The World of Avlis

I have a question about 2 handed vs 1 handed attacks

1 handed character attack bonuses
+8/+3


2 weapon handed character attack bonuses

+6/+1

Which is better? does a 2 handed character attack twice each rd?

does that 1 handed character strike twice each rd.?

The main advantage of two-handed weapons is that they add 1.5 times your str bonus to the damage.

So if you had 18 str a one-handed weapon would get 4 damage added, a two-handed one would get 6 damage added.

The weapons themselves to not make any difference to your BaB, AB or attack rolls, except where you have feats that only apply to particular weapons.

The exception to this double wepons (two-bladed sword, double axe etc) These take two hands, but give you off hand attacks as well, and from memory (but i could be wrong) don't give you the 1.5 times str bonus.

Chances are the reason your AB is less with the two handed weapon is because you have weapon focus feats in the other one handed weapon. There really should be no difference AB wise between a long sword and a great sword.

Or it could be I'm misinterpreting you. When you say "2 weapon handed", do you mean using two weapons, using a double weapon, or using a two-handed weapon like a greatsword?

Psyco wrote:The main advantage of two-handed weapons is that they add 1.5 times your str bonus to the damage.

I assume this does not apply for us large races who use a two handed weapon with one hand, but can someone say for sure (whether it be due to PnP rules I don't know or NWN Engine limitations). One thing I'd be happy to be wrong about.

Thanks in advance.

Midknight wrote:Or it could be I'm misinterpreting you. When you say "2 weapon handed", do you mean using two weapons, using a double weapon, or using a two-handed weapon like a greatsword?

I think this is what was meant - -2/-2 is exactly what a ranger with a small off-hand weapon gets.

It's the same as rapid shot with a bow, in fact. You're better off using two weapons rather than one, in terms of damage, except when you need a 18 or 19 to hit with one weapon, IIRC.

Or if you need a shield, of course

hundejahre wrote:

Psyco wrote:The main advantage of two-handed weapons is that they add 1.5 times your str bonus to the damage.

I assume this does not apply for us large races who use a two handed weapon with one hand, but can someone say for sure (whether it be due to PnP rules I don't know or NWN Engine limitations). One thing I'd be happy to be wrong about.

Thanks in advance.

The size of the weapon does not matter. It is being used two-handed it gets 1.5x the str bonus.

So a halfling with a longsword gets it, a human with greatsword gets it, a wemic will never get it in NWN as they can wield everything one-handed.

size always matters. hmm

Anyways, go with one right now, until your BAB goes higher.

srn wrote:It's the same as rapid shot with a bow, in fact. You're better off using two weapons rather than one, in terms of damage, except when you need a 18 or 19 to hit with one weapon, IIRC.

an addendum: this applies to all of the feats that allow you to make one more attack at a -2 penalty for all attacks.

The break-even point is when you need an 18 to hit at the lower AB or a 16 to hit at the higher AB. Alternatively, improved dual-wield/improved 2WF bumps up the break-even point to 19.

Vergilius wrote:

srn wrote:It's the same as rapid shot with a bow, in fact. You're better off using two weapons rather than one, in terms of damage, except when you need a 18 or 19 to hit with one weapon, IIRC.

an addendum: this applies to all of the feats that allow you to make one more attack at a -2 penalty for all attacks.

The break-even point is when you need an 18 to hit at the lower AB or a 16 to hit at the higher AB. Alternatively, improved dual-wield/improved 2WF bumps up the break-e

I am sorry, I wasnt clear. I meant 2 weapon fighting I.e. using 2 swords vs. 1 long sword..


1 long sword
+8/+3

1 long sword and short sword off hand

+6/+1

Ah, in this case:

As a ranger, you get a feat called Dual Wield - which gives you the equivalent of Ambidexterity and Two Weapon Fighting. When you use two weapons normally, the penalty to your to hit roll is something like -8 for the main hand, and -10 for the off. With dual wield, it goes down to -4/-4.

Now, since you're wielding a light weapon on the off hand (the shortsword), this goes down to -2/-2. The advantage it gives you however, is the additional attack with the off hand weapon. If you scroll down the character sheet, you can see the attack bonus for your offhand weapon.

So to sum it up, it's slightly harder to hit, but you make more strikes.

EDIT: P.S. Only 0.5 of your STR bonus is applied to the off hand weapon (shortsword) for damage. So if you had a STR score of 14, and a bonus of 2, you'd only get +1 to your damage roll for the shortsword, not +2.

Note:

Chances are, if the choice is between 1 longsword and 1 longsword + 1 shortsword, and if you have dual-wielding feats (natural for a ranger, or 2-weapon fighting + ambidexterity for everyone else), then dual wielding will do more damage. The exception is if you find you're missing with every swing, and you need a little extra accuracy, then belt the off-hand weapon.

With dual-wielding you get 1 more attack per round, at the full attack bonus. In your case, you'll get 2 attacks with just the longsword: +8/+3

With longsword plus short sword, you'll get 3 attacks:
longsword: +6/+1
short sword: +6

If you take "Improved 2-weapon fighting" feat, you'll get another attack on the off hand, at the full AB-5:
longsword: +6/+1
short sword: +6/+1

If you're hitting with your swings, dual-wielding will cause more mayhem. If you're a rogue with sneak attack, or if you have additional elemental damage on your weapons, so much the better. If you can't touch the damned thing no matter how hard you swing, belt the short sword and pull out a shield.

Pyracantha wrote:If you take "Improved 2-weapon fighting" feat, you'll get another attack on the off hand, at the full AB-5:
longsword: +6/+1
short sword: +6/+1

If you're hitting with your swings, dual-wielding will cause more mayhem. If you're a rogue with sneak attack, or if you have additional elemental damage on your weapons, so much the better. If you can't touch the damned thing no matter how hard you swing, belt the short sword and pull out a shield.

If he's a ranger he'll get Improved 2-weapon fighting for free at level 9.

Also, if you can't touch the enemy except on nat 20s with 2 weapons, and still can't touch the enemy except on nat 20s with only 1 weapon, you're better off using 2 weapons so you get to roll the dice more.

You want a nice fighter rogue... with improved two weapon fighting, ambidex, and two weapon.

Knock your opponent down or attack from hidden and pull of a ton of sneak attacks. This works a beaut on anything fleshy.

Then keep a nice greatsword or heavy flail for Undead and things that don't take sneaks or crits.

I saw a calculation somewhere that showed that standard dual weilding offers about the same damage as weilding one weapon two handed... unless you have rogue levels, as it is in the sneak attacks where the real damage lies.

G

Here is a question:

If you have the 'dual weild' ranger feat can you take the Improved Two Weapon if you meet prerequisite of +9 BAB but do not plan to take ranger to level 9?

No, you can't.

The biggest drawback to using two weapons is the loss in AC from not being able to use a shield. But, if you have enough AC increacing items to make up for that, two weapons is definatly the way to go IMO. Though personally, i like using a double sword because noone uses them and i think their badass.

4x4_Ender wrote:Though personally, i like using a double sword because noone uses them and i think their badass.

Get Tri'as angry, you'll get to see someone use one to great effect from real close up.

COOL! i got a fat halfling who looks awesome with a two handed rapier. i assumed it would be the same as a human weilding one hand, but glad to b wrong.

btw, when you all saw 1.5X attack strength bonus, what exactly is that? my stat str? or my D8 attack become D12?

M0lly wrote:COOL! i got a fat halfling who looks awesome with a two handed rapier. i assumed it would be the same as a human weilding one hand, but glad to b wrong.

btw, when you all saw 1.5X attack strength bonus, what exactly is that? my stat str? or my D8 attack become D12?

Glad to see another shorty using medium weapon (I have a gnome that wields a war-hammer 2-handed), it really kicks good if you are STR based.

The 1.5 is on the STR bonus part, so if you have say 18 STR, this gives +4 to damage for 1 handed weapon, +6 for wielding a two-handed weapon and only +2 when wielded in off-hand. The "to-hit" is the same, the 1.5x only applies to the STR damage.

wow, that was surprisingly helpfull and to the point...im shocked.



LONG LIVE THE STUNTED FOLK!!!