Power Attack Feat Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Power Attack Feat Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
westward
01-25-08, 12:03 PM What is the bonus to damage that a PC would add when using this feat in the followign circumstance:

Level 6 PC
BaB +6/+1
PC uses two hands on a greatsword

PC wishes to use the maximum damage bonus that power attack offers.

The first attack is easy in that you subtract the max BAB, +6, and add +12 to the damage roll. However, the second one is presenting some confusion. Do you still subtract 6 eventhough the BAB on the second attack is +1, and thus add +12 to the damage roll, or do you only subtract 1(the BAB bonus for the second attack), and add +2 to the damage roll?

Thanks in advance for you help.
jaelis
01-25-08, 12:08 PM You subtract 6 from each attack roll, and add 12 to each damage roll.

In general, the penalty applies to each attack you make until your next turn, and the damage applies to each weapon as appropriate (zero for light weapons, 1:1 for 1H, unarmed strike, and natural weapons, and 2:1 for 2H weapons).
Windspear
01-25-08, 12:14 PM Take leap attack. More damage. Use bigger weapon (take monkey grip if 2 handed).
InkBlot
01-25-08, 12:37 PM Yes, you subtract 6 from both every attack he makes until his next turn. You even subtract 6 from his attacks of opportunity. His full attack goes from +6/+1 to +0/-5.

Yes, he adds +12 damage to every attack, including attacks of opportunity.
Tordak
01-25-08, 02:57 PM You only have one BAB, and it's the bonus from you're highest attack bonus. That why it's called BASE attack bonus, it's the basic number from which you calculate every other bonus on attack rolls, including iterative attacks (at BAB-5, BAB -10 etc. as long as the result from this calculation is higher than 0). So you substract 6 from every attack you make for the whole round and add 12 to the damage you make for the whole round (with melee attacks of course). Your BAB is the maximum you can invest, and your BAB is 6 in your case (so attack bonus not counting bonuses or penalties).
StevenO
01-25-08, 07:31 PM If your attack line looks like this (+20/+15/+10/+5) before bonuses you could take a -20 to attacks with Power attack for +40 damage with a basic two-handed weapon and you'd still make all attacks. The bonus may look like (+0/-5/-10/-15) before bonusus and may seem unlikely to hit be remember to rule that a natural 20 always hits.
Rulebook
01-26-08, 11:31 PM i love those situations where only a nat 20 hits. you get to pull out all the stops; full power attack and expertise and what have you
Spikes01k
01-26-08, 11:57 PM Take leap attack. More damage. Use bigger weapon (take monkey grip if 2 handed).

Forget Monkey grip, get strong arm bracers, much better.
Spikes01k
01-27-08, 12:01 AM If your attack line looks like this (+20/+15/+10/+5) before bonuses you could take a -20 to attacks with Power attack for +40 damage with a basic two-handed weapon and you'd still make all attacks. The bonus may look like (+0/-5/-10/-15) before bonusus and may seem unlikely to hit be remember to rule that a natural 20 always hits.

To solve that problem on a charge take the shocktrooper feat. If you want more attacks, take a level of barbarion and take the lion totem from complete champion. With those two together you get full attack with full bonuses to hit, but you take that minus to AC, so be sure you kill the bastard/s.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
westward 01-25-08, 12:03 PM	What is the bonus to damage that a PC would add when using this feat in the followign circumstance: Level 6 PC BaB +6/+1 PC uses two hands on a greatsword PC wishes to use the maximum damage bonus that power attack offers. The first attack is easy in that you subtract the max BAB, +6, and add +12 to the damage roll. However, the second one is presenting some confusion. Do you still subtract 6 eventhough the BAB on the second attack is +1, and thus add +12 to the damage roll, or do you only subtract 1(the BAB bonus for the second attack), and add +2 to the damage roll? Thanks in advance for you help.
jaelis 01-25-08, 12:08 PM	You subtract 6 from each attack roll, and add 12 to each damage roll. In general, the penalty applies to each attack you make until your next turn, and the damage applies to each weapon as appropriate (zero for light weapons, 1:1 for 1H, unarmed strike, and natural weapons, and 2:1 for 2H weapons).
Windspear 01-25-08, 12:14 PM	Take leap attack. More damage. Use bigger weapon (take monkey grip if 2 handed).
InkBlot 01-25-08, 12:37 PM	Yes, you subtract 6 from both every attack he makes until his next turn. You even subtract 6 from his attacks of opportunity. His full attack goes from +6/+1 to +0/-5. Yes, he adds +12 damage to every attack, including attacks of opportunity.
Tordak 01-25-08, 02:57 PM	You only have one BAB, and it's the bonus from you're highest attack bonus. That why it's called BASE attack bonus, it's the basic number from which you calculate every other bonus on attack rolls, including iterative attacks (at BAB-5, BAB -10 etc. as long as the result from this calculation is higher than 0). So you substract 6 from every attack you make for the whole round and add 12 to the damage you make for the whole round (with melee attacks of course). Your BAB is the maximum you can invest, and your BAB is 6 in your case (so attack bonus not counting bonuses or penalties).
StevenO 01-25-08, 07:31 PM	If your attack line looks like this (+20/+15/+10/+5) before bonuses you could take a -20 to attacks with Power attack for +40 damage with a basic two-handed weapon and you'd still make all attacks. The bonus may look like (+0/-5/-10/-15) before bonusus and may seem unlikely to hit be remember to rule that a natural 20 always hits.
Rulebook 01-26-08, 11:31 PM	i love those situations where only a nat 20 hits. you get to pull out all the stops; full power attack and expertise and what have you
Spikes01k 01-26-08, 11:57 PM	Take leap attack. More damage. Use bigger weapon (take monkey grip if 2 handed). Forget Monkey grip, get strong arm bracers, much better.
Spikes01k 01-27-08, 12:01 AM	If your attack line looks like this (+20/+15/+10/+5) before bonuses you could take a -20 to attacks with Power attack for +40 damage with a basic two-handed weapon and you'd still make all attacks. The bonus may look like (+0/-5/-10/-15) before bonusus and may seem unlikely to hit be remember to rule that a natural 20 always hits. To solve that problem on a charge take the shocktrooper feat. If you want more attacks, take a level of barbarion and take the lion totem from complete champion. With those two together you get full attack with full bonuses to hit, but you take that minus to AC, so be sure you kill the bastard/s.