I have a few ideas floating around my head, but the purpose of this thread is to gather opinions now so that we can poud out reasonable solutions later. To get us started, here are some thoughts;
-- Swords; heavy blades and light blades alike have awesome proficiency bonuses and plenty of compatible enchantments to choose from, but IMO heavy blades in paricular could use a new feat or two. There is, however, one "sword" that can use an overhaul;
-- The Rapier; quite simply, this thing sucks ass compared to a double-sword. Such a shame for the quintessential sword of the swashbuckler... however, all it needs is a really good feat, I think. Probably something along the lines of being able to feint as a minor action one (or more?) times per encounter.
-- Axes; the damage dice are pretty even when compared to hammers, but Hammer Rythmn is so much better than Deadly Axe it's not even funny. Some of my thoughts for axes include a paragon feat that allows extra damage on crits with high crit axes (+Str mod, probably), an paragon (or epic?) feat called "Chop Em' Down" that grants a +1 bonus to the next attack with an axe after hitting with an at-will (similar to Arcane Spellfury), and of course an axe of shredding for bards.
-- Spears; with all the options available that can further extend reach and/or allow the occaisonal opportunity attack against approaching baddies -- not to mention numerous special fighter exploits and a paragon path -- spears fall into the same category as hammers; they're fine as-is.
-- Polearms; basically I just think we need a one or two more superior polearms, most notably superior versions of halberds and glaives for those who favor such weapons.
Anyway that should get the ball rolling. Any thoughts?
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Polearms could use more superior options, especially for a glaive-like weapon.
Rapiers do need a feat of their own, a'la Scimitar Dance. I'm not sure what, though. Improved feinting seems too niche and potentially too good.
Finally, axes require some love. Deadly Axe can be improved easily enough, though, by adding this: "If the axe already has the high critical property, add 1[W] to the damage dealt by this property, and add your Strength modifier to the damage dealt on a critical hit." That makes it basically a superior version of Devastating Critical, and sets high-crit axes above weapons like halberds. And it's a true beast with an Execution Axe.
OK, so I am an AXE lover, bive me a break.
Personally I just think that flails and maces really need some better options... all of the other weapon categories have their uses and for different character builds different weapon categories will be the best pick.
Personally I just think that flails and maces really need some better options... all of the other weapon categories have their uses and for different character builds different weapon categories will be the best pick.
Which reminds me that picks are also pretty lame.
Mace have nothing going on at all and flail are like a joke most of the time.
target dazed (save ends) automatically on critical or target takes a -1 to next attack
I'd like a ton of staff fighting feats... they'll probably be in the PHB3 with ki power.target dazed (save ends) automatically on critical or target takes a -1 to next attack
Save ends is ridiculous. Start of NT might be okay but dazed is a very powerful effect to be tossing around willy-nilly, critical or no.
Maces were designed to penetrate plate mail. To that end, I'd like something like:
Mace Crush:
Prereq: Some stats that are high.
Effect: Hits with a mace ignore resistance up to your Con modifier or something. Critical hits ignore all resistance.
Flails are just danged confusing weapons to fight. I'm not sure, but something like:
Flailing Flail of Flailiness
Prereq: Different high stats. Dex for sure.
Effect: If the damage you inflict equals or exceeds the target's reflex defense, it is restrained until the start of your next turn. (this is a wacky mechanic but I think it's cute)
Finally, I liked that rapier idea, but it might be sploitable if it was on its own.
Dashing, Daring Rapier Feint
Prereq: Rapier proficiency, trained in bluff, dex 15, cha 15
Effect: Once per encounter while wielding a rapier you may make a feint as a minor action. If you score a critical hit with your rapier this ability recharges.
thats why i said on critical dazed not just always dazed when hit. kind of like a high crit weapon with a status effect instead of extra damage.
That's still enormous. Dazed, like I said, is a very powerful status effect - criticals or otherwise... and especially dazed (save ends). A dazed enemy is only a tiny notch away from being completely useless to the encounter.
That's still enormous. Dazed, like I said, is a very powerful status effect - criticals or otherwise... and especially dazed (save ends). A dazed enemy is only a tiny notch away from being completely useless to the encounter.
Depends on what kind of enemy it is. A melee-based creature doesn't care about daze very much. If there's someone nearby to beat on, it'll hit that; otherwise, it can still charge to get an attack in. On ranged enemies it's much nastier, of course, but you'll encounter far more melee than ranged opponents. Daze until end of next turn on a crit as a paragon feat doesn't sound excessive - probably about comparable to Deadly Axe. Maces are a good candidate for this because you can't do much to buff their crit chance. No Daggermaster or Student of Caiphon path equivalent, and Mace Mastery doesn't come up until epic tier. The lack of good two-handed maces makes them a generally subpar option for avengers, especially compared to fullblades or execution axes. Really, I don't see a problem here.
Depends on what kind of enemy it is. A melee-based creature doesn't care about daze very much. If there's someone nearby to beat on, it'll hit that; otherwise, it can still charge to get an attack in. On ranged enemies it's much nastier, of course, but you'll encounter far more melee than ranged opponents. Daze until end of next turn on a crit as a paragon feat doesn't sound excessive - probably about comparable to Deadly Axe. Maces are a good candidate for this because you can't do much to buff their crit chance. No Daggermaster or Student of Caiphon path equivalent, and Mace Mastery doesn't come up until epic tier. The lack of good two-handed maces makes them a generally subpar option for avengers, especially compared to fullblades or execution axes. Really, I don't see a problem here.
What? Melee characters care about it very much. They grant combat advantage and cannot flank while dazed; further, skirmishers and lurkers hate the loss of mobility while brutes and soldiers hate the loss of interrupts/OAs. The feat has very strong synergy with ruthless ruffians, who can sneak attack with a mace: crit, daze, sneak attack with the CA.
Now, your point about not being able to enhance a mace's crit range is a good one I'd not considered, but daze is indeed a powerful status effect for use against melee characters and ranged, in any tier. Just because it's a level below stunned doesn't make it less nasty. Maybe dazed until the start of your next turn so that the ruthless rogue would have to use an AP to take advantage of the CA or the lack of OA/interrupts, but I still think that's tough to balance.