Auspicious_Ambuscade
First Post
I was thinking that maybe using monkey's grip to wield a large greatsword would be a good idea but is the extra 1d6 damage worth the feat and -2 penalty to attacks?
D&D 3E/3.5 (D&D 3.5) Is Monkey's grip worth it?
Notice that the -2 attack penalty could just as readily have translated into a +4 damage boost with power attack, which is slightly better than 1d6 (3.5 average damage).
Another disadvantage is that the attack penalty cannot be readily toggled off (unlike power attack) if you are fighting enemies with high AC.
Not to mention that power attack is also a prereq for many other useful feats (so you will likely end up taking it anyways), but not for monkey grip.
Unless you are huge or larger, monkey grip is generally inferior to power attack. If you are deadset on wielding a bigger weapon, consider the strongarm bracers from MIC.
Another disadvantage is that the attack penalty cannot be readily toggled off (unlike power attack) if you are fighting enemies with high AC.
Not to mention that power attack is also a prereq for many other useful feats (so you will likely end up taking it anyways), but not for monkey grip.
Unless you are huge or larger, monkey grip is generally inferior to power attack. If you are deadset on wielding a bigger weapon, consider the strongarm bracers from MIC.
Monkey Grip is less effective than Powerful Build. It is roughly equivalent to Power Attack when that feat is not used to its fullest potential.
Because of that, most people don't like it.
However, Monkey Grip has some things to recomend it:
Because of that, most people don't like it.
However, Monkey Grip has some things to recomend it:
- It stacks with Power Attack, so it can provide a little boost to PCs with that feat
- It has no Str pre-req, while Power Attack does.
- It works well with feats & effects like Heavy Weapon proficiency, Enlarge or Expansion which also increases base damage amounts. Power Attack adds a static number of points to your damage- Monkey Grip adds dice and/or changes die types, just like those other effects.
HoboGod
First Post
And from medium to large, it turns 5 ft range into 10 ft range as long as your DM believes that Savage Species is creditable. But ultimately, yeah, as mentioned, stongarm bracers are the way to go. If you're starting at a low level and want to have an big friggin sword from the start, take monkey grip and use the substitution rules in PHB II to get a new feat when you can afford it later.
pawsplay
Hero
There are three reasons to take Monkey Grip.
1) You are a halfling.
2) You fight lots of giants or weapon-wielding outsiders
3) You like big, honkin' swords
Doing more damage is not the reason to take Monkey Grip. However, assuming you have good access to equipment, it is roughly as good as other methods of doing more damage, so damage is not a reason not to take it.
Strictly speaking, Power Attack is better. However, if you are a fighter with a high Strength, weapon training and high to-hits could justify using both Power Attack and Monkey Grip.
1) You are a halfling.
2) You fight lots of giants or weapon-wielding outsiders
3) You like big, honkin' swords
Doing more damage is not the reason to take Monkey Grip. However, assuming you have good access to equipment, it is roughly as good as other methods of doing more damage, so damage is not a reason not to take it.
Strictly speaking, Power Attack is better. However, if you are a fighter with a high Strength, weapon training and high to-hits could justify using both Power Attack and Monkey Grip.
Dandu
First Post
Three reasons not to take Monkey Grip
1) You are a halfling who wants to deal an appropriate amount of damage for the attack penalty incurred
2) If you want to toggle between dealing more damage and hitting more accurately
3) If you want useful feats such as Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Steadfast Determination, Knockdown, Stand Still, Leap Attack, Shock Trooper...
1) You are a halfling who wants to deal an appropriate amount of damage for the attack penalty incurred
2) If you want to toggle between dealing more damage and hitting more accurately
3) If you want useful feats such as Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Steadfast Determination, Knockdown, Stand Still, Leap Attack, Shock Trooper...
As said above: optimally, it's a trap. But ye olde rule of the coole may override that if you (or your PC) are into ridiculously huge swords.
Dandu
First Post
Fixed the link for you.
pawsplay
Hero
That's going to be hard to do when all the weapons you find are sized inappropriately.
Dandu
First Post
Since the default assumption is that you can just buy the weapon you want, I don't think this will be too much of a problem.
