Warsword, light (3.5e Equipment)

Because of both its lenght and weight, The Warsword is a heavy hand-and-a-half weapon and sits in-between the Bastard Sword and the Greatsword in terms of lenght, weight and handling characteristics. Since it fills that particular niche, the Warsword is also called "Long/Heavy Bastard Sword", "Short/Light Greatsword","Bastard Greatsword" and sometimes "Three-handed Sword", because of the common lenght of its grip which has enough place for three hands.

Many swords with a heavy blade mass and/or width, such as many examples of the historical "Montante" and "Claymore", fall into this weapon category, as well as some swords with a slightly curved blade with good weight presence, such as the historical "Odachi".

Due to its overall lenght and weight, the Warsword is hard to use in one hand properly without special training: thus, it's an exotic weapon. However, its relatively good maneuvrability (in comparison to the Greatsword, at least!) may allow a decent handling in one hand when necessary, for example in difficult situations or on horseback.

If the wielder has Exotic Weapon Proficiency and a Strength score of at least 13, it is possible to wield a light warsword in one hand with a -1 penalty to attack rolls.

Failing to meet the requirement makes the light warsword an improvised weapon with a -6 penalty to attack and damage rolls for those with Martial Weapon Proficiency.

A character can use an light warsword two-handed as a martial weapon, without penalty on attack rolls.

A Warsword counts as a Bastard sword or as a Greatsword (but not as these two last weapons together) for the purpose of any of the following feats: Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialization, Improved Critical, Weapon Focus, and Weapon Specialization: if a character has any of these feats both on the Bastard sword and the Greatsword, the bonuses of the feats from the two last weapons don't stack within the Warsword.