Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ja5on 02-12-08, 07:04 AM	Torn between two builds. Creating lvl8 Fighter. Can't Decide between using a feat for Exotic Weapon Prof. for a +1 keen Bastard Sword, or just go with +1 keen long sword and use the extra feat for Dodge or Quickdraw. Is there some sort of equation out there that will calc. how much damage I'd miss out on on average, and when I crit? Thanks for any help or suggestions.
Shadowshimmer 02-12-08, 07:13 AM	Just my opinion but I would go with Quickdraw because it has saved my life in the past and I find it very valuable.
Wheldrake 02-12-08, 07:24 AM	Early weapon specialization can be a problem. My current character, Ignacio, is a fighter-rogue specialized in the bastard sword. But during our adventures, we found several +1 longswords, a +2 longsword of Lathander, and a couple other weapons (shortsword, rapier, everything but a bastard sword). We did finally wind up in a town where I was able to commission a +1 bastard sword from a weaponsmith, but if I hadn't been so hung up on using this weapon, I wouldn't have wasted feats on it, and I'd be using that +2 longsword we found. So much depends on how easily you can special order items in your campaign. Cheers, --- Wheldrake
ja5on 02-12-08, 07:38 AM	very good points. So are you saying that it may not be in my best interest in taking weapon focus and specialization for the long sword either? If that is what you mean, I can see your point in making a fighter as well-rounded as possible. But I can also see it as not taking advantage of the nice bonuses you can stack on a weapon type.
Wheldrake 02-12-08, 12:46 PM	It all depends. If you're creating a level 8 fighter out of the box, and you have a hefty stipend of gold to spend on magic items, then odds are you'll begin play with exactly the right weapon to take advantage of your specializations. If your DM allows you free access to magic 'r' us magic shops, then at virtually any point you can acquire exactly the right weapon to take advantage of your specializations. But if, like me, you are in a campaign where magic is fairly rare, magic shops are nearly nonexistent, and magic weapons acquisition depends almost entirely on what you find in monster lairs and on defeated foes, then you may be better off either: 1) choosing a ubiquitous weapon like the longsword, on the safe bet that most cool magic weapons your party finds will be of this type, or... 2) holding off on weapon specialization until *after* your character acquires some cool weapon that you then choose to specialize in, whether it be a vanilla longsword or some exotic weapon like a bastard sword or katana. YMMV, --- Wheldrake
Orchomenos 02-12-08, 02:13 PM	Are you planning on using your sword one-handed with a shield, or two-handed? You could go with the Bastard Sword and the Exotic Weapon Master PrC from Complete Warrior. It let you add twice your STR modifier to damage when using a it two-handed.
YamiShinobi 02-12-08, 09:33 PM	if you can afford it race Duergar (mm1) level 6 fighter 1 barbarian (take barbarian at 1st level) assuming 28 point buy str 16 (+2=18) con 16 dex 14 wis 10 int 10 cha 4 feats power attack monkey grip (don't own it but hear about it) extra rage twice (don't own it but heard about it) wapon focus (greatpick) weapon specialization (greatpick) cleave equipment +1 flaming shocking large greatpick (thanks to monkey grip) +2 chainmail bracers of strength +2 +1 heavy steel shield (strapped to forearm, so hand is still free for greatpick) strategy rage (con20 str22) then enlarge person (size increase from monster manual -2 dex +8 str +4 con, with an additional +2 str -2 dex) total str 32 con 26 dex 10 average damage per swing 47 damage per full round average (if both attacks hit) 86 maximized with no crit 118 at ecl 8 +1 flaming shocking greatpick and monkey grip (d10 (2d6 at large) (3d6 at huge from enlarge person 1/day) +6d6 +1 1/2 str) the perfect destoroyer (but only this powerful) once per day through duergar spell like abilties (as a wizard of twice your class levels total) do not disrespect enlarged enraged duergars with monkey grip and a greatpick of a size larger than themselves
NatanaX 02-19-08, 04:24 PM	For the record I've seen a character use a pair of Bastard Swords in battle, it was scary. His damage is unreal.
CrimsonDeath 02-19-08, 05:28 PM	From an optimization standpoint, XWP: Bastard Sword is just setting a feat on fire for no good reason. It's an extra +1 damage per hit-- half as good as Weapon Specialization, itself a subpar feat. You're better off using a Longsword, so you can spend a feat on something else, or a Greatsword, so you can do more base damage and still spend a feat on something else.
VulcanStormwrath 02-19-08, 07:33 PM	Torn between two builds. Creating lvl8 Fighter. Can't Decide between using a feat for Exotic Weapon Prof. for a +1 keen Bastard Sword, or just go with +1 keen long sword and use the extra feat for Dodge or Quickdraw. Is there some sort of equation out there that will calc. how much damage I'd miss out on on average, and when I crit? Thanks for any help or suggestions. Dodge is subpar(1 opponent per round) and Exotic for Batard Sword is a wasted feat. I'd say stick with the longsword and go with Shield Specilization for an AC boost that lasts. Take Shield Ward at level 9 to boost your touch AC (Fighter's weakness)
Horus_Sungod 02-21-08, 09:39 PM	*sorry, i know it doesnt help* That's why i love the warblade so much, they don't have to deal with that $hit of choosing a weapon. I'd advise against specialising in one weapon unless it's a very common one (longsword for exemple)
Lincoln Hills 02-22-08, 03:28 PM	Last time I was running a heavy fighter-type, I avoided the Weapon Focus/Weapon Specialization chain - loaded up instead on other, more fruitful feats. Blind-Fight: the Precise Shot tree: the Cleave tree: and, if you've got the stats for it, Expertise - even Zen Archery if you've put a better stat in Wisdom than in Dexterity. (I know that's unlikely, but personally I prefer a fighter whose touch-AC is easier for the second-row healers, and whose Spot checks and Will saves are not exercises in futility.) I know that a lot of folks think of the fighter as the "use one weapon really well" guy, but the "grab any weapon" approach is actually quite effective. (And I do so enjoy the in-game flavor of killing off the first wave, picking up one of their weapons, and using that rather than my own gear to kill off the second wave, etc.: something a WSpec-oriented fighter just can't do.)
CrimsonDeath 02-22-08, 04:51 PM	The Cleave tree isn't actually that great. Using Cleave means you have to have two monsters in your face at the same time, which means you're probably only a 5' step away from being flanked. Great Cleave is even less useful; if you're fighting enemies that you can knock down in one hit, your arcanist can probably drop huge numbers of them with one area damage spell (if he has any). The Weapon Focus tree can be decent if you're going into Exotic Weapon Master, or if you plan on grabbing Weapon Master/Supremacy from PHB2. In general, I probably wouldn't recommend it though. Fighters make surprisingly good archers-- better than Rangers if you have enough splat-books (but not quite as good as a Ranger/Scout with Complete Scoundrel). I prefer a fighter whose touch-AC is easier for the second-row healers Are they using Reach Spell, or did your DM house-rule that allies can't automatically touch you to deliver a beneficial spell?
Dunsel 02-22-08, 08:00 PM	The Cleave tree isn't actually that great. Using Cleave means you have to have two monsters in your face at the same time, which means you're probably only a 5' step away from being flanked. Great Cleave is even less useful; if you're fighting enemies that you can knock down in one hit, your arcanist can probably drop huge numbers of them with one area damage spell (if he has any). I don't know about that. I have seen great cleave mow down a huge number of opponents. And when you mention the "arcanist can probably drop huge numbers of them with one area damage spell" you follow it up with "if he has any." and that is the main problem. Once those combatants reach the tanks, the arcanists can't target as easily.