All Power Attack, All the Time!

[Endur]

Wulf made a post about this in a Barbarian thread.

I was wondering, what do other people think about using Power Attack all the time?

If Monsters have low AC and your character has high strength (1/2 orc raging barbarian), then your strength bonus to hit can almost replace your BAB. And adding all of your BAB to damage can dramatically increase your damage, depending on what level you are. Power Attack is very useful against foes with DR or hardness.

Also, increasing your damage, increases the chance of a cleave, increasing your number of attacks.

A couple of examples:
level 3 1/2 Orc Barbarian/Fighter mw greatsword
Str 20 + 4 rage +4 bulls strength = 28 +9 str modifier
to hit = +9 +1wf +1 mw = +11 to hit
damage = 2d6 + 13 str +3 pa = 2d6 +16 (avg 23)

level 8 Human Barbarian +1 greatsword
str 18 +4 rage +4 bulls strength = 26 +8 str modifier
to hit = +8 +1 wf + 1 magic = +10 to hit
damage = 2d6 + 12 str+8 pa +1 magic = 2d6 +21 (avg 28)

level 16 Human Barbarian +5 Holy Greatsword
str 20 +6 rage + 6 girdle = 32 +11 str modifier
to hit = +11 +1 wf +5 magic = +16 to hit
damage = 2d6 +16 str +16 pa +5 magic +2d6 holy = 4d6 +37
(avg 51)

Disadvantage of Power Attack. When facing a powerful enemy with a high AC such as a Dragon. Particularly if the enemy uses a special attact form where BAB is useful to defend, such as grapples.

From a philosophy point of view, its almost like playing baseball. Do you go for the home run or the base hit? Realizing that if you go for the home run, there are going to be more strike outs.

Tom

 

[Crothian]

Depends on the character. I like the idea of all Power Attack all the time guys though, they are fun.

 

[diaglo]

do you use any of the optional rules in the DMG?

the one where you fall (maybe) for taking 50% of current hps makes this even more appealing.

 

[Henry]

Depends on the character. I like the idea of all Power Attack all the time guys though, they are fun.

I see nothing wrong with it, because it works well until you run into the dexterous foes, or those with hides like tank armor. At that point, your luck runs out, your strength is useless, and you HAVE to resort to skill to win, trading less powerful hits for eventual victory. It's cinematic, it's balanced, and it's fun.

What's less fun for me are those players who have to calcluate out the EXACT Armor class to hit ratio to determine the most effect power attack modifier to use for a given opponent. The statisticians who break out the calculators, and tell me, "hmmm... if the opponent's armor class was hit by joseph's attack of 28, but not by charles' attack of 25, then there is a 74% probability that using 3.5 points of my power attack will result in a high enough roll to overcome the opponent's AC... "

That's when my "it's a game, not a homework assignment" hackles get raised.

 

[Voadam]

Full power attack also makes sense when you need a 20 to hit anyway.

 

[Destil]

Full power attack also makes sense when you need a 20 to hit anyway.

Not as much sense as a tactical withdraw.

 

[Stalker0]

Not as much sense as a tactical withdraw.

But more exciting

 

[Quickbeam]

I've never played a PC who used the feat that often, but I can certainly see the wisdom behind such tactics depending on the circumstance.

As for the tactical withdraw comment -- LOL .

 

[Kershek]

What's less fun for me are those players who have to calcluate out the EXACT Armor class to hit ratio to determine the most effect power attack modifier to use for a given opponent. The statisticians who break out the calculators, and tell me, "hmmm... if the opponent's armor class was hit by joseph's attack of 28, but not by charles' attack of 25, then there is a 74% probability that using 3.5 points of my power attack will result in a high enough roll to overcome the opponent's AC... "

And as a DM I would say, "ok, your character is sizing up his opponent. Next person's turn."

 

[Celebrim]

Kershek: Me too.

Though I find that the statisticians of power attack generally have done their 'home work' ahead of time and as such glance at thier notes (if they haven't got them memorized!) take a guess at the AC (if they haven't got it figured out yet) and say 'power attacking for 2' as the dice leaves thier hand.