2 Short Swords or 1 Great Sword?

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

The Weapon Specialization argument is nice, but I think I would rather use Power Attack. Since the two-handed weapon guy doesn't suffer a -2 penalty to hit, he can choose to Power Attack for 2, gaining the benefit of the two-weapon fighter without spending two feats.

Conclusion: Unless you're a rogue, or have an elemental (burst) weapon, you're better off with the greatsword.

IMO, however, I would rather go blade-n-board.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

The Weapon Specialization argument is nice, but I think I would rather use Power Attack. Since the two-handed weapon guy doesn't suffer a -2 penalty to hit, he can choose to Power Attack for 2, gaining the benefit of the two-weapon fighter without spending two feats.

Power Attack is not the same as WS. Let's put in Power Attack for the Greatsword user. From my previous post, with a 2 point power attack added in:

Greatsword: 2 attacks

1 2d6 +1.5Str +en +WS +2 (+9)
2 2d6 +1.5Str +en +WS +2 (+4)

TWF: 4 attacks

1 1d6 +Str +en +WS (+9)
2 1d6 +Str +en +WS (+4)
4 1d6 +.5Str +en +WS (+9)
5 1d6 +.5Str +en +WS (+4)


Assuming that all attacks hit (which is a big assumption, I know), then:

Greatsword = 14 +3Str +2en +4 +4
2SSwords = 14 + 3Str +4en +8

(en = +3 for an 11th level GMW)

Greatsword = 28 +3Str
2SSwords = 34 +3Str
.
.
.
These are still not the final numbers. The greatsword user tends to have a higher Str (by 4 points or so), an extra special ability on the weapon (due to having only one weapon to enchant) and the 3rd attack will do more damage overall. However, this is offset by the fact that the shortsword user crits almost twice as often (due to more attacks) and thus their WS/enhancement bonuses become even more crucial.

Conclusion: Unless you're a rogue, or have an elemental (burst) weapon, you're better off with the greatsword.

Elemental weapons for TWF are a really bad idea (barring GMW). The main problem with TWF is the fact that you don't hit as often. If you don't have a GMW buddy, then a straight enhancement bonus is way better. Also, elemental attacks are worthless at higher levels, especially when everything under the sun has ER.

[A better special ability is the "Impact" ability from the PsiHB. A straight +2 bonus damage that multiplies in a critical. My favorite TWF weapons are keen, impact, and charged.]

IMO, however, I would rather go blade-n-board.

Style? Or because you feel they are more powerful? Just curious...

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Assuming that all attacks hit (which is a big assumption, I know),

This is taking into account the -2 to hit for TWF, right? I assume it is, but I want to be sure.

The greatsword user tends to have a higher Str (by 4 points or so),

Hmm...

Style? Or because you feel they are more powerful? Just curious...

I've avoided TWF because I hate missing attack rolls. So that just leaves THW vs blade-n-board.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't picture Aragorn walking around with his sword in two hands. It doesn't seem right to me. Plus, during 2e only one person ever played with THW - he was always a paladin. This in no way applies to other people who use THWs but that guy just wasn't that bright. (While wearing holy armor he lost his paladin status. He had the choice of becoming a fighter or anti-paladin. He chose anti-paladin. Sizzle.)

That's one reason why I've avoided THW, but I'm sure most other people have not had that experience

Plus, I like having a high AC. There are a lot of monsters in the MM that have a terrible attack bonus. There's only a few that have a high bonus, but they tend to have really high bonuses. It's a matter of going with what is best in the majority of situations, IMO. (And I just don't like Animated Shields.)

As for style, I got annoyed at all those "big guys with a sword" you see in fantasy novels, games, etc. So I guess it's both style and metagaming.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

GMW does even it out some. The biggest problem I have with 2WS is that two +6 weapons cost almost as much as a +9 weapon. And when you talk about +7 or +8, well, a character under 20th level probably won't be able to afford those and good armor/belt of strength/belt of dex/etc.

So GMW changes the equation quite a bit. Well, and so do the 2 extra feats the two weapon guy has in your example.

But, you're also assuming the same attack bonus. If the character with 1 weapon has a higher strength, then you have to take into account hit probability. 4 points of strength, like you suggest, give him 10% more damage just from hit prob, on top of the +3 damage per attack from the strength.

Plus, add power attack AND weapon specialization to the 1 weapon guy.

Then take it to level 11 instead of level 9, where the two weapon guy doesn't have twice as many attacks.

Two weapon fighting is usually worse, but its not that much worse. Well, not that much when you don't think about the 2, 3, 4 or even 5 feats spent on it.

--Overly Analytical Spikey