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Message: <blockquote data-quote="drnuncheon" data-source="post: 263055" data-attributes="member: 96">Here's my logic for why the penalty only accrues when you take the extra attack at your highest BAB (minus penalties).For the purposes of these examples, 'you' are a 20th level fighter with Ambidexterity and Quick Draw.First of all, it's clear that if you attack with only one weapon, you don't take two-weapon penalties.  This is true even if you are holding a weapon in your off hand - note that both shields and unarmed attacks are weapons, and yet you can use a shield or have nothing in your hand and not suffer the two-weapon penalty.Second, it's clear that an ambidextrous character can choose to attack with either hand - that is, if you held a shortsword in your right hand, you could make 4 attacks with it at no penalty. If you held it in your left hand, you could make 4 attacks with it at no penalty.  That's the point of the feat.Combine them. You are now holding a shortsword in either hand. You can attack 4 times in one round with the right-handed shortword. The next round you can switch and attack 4 times with the left-handed shortsword.Now, what kind of action is switching hands?  Switching hands is a free action.Attack Right - switch as a free action - Attack Left - switch as a free action - etc.So, as long as you only take your normal 4 attacks, it doesn't really matter where they are from.If switching hands is not a free action, then you have this lovely little bit of illogic: The fighter with two shortswords cannot alternate hands on his attacks. However, a fighter with four shortswords could draw one with his right hand, attack, drop it, draw one with his left hand, attack - at no penalty because he's only using one weapon!, drop it, and repeat. How much sense does that make?Now, the 'Attacking with Two Weapons' section says this: If you weild a second weapon in your off hand, you can get one extra attack per round with that weapon.  Fighting in this way is very hard".I believe that 'fighting in this way' refers to weilding two weapons in such a way that you get an extra attack.  This interpretation is consistent with both my above logic, with common sense, and with game balance.  If you don't gain the benefits, you aren't assessed the penalties.J</blockquote>

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