Post/Author/DateTime	Post
northr1980 03-18-07, 03:14 AM	does power attack work for both weapons when fighting with TWO weapons??? and power attack stays on for AoO's right???
navar100 03-18-07, 03:45 AM	They will work together, but in practice they don't work well together. You already have the -2 for using two weapons. Using power attack increases that penalty without damage compensation. You can't power attack to optimum because you'll miss more often than you hit. For power attack specifically, -1/+1 isn't terrible for even the sword and shield guys, but ideally you want the -1/+2 for using a weapon two handed. In comparison to two-weapon fighting with power attack, you will hit more often and deal more damage. Two-weapon fighting by itself is ok. Obviously it's good for rogues with their sneak attack and rangers with their favored enemy bonus. For fighters, you want it beacuse you favor DX over ST. A 14 ST is fine for you, willing to get items later to boost ST. Use two light weapons, such as a short sword. Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization in short sword will help give you the damage you could have gotten with a greatsword and higher ST. Any buffness given you for hit and/or damage will give you twice the benefit. You'll eventually want two magic weapons. Each giving their own extra die of damage, such as fire damage and cold damage is nice. Have one be a defender and you get a nice AC boost. Power attack with two-weapon fighting does not synergize well. Yes, any penalty for power attack you take will also apply to any AoO you do.
Moccanime 03-18-07, 07:25 AM	Also if I remeber correctly, then power attack dosn't work with light weapons, so you have to use one-handed weapons if you want the damage bonus on both. That means you have a -4 to attack even before you add any power attack damage. This can be offset with oversized two weapon fighting feat and some levels in tempest. But it really just make an already feat exstensive build even more costly.
runestar 03-18-07, 07:44 AM	It's times like this I appreciate double weapons all the more...:P
Moccanime 03-18-07, 07:49 AM	Especially when one plays a Valenar elf in Eberron. There is a PrC that let you treat both ends of a double scimitar as a two-handed weapon at the same time. Add in 5 levels of tempest and you have a serious double weapon user.
ibayboy 03-18-07, 08:39 AM	It's times like this I appreciate double weapons all the more...:P Sorry but the off-hand end of a double weapon is treated as a light weapon, so power attack won't add any damage just penalties. A character can fight with both ends of a double weapon as if fighting with two weapons, but he or she incurs all the normal attack penalties associated with two-weapon combat, just as though the character were wielding a one-handed weapon and a light weapon. Similar text applies for oversized twf
kjenks 03-18-07, 09:10 AM	There are a couple of light weapons that allow you to get your Power Attack damage bonus: unarmed strike and natural weapons. You can use your unarmed strike as an off-hand weapon while fighting with two weapons. Sure, it might provoke an AoO, but you can use the Improved Unarmed Strike feat to avoid that.
runestar 03-18-07, 10:08 AM	Sorry but the off-hand end of a double weapon is treated as a light weapon, so power attack won't add any damage just penalties. I meant wielding the double weapon 2-handed when you want to power attack.:)
ibayboy 03-18-07, 03:30 PM	I meant wielding the double weapon 2-handed when you want to power attack.:) Ahhh, no wurries.
ClementWillowbreaker 03-18-07, 08:33 PM	Not to mention only having to buy weapon-specific feats once, and getting a one-handed weapon's damage on your primary attacks. Nevermind that double weapon off-heads are better than separate light weapons most of the time.
Ages_Defiance 03-18-07, 08:52 PM	Yes, any penalty for power attack you take will also apply to any AoO you do. does the damage from power attack got to AoO. Man im sorry but nothing beats the biggest weapon you can find combo that with a gnome tortoise blade. enchant the crap out of it +5 shield with +5 blade and put defending in the blade.
Moccanime 03-19-07, 10:02 AM	Yes, any penalty for power attack you take will also apply to any AoO you do. does the damage from power attack got to AoO. yes and yes Man im sorry but nothing beats the biggest weapon you can find combo that with a gnome tortoise blade. enchant the crap out of it +5 shield with +5 blade and put defending in the blade. Is that even a legal build? Even if it is then I think there is better things to do with 36000 gp than getting an extra 5 ac. Unless the GM gives away gold like candy or only put the party up against melee monsters.
Ages_Defiance 03-19-07, 11:18 PM	the point from the shield is that it gives you 11AC with no max dex bonus and its a shield bonus it stacks with armour and what not. throw that together with gnome twist clothe and put emphyreal in it sack all the 5 AC from your armour for 5 sacred bonus on saves and get a wand of greater luminous armour +8 AC and anything attacking you in melee gets -4 to hit. oh no you lose 1d3 str drink a potion of lesser restoration 1d4 odds are you lose noting. all though i feel its bending the rules. melee monsters kinda like a dragon 2 claws a bite 2 wings and a tail try not dying to easily from that. but yeah later in the game AC is kinda pointless. i mean everthing is gonna hit you. oh i forgot to mention that its a buckler so you can still 2 weapon fight or 2 hand a weapon. also i think (my opinion) the -1 you suffer from attacks with a buckler comes from its armour check penalty which would be negated upon masterworking it.