D&D 5E Balance Issues: Two-Weapon Fighting

[jgsugden]

You can elect to just refluff the weapons and not change their balance at all. I recently played a character that fought by smashing people with rocks. He picked up rocks and crushed them against people. As it was just a flavor issue, the DM ignored that it technically should have been two improvised weapons and instead used the rules for attacking with two clubs.

You could do the same here and have the 'rapier' have the stats for the dagger, and just describe it as a rapier in combat. As the game is new, I might prefer this until we have more data on balance to determine if something more aggressive is still within balance.

 

[TwoSix]

Failing to use cunning action means either accepting an opportunity attack, or sitting there on the front line ready to accept the pounding from the guy you just failed to kill. The determining factor will be your hit points and your AC and who else is nearby, not whether or not you missed. Your DPR doesn't matter when you're dead.

Well, sure. It's the tactically superior option if you want to maximize sneak attack damage, that's all.

My bigger point was that Cunning Action does nothing to dissuade rogues from dual-wielding, because there's nothing else to do with the rogue's free hand anyway. Dual-wielding simply gives the rogue another option to exercise, one that can be quite useful, since landing sneak attack is pretty important for a rogue.

 

[ren1999]

Just create a weapon called

Rapier Finesse Light 1d6.

Then you're good to go.

 

[Bacon Bits]

Just create a weapon called

Rapier Finesse Light 1d6.

Then you're good to go.

So, a Short Sword?

 

[AverageCitizen]

Well, sure. It's the tactically superior option if you want to maximize sneak attack damage, that's all.

My bigger point was that Cunning Action does nothing to dissuade rogues from dual-wielding, because there's nothing else to do with the rogue's free hand anyway. Dual-wielding simply gives the rogue another option to exercise, one that can be quite useful, since landing sneak attack is pretty important for a rogue.

If you want to prioritize cunning action over sneak attack odds, it makes more sense to use a rapier for a little extra damage without sucking up your cunning action