peregrinus]

Are the female animations better?

Yes, considerably so, and it angers me to no end.

[Peregrinus]

Sounds like an interesting idea.

So basically, you have a sword in your right hand, and this item in your left, and when you charge into combat you actually use the one handed weapon style, because that is what it assumes you are using right? Well, just one thing to note then. If this is meant for your two-handed swords, then you can't use a sword with them unless you give them monkey-grip as well (Further decreases because of the -2 to attack bonus if you are using a shield). This would also make sense if you are for whatever reason using any two handed weapon, say a spear, or a greataxe, in one hand. How many people can safely say they hit well when only using one hand to wield a greataxe?

But if you just mean it for one-handed weapons that have the potential to be held as two-handed weapons, then this works fine, except perhaps it may seem wierd if your one hand is out holding a shield, and theres nothing attached to it.

You'd still need to take Monkey Grip Independently, as a feat it reflects training that allows you to use two-handed weapons one handed, something that is not normally trained. It is meant more for the 1/2 Handed weapons, as using those weapons 1 handed is part of normal training with them. I actually made the item and tested it a bit, the animation for holding a shield is actually quite subtle and not overly noticeable.

[hannahcoldkiller]

so you'd have to equip or unequip it? Or is it like an emote or something else?

[Peregrinus]

It's an item, it would be equip/unequip.

[Vahene]

Sound like a good idea.

I haven't had time to see or even compare the animations, but I'll take your word for it.

K

[JaeEleutheria]

female animation while walking has the sword resting on a shoulder. male animation while walking has the sword in two hands out in front of him.

[Nathen Arnes]

Sounds like a good idea, and yeah, the shield holding animation is really subtle, just bending your elbow a little instead of a straight arm.

[Peregrinus]

DMs. I have an item made I can submit if you're at all interested.

[Atharin]

.. Well, it'll look even weirder when you run with it though. And for two handed weapon it still invokes the -2 penalty.

[Wired]

I was just thinking of using the fem animations, but then you'd get a nice hip-sway walking around with the greatsword over your shoulder.

Females have some much better combat animations too.

[Peregrinus]

It doesn't really look any worse than running with a two-handed weapon, and in fact looks better.

Also, Two-handed weapons are two handed for a reason. Even in PnP with the monkey grip feat you'd take a -2 penalty for swinging a two-handed sword with one hand. That's appropriate.

[Roaslind]

Why not add bonus feat monkey grip as well - - as feat would only work when shield equiped - so can hold 2H one handed - - and should requip before combat any way



(not strictly true. Stacking bug - means any bonus feats on any items persist even when item unequiped *sigh* - but that is no reason not to take up a good idea)