2 quick melee Questions

[Fermat]

1. Are there any rules for using a melee weapon in a character's non-dominant hand?
2. How about using a two-handed weapon in one hand?

I feel that I've seen them, but can't find them for the life of me.

[drewkitty ~..~]

Off the top of my head, I don't think so to both.

I have a feeling that if they are real that they are in a Q&A somewhere in one of the GMG or one of the official Q&A ones in the early rifters.

[ShadowLogan]

#1. There are examples of taking penalties when dual wielding weapons (in full descriptions of WP: Paired Weapons) in an off-hand and dominant hand, so I think those would apply. Might want to check Ambidextrous trait/ability descriptions as they might also be mentioned there, and IIRC they are the same as WP: PW.

#2. This one I don't think I've ever come across in the rules what happens if you try to use two handed weapon with just one hand. I've seen things that require a PS and what happens if you don't have sufficient PS, but not one vs two handed use on a two handed weapon.

[drewkitty ~..~]

There are a couple questions back at you.

What setting is this for? PF, HU, BTS, rifts, etc...? (yes, it might effect the answer. it will also let people check the books from the setting you are playing in 1st.)

Are you talking like in the princess bride with the sword fight between Inigo Montoya and Westley where they start off using their off hand with a single sword, or do you mean when using two melee weapons at the same time (like a paired weapons' attack without having paired weapons)?

[Fermat]

I primarily run HU.
As to specific situation, I am putting together a quick combat chart for my players, so both dual wielding and single wielding would be useful. My mind is telling me that I saw it, but where I couldn't tell you.

[Alrik Vas]

There are a lot of ways to look at this. Paired weapons can be taken as its written in rules which means that for combat you don't really have a dominant hand. Though you could also say it only applies when using dual techniques as the trained motions for two weapon fighting are developed for efficient action.

The problem being that all I know of wp paired giving penalties is from dual use of firearms, where both hands get penalties.

I think it's fair to apply hefty minuses if a character tries to 1 hand a 2 handed weapon. With many polearm weapons there are strikes, parries and various flourish maneuvers that use one hand, but they generally also use part of the body as support, or momentum from a previous 2 handed maneuver.

Say the character had only 1 arm, there would be moves they couldn't do properly. I think this would be fair to reflect with around a -6 at least.

[Bill]

I think they'd fall under non-proficient use; which doesn't have any penalty associated with it, but doesn't allow the character to benefit from any proficiency bonus.

That said, wielding a two-handed weapon one handed ought to depend on how strong the character is and how much mass the weapon has. A supernaturally strong character probably shouldn't operate under any penalties while a mere human is going to struggle to swing the weapon effectively.

[Alrik Vas]

Considering supernatural strength, that's a whole different can of worms.

Say you're strong enough to whirl a 2 ton hammer about like a normal human uses a twig as play fighting. So yo wouldn't even use the proficiency anyway, as you can wield the weapon any way you want.

[ShadowLogan]

Limiting it to Heroes Unlimited...

Re point 2: checkout the Sharpshooting abilities on pg133 (point #2), while it specifically is in reference to firearms it might be useful to know. "Can
fire a traditional two-handed weapon, like a rifle, one handed without penalty (normally the shooter loses all strike bonuses)." Other penalties are also mentioned here, but not necessarily elsewhere. It might only apply to ranged weapons, but some can also be used for melee weapons I would think.

[Nekira Sudacne]

in heroes unlimited, there are no off-hand penalties, however you cannot use a weapon in each hand at once unless you have paired weapons. Ambidexterious will give bonuses with any weapons or unarmed but is not required to use your off hand.

There are no rules explictly for using a 2 handed melee weapon one handed, although i've found it generally assumed that characters with super-strength powers can usually wield oversized weapons in one or two hands without penalties, it's not addressed by the rules. Sharpshooting permits the firing of two-handed rifles one handed.