Specific Examples & Questions
- Basic Question: Does a grig (MM 235) wielding a Tiny longspear (PH 116, 119) (2 gp 5 sp; 0.9 lbs.) threaten no squares, adjacent squares, or squares 10 ft. away?
- Then: What about a grig wielding two-handed a Small spinning sword* (Secrets of Sarlona 137-8) (50 gp; 3 lbs.)?
- Then: What about a human wielding as a light weapon a Tiny longspear?
- Then: What about a human wielding two-handed a Large spinning sword (100 gp; 6 lbs.)?
I know that, according to the SRD, "Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten all squares 10 feet (2 squares) away, even diagonally. (This is an exception to the rule that 2 squares of diagonal distance is measured as 15 feet.)."
I also know that, according to the SRD, "Most creatures of Medium or smaller size have a reach of only 5 feet. This means that they can make melee attacks only against creatures up to 5 feet (1 square) away. However, Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten more squares than a typical creature. In addition, most creatures larger than Medium have a natural reach of 10 feet or more."
Finally, according to the Dungeon Master's Guide, "Tiny, Diminutive, and Fine creatures have no natural reach. They must enter an opponent’s square (and thus be subject to an attack of opportunity) in order to attack that opponent in melee unless they are armed with weapons that give them at least 5 feet of reach" (29).
But here's what interests me.
- Do creatures with reach 0 ft. threaten areas when wielding appropriately sized or inappropriately smaller or larger sized reach weapons? If so, what's the threatened area?
- Do creatures with at least reach 5 ft. still threaten beyond their natural reaches when wielding inappropriately smaller or larger sized reach weapons? If so, whats the threatened area?
"Why?"
I'm considering adding a homebrew feat to my campaign that grants the creature the ability to ignore the penalties for using inappropriately smaller weapons, but I'm not entirely clear of the potential feat's impact. I'm totally okay with the Medium dwarf picking up the Small throwing axe dropped by the goblin and–at no penalty–hurling it** at the onrushing horde. I'm less comfortable with the dwarf spinning a Fine spiked chain around his head and saying he can hit everyone within 10 ft. of him with what is, essentially, a sharpened charm bracelet.
* The obscure weapon's demanded by the need for a 1-handed reach weapon. Although the "spinning sword can't be wielded in two hands to apply 1-1/2 times a character's Strength bonus on damage rolls" (SoS 137), it can, apparently, be wielded in two hands for other reasons.
** Throwing axe not goblin.
Best Answer
Rules Compendium p. 150 (emphasis mine):
Rules Compendium p. 151:
Based on those two things, we can answer your two questions:
I think your proposed feat is going to work as you intend. A fine spiked chain won't convey any reach, it'd just be like using a melee range weapon only doing a lot less damage.
Specific Q/A
The grig is tiny, using a reach weapon. It therefore threatens no squares.
Threatens no squares. The spinning sword definition says that it's a reach weapon, and tiny creatures do not gain reach from reach weapons.
Threatens his natural reach only. Undersized reach weapons convey no reach, but they don't take away your natural reach (since said human could just punch that square).
Yes, the human would threaten squares 10' away, and 5' away (as the spinning sword works at close range, like a spiked chain).
Does The Rules Compendium Contradict The SRD/DMG?
No, it doesn't. The SRD's reach definition is as follows (emphasis mine):
Tiny creatures have a natural reach of 0. If you double 0, you get 0. Thus while the RC definition is lengthier, it doesn't contract what the SRD or DMG say.
The only thing in the SRD about oversize/undersize reach weapons is the bit in the above quote about using a reach weapon of the appropriate size. The RC expands on this, but again doesn't contradict what is said. (You could argue that in the SRD, an oversize reach weapon also doesn't grant reach as it's not "appropriate", but they didn't really spell out what they meant so I don't find the RC version problematic.)
Can A Tiny Creature Ever Get Reach?
Yes, as the DMG mentions:
That makes it clear that tiny creatures are not forbidden from getting reach, if they have some way to get it. Some examples of ways to do that:
What About Whips?
Whips have a different wording than the other standard reach weapons, as shown here:
Compare to the Spiked Chain (another reach weapon that works in melee range):
The "X has reach" wording on the chain is the same as you see for every reach weapon in the SRD, except the Whip. The first part of my answer covered how those work with larger and smaller creatures. But is a whip special?
So for whips, it comes down to how much stock you put into the odd wording compared to other weapons. I can't give a reference for what the writers actually intended to do there, as one doesn't seem to exist. I do know that the second option is far more consistent in how it plays, so I would certainly favor it in actual play.