A TWF revision?

[Laurefindel]

The thing that bothers me about two weapon fighting is that it shouldn't provide extra attacks. That isn't why it was done in the real world.

I partially agree, but the "defense" option in D&D is already covered by the shield. TWF could be made into a active defense mechanics, but that would quickly become cumbersome in play. Mechanically speaking, there is a niche for an extra attack that TWF can fill.

I've considered turning TWF into either a riposte mechanics (Enemy attack misses: you successfully parried the enemy's blow, creating an opening for a reaction AoO with a light off-hand weapon!), or a feint-type mechanics (Your attack missed: that's ok, that was just a feint. Now comes the real intended attack with the light off-hand weapon!)

The former would change TWF's place in action economy from Bonus Action to Reaction while the latter turns TWF into a damage-dealing insurance policy rather than a way to up your DPR.

But every time I think about TWF, i run into the (perceived) issue that there is no point whatsoever in fighting with an empty hand, which is also a popular concept in pop culture (Erol Flynn-type duels, muggers with a short club, assassins with a (single) dagger, etc.)

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

...the (perceived) issue that there is no point whatsoever in fighting with an empty hand, which is also a popular concept in pop culture (Erol Flynn-type duels, muggers with a short club, assassins with a (single) dagger, etc.)

That's a good point. My first thought was that fighting with only one weapon gives you a free hand for throwing captrops or drinking potions or casting spells and so on, but the "free object interaction" rules mean that a free hand isn't really used.

What would be the impact of limiting the free object interaction?

At the moment you can pull shenanigans like dropping your weapon, drinking a potion, then picking up your weapon from the ground, all in one round. What if we made "picking an object up from the ground" require an action?

Having a hand free would now have an actual mechanical benefit; a real choice with some consequences.

 

[Ancalagon]

In the cut and trust swords and the rapier eras, people would wrap their hand around a cloak, use a scabbard (if it was rigid), even *use a big hat* as an off hand tool to help defend themselves.

A free hand would be handy (ha) with grappling?