Balancing Power Attack

[Quartz]

I mentioned this in deep within another thread, but I'd like your comments seperately.

The Power Attack feat greatly favours 2H weapons with its 2 for 1 damage boost. This mitigates against sword-and-boarders.

What if we were to balance this by saying that any AC boost from Combat Expertise is similarly doubled if you've got a shield?

 

[NilesB]

Ban animated shields.

that's all that's necessary.

 

[Phlebas]

What if we were to balance this by saying that any AC boost from Combat Expertise is similarly doubled if you've got a shield?

I've had a question IMC from a TWF about doubling combat expertise as she has two weapons to parry with... (I said no but) you would open this door as well.

it does look a sensible option, not over the top, but i would wonder about restrictions with fighting defensively / full defense.

 

[robberbaron]

Easier to just remove the multiplier from Power Attack.

 

[Felnar]

I mentioned this in deep within another thread, but I'd like your comments seperately.

The Power Attack feat greatly favours 2H weapons with its 2 for 1 damage boost. This mitigates against sword-and-boarders.

What if we were to balance this by saying that any AC boost from Combat Expertise is similarly doubled if you've got a shield?

i made this exact thread a while back (year+ ago), maybe you can find it with search
if not, the consensus (as i recall) was that 2AC for 1 was overpowered
something like shield users already had high ACs, and -5 attack for +10 would make them unhittable
i then suggested 3 for 2, and met less resistance
side note: there is an exotic weapon in Complete Adventurer (broadblade short short) which allows 4AC for 2 attack

 

[comrade raoul]

Just go back to the 3.0e version. If you like, you can design an extra feat with Power Attack as a prerequisite and that provides some extra bonus when characters use a two-handed weapon. That extra feat might provide the two-for-one bonus, or, it might provide some other advantage. (Possibilities include double Strength bonus, a constant +1d6 damage if you power attack for X or more, and so forth.)

(Note that this is one of the many cases in which an Andy Collins 3.5e feat revision was (a) completely unnecessary, (b) motivated by sketchy "it just feels right" considerations; and (c) significantly hurt game balance.)

 

[Quartz]

i made this exact thread a while back (year+ ago), maybe you can find it with search
if not, the consensus (as i recall) was that 2AC for 1 was overpowered
something like shield users already had high ACs, and -5 attack for +10 would make them unhittable

I'm not so sure this is the case any longer - there are so many attack bonuses in 3E, and far fewer defensive bonuses.

Maybe leave it to Improved Combat Expertise, though?

 

[Thondor]

Even just lowering Power attack to the standard 1.5str to damage with THW is significant. Althought an improved Power Attack would be cool.
Make Power Attack 1 for 1

Improved Power Attack
Requirement: BAB +8, Power attack, Cleave,
Effect your strength bonus to damage moves up as does your bonus when power attacking. THW gain 1 for 2, One-handed 1 for 1.5 and light a 1 for one. With this feat you can power attack with a light weapon.

To much? maybe it does give you a lot of extra damage.

 

[The Souljourner]

Ban animated shields.

that's all that's necessary.

Well, that's a given, but that's not all that necessary.

In addition, I suggest this:

Make power attack 1.5x for two handers

Make combat expertise 1.5x for people using a shield.

Give the "5 ranks of tumble" bonus for fighting defensively and total defense to anyone using a shield (don't let it stack with tumble's bonus though)

Make the two weapon fighting feat automatically give you iterative attacks with your offhand.

Now they're all balanced.

-Nate

 

[Felnar]

Give the "5 ranks of tumble" bonus for fighting defensively and total defense to anyone using a shield (don't let it stack with tumble's bonus though)

does this mean while using a shield, if you have 5 ranks of tumble, you get bonus AC?
or does it mean while fighting defensively or using total defense, and using a shield, you are treated as having 5 ranks of tumble?

Make the two weapon fighting feat automatically give you iterative attacks with your offhand.

could you explain this?