D&D (2024) Power attack suggestion / heavy weapon property

[mellored]

Power Attack, prerequisite: multi-attack

When you take the Attack action, you can choose to combine all your attacks into a single devastating blow. Roll a single Attack roll. If you hit, roll damage as if you has hit with all of your multi-attacks, combining them into a single instance.

Good for breaking concentration, or if you have Advantage on 1 Attack. Possibly as a fighting style, or tacked on to the great weapon master feat.

Edit: alternatively

Heavy [Weapon Property]
When you would make an attack roll, you can skip it. If you do, add it's damage and any effects to the next attack you make with this weapon before the start of your next turn.
This can be done multiple times, adding everything together. For instance, if you would normally make 3 attacks for 1d12+3 each, you could instead make one attack that does 3d12+9.

 

[Clint_L]

This is a great idea for a higher level feat! Also, thumbs up for adding a topic that is about game play - much as I appreciate and participate in the discussions of the OGL, it's good to remember that there is a game out there!

 

[Minigiant]

Power Attack, prerequisite: multi-attack

When you take the Attack action, you can choose to combine all your attacks into a single devastating blow. Roll a single Attack roll. If you hit, roll damage as if you has hit with all of your multi-attacks, combining them into a single instance.

Good for breaking concentration, or if you have Advantage on 1 Attack. Possibly as a fighting style, or tacked on to the great weapon master feat.

I was thinking of something like this being a base Warrior feature. Especiallywith the change to TWF.

When you take the Attack action, you can choose to attack only once and forgo all your other attacks. If you do and hit, roll your weapon dice and add it to your damage. At level 12, roll your weapon dice twice. At level 17, roll your weapon dice 4 times.

 

[mellored]

I was thinking of something like this being a base Warrior feature. Especiallywith the change to TWF.

When you take the Attack action, you can choose to attack only once and forgo all your other attacks. If you do and hit, roll your weapon dice and add it to your damage. At level 12, roll your weapon dice twice. At level 17, roll your weapon dice 4 times.

Rolling just weapon dice misses out on the stat boost, and possibly other features like hunters mark. But I also didn't want to double sneak attack.

So I just left the damage as normal, only adding it together. Keeps it simpler.

Though.. this could be a heavy weapon property.

 

[Clint_L]

Thematically, I like the idea of it being a heavy weapon. Putting everything into one really intense...dagger attack...feels kind of funny, doesn't it? Whereas winding up for one huge swing of that giant hammer really fits the swords'n'sorcery vibe.

 

[mellored]

Thematically, I like the idea of it being a heavy weapon. Putting everything into one really intense...dagger attack...feels kind of funny, doesn't it? Whereas winding up for one huge swing of that giant hammer really fits the swords'n'sorcery vibe.

Agreed. It also provides a nice symmetry with light weapons more attacks.

It's not enough of a boost to be a feat, as most of the time multi-attack is better. Since hitting a 5 HP goblin for 30 damage is a waste.

Also sidesteps any sneak attack issue.

Let's see if I can rewrite to allow for action surge.

Heavy [Weapon Property]
When you would make an attack roll, you can skip it. If you do, add it's damage and any effects to the next attack you make with this weapon before the start of your next turn.
This can be done multiple times, adding everything together. For instance, if you would normally make 3 attacks for 1d12+3 each, you could instead make one attack that does 3d12+9.

Also, for monks

One Inch Punch: your unarmed attack gains the heavy weapon property.

 

[Clint_L]

Agreed. It also provides a nice symmetry with light weapons more attacks.

It's not enough of a boost to be a feat, as most of the time multi-attack is better. Since hitting a 5 HP goblin for 30 damage is a waste.

Also sidesteps any sneak attack issue.

Let's see if I can rewrite to allow for action surge.

Heavy [Weapon Property]
When you would make an attack roll, you can skip it. If you do, add it's damage and any effects to the next attack you make with this weapon before the start of your next turn.
This can be done multiple times, adding everything together. For instance, if you would normally make 3 attacks for 1d12+3 each, you could instead make one attack that does 3d12+9.

Also, for monks

One Inch Punch: your unarmed attack gains the heavy weapon property.

Oooh, I like that last idea. Maybe make this exclusive to fighters and monks (okay, maybe barbarians as well because it would be on theme)? Paladins can already do a version of this through smite; they don't need any boost to their nova damage.

But I wouldn't make this a weapon property - make it a base ability for martial classes.

 

[mellored]

Oooh, I like that last idea. Maybe make this exclusive to fighters and monks (okay, maybe barbarians as well because it would be on theme)? Paladins can already do a version of this through smite; they don't need any boost to their nova damage.

But I wouldn't make this a weapon property - make it a base ability for martial classes.

I'm not sure how you think it lets Paladins nova harder.

You only hit once instead of twice, and thus can only smite once instead of twice. That's less nova. (Also, Paladins need a bit of a nerf either way).

And I can't see a reason to leave rangers out, if they really want to invest in the Str to do it, might as well let them.

 

[Blue]

13th Age is a d20 game that 5e is somewhat similar to. Instead of multiple attack sequences, you get a single roll but it is effectively this.

It's a level 1-10 game (instead of 1-20), and you roll [level] weapon dice. (At various tiers you add more of your attack ability mod as well, but not ever level.) So a 1st level character might roll d10+STR, and at 2nd levl it's 2d10+STR, and up at 5th might be 5d10+2*STR, etc.

Speeds up comabt since you don't need separate rolls & damage and stuff for each.

 

[Minigiant]

Rolling just weapon dice misses out on the stat boost, and possibly other features like hunters mark. But I also didn't want to double sneak attack.

So I just left the damage as normal, only adding it together. Keeps it simpler.

Though.. this could be a heavy weapon property.

I would still go with the 4e like Ws. Adding more weapon dice is easier and cleaner.

I could see it being heavy weapon exclusive.

At level 6 you can:
Normal weapon: Forgo Extra attack for Power Attack (1 attack at 2W+Ability Mods)
Light weapon: Forgo Extra Attack for Rapid Attack (3 attacks at 1W)