tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post1394410934373216953..comments2024-03-29T03:42:44.745+00:00Comments on Silver Blade Adventures: [Article] Fighting TechniquesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-25692943967112474232010-03-10T20:25:26.359+00:002010-03-10T20:25:26.359+00:00I agree with you there, Robert, and I have had occ...I agree with you there, Robert, and I have had occasion to crank through the numbers more than once, so can also verify what you are saying regarding that. Of course it is all somewhat subjective, as there are "break points" where one technique is a better choice than the other. If the bonuses can be kept sufficiently low with the second weapon then a relative parity of choices is maintained, but you have to constantly keep an eye out for it.<br /><br />On another note, I oscillate between the +1 FA/−1 AC deal for shields and secondary weapons. I think for the foreseeable future I will probably allow them to swap between the two, as the two-handed weapon damage is still quite a significant benefit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-9036333175836176722010-03-08T16:18:42.931+00:002010-03-08T16:18:42.931+00:00I no longer have the charts around, but when you c...I no longer have the charts around, but when you crank through the numbers, an extra attack roll is a huge advantage. It swamps the penalties. Allowing Dex to offset the penalties just makes things worse.<br /><br />Of course, there are specific situations in which other options are better—so the smart fighter keeps his options open. Most of the time, however, TWF is the better choice.<br /><br />The magic shield is an interesting point, though. I haven’t seen that many magic shields in play myself, so it isn’t something I’d considered much. There is, however, still the “best defense is a good offense” angle. Also, the offense/defense trade-off is harder to evaluate, so it tends to get less attention.<br /><br />(Of course, once TWF enters a campaign, I’ve usually seen house-rules—like allowing additional weapons for the secondary—start appearing, which then only make things worse.)<br /><br />Most of all, however, I just think an extra attack roll is an awfully poor way to model TWF.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16733274876782876659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-78245785004190071692010-03-08T12:56:49.614+00:002010-03-08T12:56:49.614+00:00Rangers are probably the most obvious candidate fo...Rangers are probably the most obvious candidate for the exploit with regard to giant class creatures. A doubling of attacks will serve you better than the 1-6 AC bonus possible from a shield in a wide variety of situations, especially given the limited number of attacks it is possible to use the bonus against. The reason is the old "a good offence is the best defence". However, in practice the best thing to do is lug around a shield and a hand axe, using whichever is appropriate to the situation.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-52891624035334481822010-03-08T11:38:27.331+00:002010-03-08T11:38:27.331+00:00Bit late to this party, Matt, but what do you see ...Bit late to this party, Matt, but what do you see as the big advantage of BtB 1e two-weapon fighting? I've only seen it taken by high-dex thieves.<br /><br />Even without my own house rule that it requires a proficiency slot, experienced players know that a high level fighter will be gaining a lot of their defense from magical shields and so the idea of suffering penalties to-hit as well as having to use a mere dagger or hand axe usually puts them off bothering with TWF.Nagorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04934827653905274555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-20085767647822923302010-01-18T19:38:26.999+00:002010-01-18T19:38:26.999+00:00Thanks guys, I aim to please. :D
Yeah, fighting w...Thanks guys, I aim to please. :D<br /><br />Yeah, fighting with two weapons is probably the most difficult of the techniques to come up with something reasonable for. As you note, I am staying away from flat 1:1 bonuses to hit, as being able to swap between −1 AC and +1 FA (to hit) undermines the basic game differentiation between weapon and shield and two-handed weapons.<br /><br />Your suggestion as to damage is a possibility, but the net result will be that high damage weapons are always chosen over low damage weapons, so you will be more likely to see two long swords than sword and dagger or whatever.<br /><br />In practice, both shields and secondary weapons are usually defensive measures, but can also be employed aggressively, so I certainly understand the desire to have an offensive option.<br /><br />There are a lot of possibilities. A character with a second weapon might, for instance, be able to choose between −1 AC, −1 FA and +1 FA, +1 AC, or you might choose to make the default +1 FA, rather than −1 AC as I have done.<br /><br />As long as what is given up is slightly more than what is gained you cannot really go far wrong. So, if you were to use the rules as I have presented them, then allowing a character with a second weapon to gain +1 FA in exchange for +2 AC (the net AC penalty thus being +1) would certainly be reasonable.<br /><br />In my campaign I allow characters to trade −4 FA for a 25% chance of making a second attack (16-20 on their attack roll, usually), so a reduced penalty (−4 to −2) seems like a good fit. That said, another option I have been play testing is to keep the penalties at −4 for all weapon combinations but increase the probability of a second attack to 25/30/35/40.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-1341065491407698282010-01-17T22:37:25.708+00:002010-01-17T22:37:25.708+00:00Got it - thanks! Very sensible rules and I'd b...Got it - thanks! Very sensible rules and I'd be inclined to implement them as is in my own game, though I'd be inclined to develop another option for characters using two one-handed weapons - say they could choose (each round) the armor class bonus or gain an attack advantage. It looks like you are staying away from bonuses on the to-hit roll - so perhaps roll the damage dice for both weapons and take the highest? (off top of my head - not trying to quibble!) Good stuff sir!Ragnorakkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03812860633134547618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-68383096866520120712010-01-15T15:47:08.801+00:002010-01-15T15:47:08.801+00:00Excellent history and a nice set of rules! Thanks!...Excellent history and a nice set of rules! Thanks!Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16733274876782876659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-74081271284860384032010-01-15T14:30:44.645+00:002010-01-15T14:30:44.645+00:00Thanks. The link seems to be working fine for me a...Thanks. The link seems to be working fine for me and is registering downloads, so I suppose this must be an isolated instance. It is not the only time this has happened, though, I recall Rusty had some difficulty with a link to this download site last year and I ended up having to email him the pdf. The full link is this: <br /><br />http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1681145&da=y<br /><br />If that does not work, send me an email or shoot me a private message on one of the forums and I will send it to you.<br /><br />As to Conan pictures, I like that one as well, but it is not as good as this more recent work: <a href="http://www.rehtwogunraconteur.com/Sitebuilder/Images/brom-388x505.jpg" rel="nofollow">Conan</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-28143031235613750002010-01-15T12:56:49.937+00:002010-01-15T12:56:49.937+00:00I may just be me, but I can't get the link to ...I may just be me, but I can't get the link to work. Ineresting analysis as always though (in the post)Ragnorakkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03812860633134547618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7372646503928378490.post-86963234769012848132010-01-14T22:29:05.305+00:002010-01-14T22:29:05.305+00:00I like the old picture of Conan The Barbarian on t...I like the old picture of Conan The Barbarian on the blog<br /><br />Rick<br />http://martialarts808.com/FightingTechniques/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com