3 Questions- Temp HPs, 2H Wpns, Barbarian Rage

[Doctor Proctor]

Plus, Adventurer's Vault introduces Superior two-handed weapons like the fullbade which also cost a feat to gain proficiency with and which outperform the bastard sword when used two-handed. As they should.

Yes, when you compare two weapons of the same type (eg- Military -vs- Military, or Superior -vs- Superior) the 2H version is more powerful than the 1H version. The Versatile use will lie somewhere in between.

Ex: p218 of the PHB

A Battleaxe is a versatile 1H weapon that does 1d10 of damage. So it will do between 1 and 10 points 1H, and between 2 and 11 points held as a 2H.

A Greataxe is a 2H axe that does 1d12 damage, meaning it will do between 1 and 12 damage. While that might have the same average as the versatile Battleaxe, it's also a high crit weapon.

Other weapons, like flails and hammers, have a 1d10 for the 1H version, and 2d6 for the 2H version. So again, the 2H will beat out the versatile 1H version because you're looking at 2-12 versus 2-11 for the versatile 1H.

The only place this kind of breaks down is with the swords, because you're going from 1d8 for 1H to 1d10 for 2H. 1d8+1 versus 1d10 come out to the same average damage.

However, with swords you have the second option of the Falchion. It does 2d4 damage and is a high crit weapon. So while it's damage is only 2-8 versus 2-9 for the versatile longsword, it's a high crit weapon which means it will do a lot more damage when it crits.

As was mentioned above, the Adventurer's Vault items are similarly balanced...and since they added to the Superior weapons there's now things that balance out items like the Bastard Sword. Plus, there's nothing stopping a Fighter from taking a 1H weapon, wielding it versatile, and then using it as a 2H to get more benefit out of powers like Reaping Strike or feats like Power Attack. He would just have to always use it as versatile or he would lose the bonuses.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Also, versatile adds +1 damage while wielded 2-handed.
That does not mean +1 damage per [W].

 

[ValhallaGH]

Plus, there's nothing stopping a Fighter from taking a 1H weapon, wielding it versatile, and then using it as a 2H to get more benefit out of powers like Reaping Strike or feats like Power Attack. He would just have to always use it as versatile or he would lose the bonuses.

Except that a Versatile weapon is not a two-handed weapon, and therefore does not grant any of the bonuses for using a two-handed weapon. Both of those examples specifically require a two-handed weapon, not a weapon being used in two hands.
There may be a feat, power, or other ability that keys off of using a weapon two-handed, rather than using a a two-handed weapon; I have yet to see one.

 

[DracoSuave]

Except that a Versatile weapon is not a two-handed weapon, and therefore does not grant any of the bonuses for using a two-handed weapon. Both of those examples specifically require a two-handed weapon, not a weapon being used in two hands.
There may be a feat, power, or other ability that keys off of using a weapon two-handed, rather than using a a two-handed weapon; I have yet to see one.

Incorrect. Using a weapon in two hands IS using it as a two-handed weapon according to Wizards (don't remember the source off-hand). Using a weapon two-handed gives you any bonus related to using a two-handed weapon. You get the extra from Power Attack, your Fighter class, powers that change depending on weapon, and so on and so forth.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Incorrect. Using a weapon in two hands IS using it as a two-handed weapon according to Wizards (don't remember the source off-hand). Using a weapon two-handed gives you any bonus related to using a two-handed weapon. You get the extra from Power Attack, your Fighter class, powers that change depending on weapon, and so on and so forth.

Yeah .... Get a citation and I might take your statement seriously.

Especially since the FAQ regarding the Fighter Weapon Talent says otherwise.

 

[DracoSuave]

You mean this faq?

No, it doesn't say anything of the sort.

 

[GorTeX]

Incorrect. Using a weapon in two hands IS using it as a two-handed weapon according to Wizards (don't remember the source off-hand). Using a weapon two-handed gives you any bonus related to using a two-handed weapon. You get the extra from Power Attack, your Fighter class, powers that change depending on weapon, and so on and so forth.

That was a faq for 3.5e...4e is a different game. There are similarities, but there are many, many differences as well. What applies to one version does not automatically apply to the other.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Well, under versatile, the implication is that it counts as a 2-handed weapon if wielded as such.
Small characters must use them two-handed and get no damage bonus .. but though they're still categorised as one-handed weapons, you'd think a halfling fighter would have to choose two-handed weapon talent if such is their intent.

 

[DracoSuave]

That was a faq for 3.5e...4e is a different game. There are similarities, but there are many, many differences as well. What applies to one version does not automatically apply to the other.

I assure you, good sir, that absolutely no faq from 3.5 had discussion on the versatile weapon trait of weapons affecting two-handed use per Fighter's Weapon Talent, but thank you for your input.

 

[ValhallaGH]

You mean this faq?

No, it doesn't say anything of the sort.

No, I don't mean that one. I mean the one I came across (possibly here) a month ago that repeated the specific text of the powers and feats, emphasizing that they talk about the weapon, not they way you choose to use it. (If I had the time right now, I would go find it.)

Do you suggest that if a human fighter chooses to wield a dagger in two hands, it should count as a two-handed weapon for power attack?