D&D 4E 2 handed weapons do not seem to multiply STR bonus in 4E.

[Keenath]

Yeah, I'm guessing two-handers just have a bigger die and that's it -- the extra hand is how you pay for the extra die size. If you're going from a d8 longsword to a d12 greatsword, that's an average +2 damage. A versatile weapon would be a flat +1 damage, and that seems fine to me even if there's no strength modification going on.

 

[Mentat55]

There are several examples of monsters that use 2-handed weapons, if you look at the Monsters and More - 4th Edition pdf. Here is a sampler:

Bodak Reaver: Str 22, greataxe 1d12+6
Bugbear Headreaver: Str +4, Large greataxe 2d10+4
Gnoll Demonic Scourge: Str 20, heavy flail 2d6+5
Human Berserker: Str 17, greataxe 1d12+4
Human Guard: Str 15, halberd 1d10+2
Shadar-kai Shadowfighter: Str 17, spiked chain 2d4+3
Troglodyte Bonecrusher: Str +4, greatclub 2d4+4

The only one that does not compute is the Human Berserker, since by his Str he should be doing 1d12+3. In all other cases, creatures wielding 2H weapons are only doing their Str bonus in additional damage.

 

[Stalker0]

What specific rules or examples do you see that indicate this?
At DDXP several groups I played with made the observation that “this characters ‘versatile weapon’ only does +1 damage when wielded two handed.”
I only had to point out that the characters’ Strength scores were not over 17. (3 * 1.5; round down)
I have seen nothing that indicates that two-handed weapons won’t work the same way in 4th ed.
Nor do I believe there is good reason for it to be changed.

This is a very good point, one I had not considered before. Definitely possible that x1.5 is still in.

Considering shields have gotten a significant boost in 4e, I could see x1.5 strength still in the game. Although, likely only the fighter would make good use of it, as every other classes main offense seems to come from another stat (rogues-dex, paladins-cha, etc).

Then again, because weapon die are multiplied by powers that may be enough of a boost for THW anyway. I mean, think of the difference between a brutal strike with a longsword (3d8) vs a greatsword (6d8, assuming GS still has 2d6 damage).

However, with that in mind, there doesn't seem to be a lot of use for the versatile trait frankly. Why would I ever wield a longsword in two hands, much better to have a bigger sword or go sword/board. Then again, there was never a good use for wielding a longsword two handed in 3.5 either, but it doesn't seem like they really fixed this "problem", if it can really be called a problem.

 

[frankthedm]

Nor do I believe there is good reason for it to be changed.

One really good reason is the threat of death is less likely. A two hander is supposed to sacrifice survivability for power, but PC's have a much larger death buffer zone in 4E that grows as they level up and damage output is highly regulated. Going without a shield's AC bonus is more of a sacrifice when a surprise confirmed crit could multiply damage by x3 or x4 and negative HP only save you if you are lucky. Now that a PC can get dropped and handle being CDG'ed once or twice and is very likely to survive four to five rounds after being dropped, being dropped has less bite.

Trading “risk for power” is only a trade if the “risk” is real. Otherwise it is just a cheap power up.

 

[Spatula]

There are several examples of monsters that use 2-handed weapons, if you look at the Monsters and More - 4th Edition pdf. Here is a sampler:

Bodak Reaver: Str 22, greataxe 1d12+6
Bugbear Headreaver: Str +4, Large greataxe 2d10+4
Gnoll Demonic Scourge: Str 20, heavy flail 2d6+5
Human Berserker: Str 17, greataxe 1d12+4
Human Guard: Str 15, halberd 1d10+2
Shadar-kai Shadowfighter: Str 17, spiked chain 2d4+3
Troglodyte Bonecrusher: Str +4, greatclub 2d4+4

The only one that does not compute is the Human Berserker, since by his Str he should be doing 1d12+3. In all other cases, creatures wielding 2H weapons are only doing their Str bonus in additional damage.

The monsters might be following different rules, however, so we can't reliably extrapolate from their example.

I'm thinking that 4e maybe swung the pendulum in the other direction, making 2Hers suboptimal compared to the power of shields, for those characters that can use either. Because frankly a +1 or +2 to damage, when you only get 1 attack a round, isn't worth what you lose by giving up the shield. We'll see if there's anything that balances that out.

 

[Lacyon]

Then again, because weapon die are multiplied by powers that may be enough of a boost for THW anyway. I mean, think of the difference between a brutal strike with a longsword (3d8) vs a greatsword (6d8, assuming GS still has 2d6 damage).

This.

 

[Revinor]

I see 3e rules of 1.5xStr more as a balance between 2H and dual wield rather than 2H and shield.

With dual wield you were getting +Str on main attack and +0.5xStr on offhand. With 2H it was 1.5xStr (for using both main and off hand). I suppose the idea was to make it fair for some huge-strength players/monsters, that dual wield will not become an obvious choice.

Like the others, I think that powers will be a real equalizer for 2h weapons. It would mean that only warriors from the first PHB will have any reason to go near 2hander (as they are promised to be get sword&shield and 2H talent trees).

 

[Daedrova]

3 * 5.5 = 13.5 average damage for the longsword.
6 * 3.5 = 21 average damage for the greatsword.

7.5 damage on a daily power is the equalizer?

 

[Hambot]

Hey on a related note, they wrote about how the different types of weapon would be a real choice for fighters in 4e. Like "I'm a two hander" or "I'm sword and board". They also said that different weapons would have different uses against different armours. Does that just mean you can use a power with a peircing weapon to attack a defense other than AC? Or is that stuff they wrote near the beginning of 4e previews obsolete? I know the rogue has powers that alter what stat scores they are adding on, do some powers let you use a weapon to attack FORT or REF?

 

[Mentat55]

Other potential equalizers:

Powers that only function with 2H weapons (or get bonuses with 2H weapons)
A fighter analogue to Rogue Tactics, where you get a situational boost when using 2H weapons
A fighter analogue to Rogue Weapon Talent that gives a bonus to attack or increased damage die size when using 2H weapons