AD&D question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

AD&D question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
lowendz113
Jul 21, 2005 23:30:59 I hope its ok that I'm asking this here I just didnt know where else to ask. Anyway I was just wondering if you were a fighter specalized in say shortswords, and had ambidexterity. What would his penaties to hit be and how many attacks would he get a round while wielding two short swords?
#2
weasel_fierce
Jul 22, 2005 0:49:48 Base penalty is -2 / -4.

If you are ambidextrous, its -2 for each hand. Apply specialization bonus to that

Your dex attack adjustment applies to cancel out modifiers (but does not actually give a bonus)

However, you cannot use two short swords (offhand weapon must be smaller), unless you also spend a slot on two-weapon fighting style (which, with ambidexterity and short sword specialization leaves you out of slots ;) )
#3
lowendz113
Jul 22, 2005 1:15:16
However, you cannot use two short swords (offhand weapon must be smaller), unless you also spend a slot on two-weapon fighting style (which, with ambidexterity and short sword specialization leaves you out of slots ;) )

Okay so say I have that, how many attacks do I get?
#4
weasel_fierce
Jul 22, 2005 1:21:58 Just double the attacks you get from specialization.

3/2 up to level 9.
#5
3man20
Jul 22, 2005 14:47:21 Unless you are a Ranger, in which case you get ambidexterity automatically. Then you would still have a proficiency slot left, right?
#6
weasel_fierce
Jul 23, 2005 0:38:17 I presume you are talking 2nd edition then.

Rangers are not automatically ambidextrous, per se. But in studded leather or lighter, they receive no penalties.

If they wear heavier armour, they need to have the slots anyways
#7
zombiegleemax
Jul 23, 2005 9:17:29 In 2e, rangers can't specialize.

R-
#8
weasel_fierce
Jul 23, 2005 9:55:25 gah, true of course!
#9
zombiegleemax
Jul 23, 2005 12:32:36 ;)
#10
greylord
Jul 23, 2005 19:44:30 Actually, it's a -2 for each attack, I believe, since both weapons are the small size?

I think...though I might be wrong, haven't looked at those rules recently.
#11
diamabel
Jul 28, 2005 7:41:17 if you want to wield two short swords (two weapons of the same size) you have to spend 2 points in the two-weapon style, which gives you a -2 penalty on your off-hand. to negate that penalty you can either give your PC high dex (the +2 reaction adjustment of dex 17 and above negates the penalty completely) or you can spend one more point in ambidexterity.

i recommend on spending your initial weapon-proficiency-points this way:
2 points --> two-weapon style
1 point --> ambidexterity
1 point --> short sword (you can specialize later anyway)

or

high dexed char with 17 dex or more

2 points --> two-weapon style
2 points --> short sword (weapon specialization)
#12
ozbirthrightfan
Jul 28, 2005 20:16:40
2 points --> two-weapon style
1 point --> ambidexterity
1 point --> short sword (you can specialize later anyway)

Does it really take two points to specialise in two-weapon style? We always played by the rules in the Complete Fighter's handbook that say it takes only 1 slot to specialise in a fighting style..

That would mean at 1st level you could take:

1 point --> two-weapon style
1 point --> ambidexterity
2 points --> short sword (to specialize)

OR

For Dex 17 or better...
1 point --> two-weapon style
2 points --> short sword (to specialize)
1 point -->

and be able to fight at no penalty with both weapons
#13
weasel_fierce
Jul 28, 2005 23:35:17 It is only 1 slot.
However, apart from reducing the penalty, it also lets you fight with equal-sized weapons, something that you cannot do otherwise
#14
diamabel
Jul 29, 2005 10:52:02 with one slot in two weapon fighting you must have a shorter weapon in your off hand, (longsword in main hand and short sword in off hand for example) but if you want two equal-sized weapons you need to spend a second slot on the skill.

got it from players option skills & powers btw
#15
weasel_fierce
Jul 29, 2005 11:07:12 I seem to recall it differently, but Im going by memory from complete fighters handbook.
#16
diamabel
Jul 29, 2005 11:19:06 just looked it up in the fighters handbook again and it says that you need just 1 slot to use weapons of equal size.. well i suppose ozbirthrightfan's solution is the better one then ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lowendz113 Jul 21, 2005 23:30:59	I hope its ok that I'm asking this here I just didnt know where else to ask. Anyway I was just wondering if you were a fighter specalized in say shortswords, and had ambidexterity. What would his penaties to hit be and how many attacks would he get a round while wielding two short swords?
#2 weasel_fierce Jul 22, 2005 0:49:48	Base penalty is -2 / -4. If you are ambidextrous, its -2 for each hand. Apply specialization bonus to that Your dex attack adjustment applies to cancel out modifiers (but does not actually give a bonus) However, you cannot use two short swords (offhand weapon must be smaller), unless you also spend a slot on two-weapon fighting style (which, with ambidexterity and short sword specialization leaves you out of slots ;) )
#3 lowendz113 Jul 22, 2005 1:15:16	However, you cannot use two short swords (offhand weapon must be smaller), unless you also spend a slot on two-weapon fighting style (which, with ambidexterity and short sword specialization leaves you out of slots ;) ) Okay so say I have that, how many attacks do I get?
#4 weasel_fierce Jul 22, 2005 1:21:58	Just double the attacks you get from specialization. 3/2 up to level 9.
#5 3man20 Jul 22, 2005 14:47:21	Unless you are a Ranger, in which case you get ambidexterity automatically. Then you would still have a proficiency slot left, right?
#6 weasel_fierce Jul 23, 2005 0:38:17	I presume you are talking 2nd edition then. Rangers are not automatically ambidextrous, per se. But in studded leather or lighter, they receive no penalties. If they wear heavier armour, they need to have the slots anyways
#7 zombiegleemax Jul 23, 2005 9:17:29	In 2e, rangers can't specialize. R-
#8 weasel_fierce Jul 23, 2005 9:55:25	gah, true of course!
#9 zombiegleemax Jul 23, 2005 12:32:36	;)
#10 greylord Jul 23, 2005 19:44:30	Actually, it's a -2 for each attack, I believe, since both weapons are the small size? I think...though I might be wrong, haven't looked at those rules recently.
#11 diamabel Jul 28, 2005 7:41:17	if you want to wield two short swords (two weapons of the same size) you have to spend 2 points in the two-weapon style, which gives you a -2 penalty on your off-hand. to negate that penalty you can either give your PC high dex (the +2 reaction adjustment of dex 17 and above negates the penalty completely) or you can spend one more point in ambidexterity. i recommend on spending your initial weapon-proficiency-points this way: 2 points --> two-weapon style 1 point --> ambidexterity 1 point --> short sword (you can specialize later anyway) or high dexed char with 17 dex or more 2 points --> two-weapon style 2 points --> short sword (weapon specialization)
#12 ozbirthrightfan Jul 28, 2005 20:16:40	2 points --> two-weapon style 1 point --> ambidexterity 1 point --> short sword (you can specialize later anyway) Does it really take two points to specialise in two-weapon style? We always played by the rules in the Complete Fighter's handbook that say it takes only 1 slot to specialise in a fighting style.. That would mean at 1st level you could take: 1 point --> two-weapon style 1 point --> ambidexterity 2 points --> short sword (to specialize) OR For Dex 17 or better... 1 point --> two-weapon style 2 points --> short sword (to specialize) 1 point --> and be able to fight at no penalty with both weapons
#13 weasel_fierce Jul 28, 2005 23:35:17	It is only 1 slot. However, apart from reducing the penalty, it also lets you fight with equal-sized weapons, something that you cannot do otherwise
#14 diamabel Jul 29, 2005 10:52:02	with one slot in two weapon fighting you must have a shorter weapon in your off hand, (longsword in main hand and short sword in off hand for example) but if you want two equal-sized weapons you need to spend a second slot on the skill. got it from players option skills & powers btw
#15 weasel_fierce Jul 29, 2005 11:07:12	I seem to recall it differently, but Im going by memory from complete fighters handbook.
#16 diamabel Jul 29, 2005 11:19:06	just looked it up in the fighters handbook again and it says that you need just 1 slot to use weapons of equal size.. well i suppose ozbirthrightfan's solution is the better one then ;)