Ok, I'll try explaining this one more time from a different angle. Maybe it will make more sense like if I phrase it like this.
The rules restrict your ability to use multiple weapons by the number of weapons you can use per round, not by the type of weapons you can use.
If the rules defined your ability to use extra weapons by the type of weapon used it would read something like: "if you wield a one handed wepon and a light weapon you may use the light weapon to make extra attacks each round". They don't say that. Nowhere in the Conan rules, SRD, or DnD core rulebooks will you find a passage that says "you may not use a two handed weapon and a light weapon both in the same round". This is because multiple weapons use is not defined by the type of weapon used.
Instead the rules restrict fighting with multiple weapons based on the number of weapons he can use each round. (If it helps think of this as "weapon slots".) That is the meaning of the passage on p 183
This is really not that much of a "strech". It simply requires you to understand what the rules mean rather than what you think they mean.
Regarding the question about a sword, kick, kick attack routine. Remember what I just said, the limit is the number of weapons and that number is two. So although a martial artist could make TWF attacks with his fists by counting his body as two weapons (effectievly using it as double weapon) the greatsword weilder can not make his sword attack and then count his unarmed strikes as two weapon (a kick and a kick for example) because then he would be wielding three weapons (sword, unarmed, unarmed) and three is more than two. The only way to use more than two weapons per round is by taking the Multiweapon Fighting feat which iteslf has a prerequisite of having "three or more hands" something that usually isnt an issue.
See how even that makes sense within the contex of TWF limiting the number of weapons instead of the type of weapons? It makes sense because that is how the rules were written to be understood.
Anyway, hope thats more clear than my previous attempts. Later.
The rules restrict your ability to use multiple weapons by the number of weapons you can use per round, not by the type of weapons you can use.
If the rules defined your ability to use extra weapons by the type of weapon used it would read something like: "if you wield a one handed wepon and a light weapon you may use the light weapon to make extra attacks each round". They don't say that. Nowhere in the Conan rules, SRD, or DnD core rulebooks will you find a passage that says "you may not use a two handed weapon and a light weapon both in the same round". This is because multiple weapons use is not defined by the type of weapon used.
Instead the rules restrict fighting with multiple weapons based on the number of weapons he can use each round. (If it helps think of this as "weapon slots".) That is the meaning of the passage on p 183
Specifically a character can wield only two weapons per round, one of which is designated as the primary and one of which is designated the "off hand". The character is free to designate whichever one he wants as the primary, he can even change his mind from round to round (this is because there is no game mechanic for "handidness" in d20). Normally in order to wield most weapons you must hold them in at least one hand, thus under most conditions you can not wield a two handed weapon and a second weapon because you don't have enough hands to go around! But an unarmed strike does not require you dedicate a free hand to using it and the rules specifically state that you can use an unarmed strike as a off-hand weapon so you can wield an unarmed strike as a second weapon, and make off-hand attacks with it, regardless of what you are doing with your hands (including weielding a two handed weapon as your primary).p 183 said:If a combatant wields a second weapon in the off hand, that combatant can get onne extra attack per round with that weapon when he takes a full attack action.
This is really not that much of a "strech". It simply requires you to understand what the rules mean rather than what you think they mean.
Regarding the question about a sword, kick, kick attack routine. Remember what I just said, the limit is the number of weapons and that number is two. So although a martial artist could make TWF attacks with his fists by counting his body as two weapons (effectievly using it as double weapon) the greatsword weilder can not make his sword attack and then count his unarmed strikes as two weapon (a kick and a kick for example) because then he would be wielding three weapons (sword, unarmed, unarmed) and three is more than two. The only way to use more than two weapons per round is by taking the Multiweapon Fighting feat which iteslf has a prerequisite of having "three or more hands" something that usually isnt an issue.
See how even that makes sense within the contex of TWF limiting the number of weapons instead of the type of weapons? It makes sense because that is how the rules were written to be understood.
Anyway, hope thats more clear than my previous attempts. Later.