D&D 5E 2-handed weapons: damage delimma

[dave2008]

I have often wandered about why we don't add strength modifiers twice to damage with 2-handed weapons. I mean, if I get a +4 when swinging a longsword one-handed, why not +8 when I use it 2-handed. I realize the dice jumps a bit, but from my own experience with swords it doesn't seem enough to me. I also realize this increase the damage, and I am OK with that (within reason). I have two ideas:

1. When wielding a weapon two-handed, you can make an attack with disadvantage on the attack roll, and on a hit you apply your strength modifier twice on the damage roll, or...
2. Reduce the weapon damage and always apply 2x modifier damage. So a long sword is always 1d8, but when you use it 2-handed you double your strength modifier damage; a greatsword would be 1d10 + 2x STR mod; etc.

Any thoughts?

EDIT: So I am leaning to option #2. If so, I would revise weapons so that:
dagger = 1d4
shortsword = 1d6
longsword = 1d8
greatsword = 1d10

 

[Nebulous]

That's fine as long as the enemies do it too. So giants would be adding +12 or so with tree trunks?

 

[dave2008]

That's fine as long as the enemies do it too. So giants would be adding +12 or so with tree trunks?

Yes! I would probably go ahead and give an ancient red a +20 on its bite attack too

 

[Fenris-77]

Stacking that with GWM might be a little strong, but you might not be using feats. Generally I like the idea. Incentivising GW use outside of feat use is a cool idea. It also makes the versatile property a lot more interesting.

 

[Slit518]

I assume because most of the strength of an attack comes from your body and not the arm itself. For for example you're swinging your hips a bit to get that extra oomph, whether you use 1 arm or 2 arms.

The d12 will represent the larger damage because of the sheer size and weight of the weapon, compared to the d8 from the 1 handed counterpart.

One thing you learn from being a martial artist (and I assume a sword fighter), you don't just thrown a punch with your arm, you put your whole body into it (unless of course it is a jab).

 

[dave2008]

Stacking that with GWM might be a little strong, but you might not be using feats. Generally I like the idea. Incentivising GW use outside of feat use is a cool idea. It also makes the versatile property a lot more interesting.

I don't have much experience with GWM, my players are scared of the -5 to hit and don't use that feat. That being said, wouldn't it mitigate the effects somewhat? The +10 extra damage is not as much a gain if your already getting +10. ie. the relative increase from +5 to +15 damage, 3x damage with GWM and RAW, is more than the increase from +10 to +20, 2x damage with this rule. And of course your either dealing with reduced accuracy (disadvantage and -5 is rough) or less damage (1d10 vs 2d6).

 

[Fenris-77]

If you want to get into biomechanics then the numbers in the OP are a pretty good rough guide. There's a reason baseball players, for example, use both hands on the bat. You can engage more large muscle groups and more of your core strength, and exercise better control. The damage difference between those the d8 and d12 probably doesn't cover the spread, and most of the the two handed weapons are a d10 anyway.

 

[dave2008]

I assume because most of the strength of an attack comes from your body and not the arm itself. For for example you're swinging your hips a bit to get that extra oomph, whether you use 1 arm or 2 arms.

The d12 will represent the larger damage because of the sheer size and weight of the weapon, compared to the d8 from the 1 handed counterpart.

One thing you learn from being a martial artist (and I assume a sword fighter), you don't just thrown a punch with your arm, you put your whole body into it (unless of course it is a jab).

It is obviously an abstraction, but it is born out IME. Yes, you get a lot of force from using your whole body, but in certain moves your are much more effective at using your body with 2 hands. Have you ever chopped wood. It is a lot easier and I can get more force with a 2-handed axe vs a hand axe. I use my body much more effectively with 2-hands is a big reason why.

 

[dave2008]

If you want to get into biomechanics then the numbers in the OP are a pretty good rough guide. There's a reason baseball players, for example, use both hands on the bat. You can engage more large muscle groups and more of your core strength, and exercise better control. The damage difference between those the d8 and d12 probably doesn't cover the spread, and most of the the two handed weapons are a d10 anyway.

I like that example, thank you! I don't think MLB would have had a home-run issue this year if they switched to only allowing one-hanbed bat swings!

 

[Slit518]

Should two-handed weapons be 2d8 instead of 1d12 (or 2d6)?