Off Hand Penalty? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Off Hand Penalty? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
nlentz88
07-30-07, 03:33 PM Hey folks,

Is there a basic penalty for a PC attacking with his off hand?

For example, let's say a PC is right handed. He holds a long sword in his right hand and a dagger in his left hand. On his turn, he uses his move action to move 30' and throws the dagger. Is there any penalty on this attack roll?

Similarly, supposed instead of a dagger the PC was holding a wand in his left hand (his off hand). He moves 30' and uses a standard action to activate the wand (say a ray spell or touch attack). Is there any penalty on this roll?

Thanks in advance,
Nick
Matthew77
07-30-07, 03:43 PM I've seen this judged both ways.

Option A) the player has to pick one hand to be declared his "off-hand", either left or right. He applies a -4 penalty to attack rolls for using his off-hand, unless he has the two-weapon fighting feat (which now includes ambidexterity).

Option B) As long as he is only using one hand per turn, with no attempt to do two-weapon fighting, there is no penalty.

Personally, I prefer option two. The mechanical advantages of freely switching between two weapons or a weapon and a wand are limited enough that its not overpowering, and it feels more "heroic" to me.
runestar
07-31-07, 12:12 AM I would go with B as well. So long as the PC is not using the TWFing attack action, I see no reason to enforce the off-hand limitation at all.

The only scenario I can imagine where this would be useful is say a fighter is holding a sword in his main hand, and a mace in his off hand, and meets a foe with dr/blugeoning (meaning the mace is more effective in combat than the sword). I will just let him designate his off-hand as his main hand and attack with no penalties.:)
Karui_Kage
07-31-07, 01:22 AM RAW goes with option B. In DnD, there is no distinction on if a player is right or left handed, and he can use either without penalty. Using both at the same time, however (Two Weapon Fighting) does carry penalties. If he wants to switch his sword and shield between either hand though, he can do so with no penalties.
eamon
07-31-07, 08:08 AM 3.5 (presumably intentionally) did away with the 3.0 feat ambidexterity and now makes no difference between handedness. As long as you're not trying to wield both simultaneously, you take no penalty.

Now that I think of it, how does that interact in the situation as follows: a character has a BAB of +6/+1, and wishes to use his first attack with one weapon, and his second attack with another in his other hand - seeing as he's not "using" the benefits in the sense of extra attacks of the Two Weapon Fighting style, does he take any penalty at all?
runestar
07-31-07, 09:24 AM Now that I think of it, how does that interact in the situation as follows: a character has a BAB of +6/+1, and wishes to use his first attack with one weapon, and his second attack with another in his other hand - seeing as he's not "using" the benefits in the sense of extra attacks of the Two Weapon Fighting style, does he take any penalty at all?

I would allow this to be made with no penalties, since he is not actually using the TWFing attack action, merely simulating it (you don't get the benefits, so I see no need to impose the accompanying drawbacks either).:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nlentz88 07-30-07, 03:33 PM	Hey folks, Is there a basic penalty for a PC attacking with his off hand? For example, let's say a PC is right handed. He holds a long sword in his right hand and a dagger in his left hand. On his turn, he uses his move action to move 30' and throws the dagger. Is there any penalty on this attack roll? Similarly, supposed instead of a dagger the PC was holding a wand in his left hand (his off hand). He moves 30' and uses a standard action to activate the wand (say a ray spell or touch attack). Is there any penalty on this roll? Thanks in advance, Nick
Matthew77 07-30-07, 03:43 PM	I've seen this judged both ways. Option A) the player has to pick one hand to be declared his "off-hand", either left or right. He applies a -4 penalty to attack rolls for using his off-hand, unless he has the two-weapon fighting feat (which now includes ambidexterity). Option B) As long as he is only using one hand per turn, with no attempt to do two-weapon fighting, there is no penalty. Personally, I prefer option two. The mechanical advantages of freely switching between two weapons or a weapon and a wand are limited enough that its not overpowering, and it feels more "heroic" to me.
runestar 07-31-07, 12:12 AM	I would go with B as well. So long as the PC is not using the TWFing attack action, I see no reason to enforce the off-hand limitation at all. The only scenario I can imagine where this would be useful is say a fighter is holding a sword in his main hand, and a mace in his off hand, and meets a foe with dr/blugeoning (meaning the mace is more effective in combat than the sword). I will just let him designate his off-hand as his main hand and attack with no penalties.:)
Karui_Kage 07-31-07, 01:22 AM	RAW goes with option B. In DnD, there is no distinction on if a player is right or left handed, and he can use either without penalty. Using both at the same time, however (Two Weapon Fighting) does carry penalties. If he wants to switch his sword and shield between either hand though, he can do so with no penalties.
eamon 07-31-07, 08:08 AM	3.5 (presumably intentionally) did away with the 3.0 feat ambidexterity and now makes no difference between handedness. As long as you're not trying to wield both simultaneously, you take no penalty. Now that I think of it, how does that interact in the situation as follows: a character has a BAB of +6/+1, and wishes to use his first attack with one weapon, and his second attack with another in his other hand - seeing as he's not "using" the benefits in the sense of extra attacks of the Two Weapon Fighting style, does he take any penalty at all?
runestar 07-31-07, 09:24 AM	Now that I think of it, how does that interact in the situation as follows: a character has a BAB of +6/+1, and wishes to use his first attack with one weapon, and his second attack with another in his other hand - seeing as he's not "using" the benefits in the sense of extra attacks of the Two Weapon Fighting style, does he take any penalty at all? I would allow this to be made with no penalties, since he is not actually using the TWFing attack action, merely simulating it (you don't get the benefits, so I see no need to impose the accompanying drawbacks either).:)