Posted by: Shadowblade2
« on: July 07, 2009, 12:37:22 PM »2d4 guarantees a minimum damage amount and has a normal probability curve. 1d8 has a linear distribution - you have the same chance to do 1, 5 or 8 hp damage per hit.
With 2d4, you have the same chance to do 2 or 8 hp damge, more chance to do 3 or 7 etc and overall have a better chance of averaging higher damage overall. I have tables and graphs somewhere.
Another thing with the bastard sword - a house rule is that single-handed it's 2d4 + STR bonus, two-handed it's 2d4+1 + 1.5x STR bonus (also the appropriate damage for large creatures). There's rules in the Complete Fighter's Handbook for using a single-handed weapon two-handed and getting +1 damage. The 1.5x STR bonus is from 3E.
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With 2d4, you have the same chance to do 2 or 8 hp damge, more chance to do 3 or 7 etc and overall have a better chance of averaging higher damage overall. I have tables and graphs somewhere.
Another thing with the bastard sword - a house rule is that single-handed it's 2d4 + STR bonus, two-handed it's 2d4+1 + 1.5x STR bonus (also the appropriate damage for large creatures). There's rules in the Complete Fighter's Handbook for using a single-handed weapon two-handed and getting +1 damage. The 1.5x STR bonus is from 3E.
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