| Arkangelknight (talk) | |
|---|---|
| Date Created: | 09-09-09 |
| Status: | Complete |
| Editing: | Please feel free to edit constructively! |
A limited number of attacks based on the base attack bonus and the normal two-weapon fighting rules are needlessly complex. A simpler approach is as follows:
- Regardless of BAB or natural attacks or number of limbs, a standard action always yields one attack and a full-attack action always yields two attacks unless noted otherwise by a special ability.
- You may attempt additional attacks with your full-attack beyond your normal limit up to 1 + 1/5 your level but for every attack you make beyond the normal limit its an accumulative penalty to all your attacks (-6 for two-handed weapon attacks, -4 for one-handed weapon attacks, -2 for light or natural weapon attacks). The penalty is determined by the weapon size of the additional attack.
- Each Two-weapon Fighting feat allows you to take one additional attack before you start taking these penalties.
- Creatures with special abilities or natural attacks granting them more than a normal number of attacks instead gain Two-Weapon Fighting as a racial feat. Epic creatures with these abilities also gain Improved Two-Weapon Fighting as a bonus racial feat.
Examples: A Fighter with 15 Dexterity Two-Weapon Fighting and Improved Two Weapon Fighting wielding a greatsword would be able to make up to four attacks at no penalty, or make a fifth attack with the greatsword if he accepted a -6 penalty to all 5 of the attacks or a sixth attack with the sword if he accepted a -12 penalty to all 6 of the attacks or make a fifth attack with his unarmed strike by accepting only a -2 penalty to all five attacks. He could not however take more than 6 attacks since his Dexterity is only 15 meaning he can only take up to 2 additional attacks beyond his normal limit (the feats merely increase his normal limit).
Powergame Analysis: Note that some abilities are meant to be balanced by the fact that low level character can only perform one attack per round. One example would be a Rogue's Sneak Attack which would greatly increase in power at 1st level by allowing them to hit a flanked target twice. Though normal rules could just as easily allow a Rogue to take Two-Weapon Fighting and do the same thing at a -2 penalty, this does offer a slight advantage at earlier levels while balancing out later. To resolve this, simply state that such abilities function only once per round before 6th level or rule that they function once per round permanently if you believe such abilities to be broken as they are.