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<blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 1323199" data-attributes="member: 3146">I don't remember the disproportionate advantage of power attack ever being shown to enable TWF characters to do significantly more damage than THF characters except under very carefully controlled circumstances. (Assuming fighters or rangers rather than rogues since sneak attack has such a large effect upon the damage advantages of TWF/THF that it obscures the effect of power attack). And TWF characters would need to significantly outdamage THF characters in order to modify game balance.As I recall the trends in analyses that did not include PA, TWF, could only equal or slightly exceed THF at a few specific instances--4th level (weapon specialization), 8th level (Imp TWF), and possibly 12th level (if GTWF was allowed). Otherwise, the advantage stayed with THF by a small margin--well at least the margin was small if the TWF used a double sword or orc double axe, it was bigger with shortswords. (3.5 GWS and core GTWF, allow TWF to take a slightly more sizable lead at the relevant levels and hold it a little longer but other 3.5 changes (such as the inability to do the haste partial charge+full attack) emphasize the disadvantages of TWF). Unless the Power Attack differential made very significant differences in that calculation (something I never observed it to do--singly or cumulatively), I would not consider it to unbalance TWF vis a vis THF or sword and shield. (TWF, does, after all, take up a lot of feats).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Elder-Basilisk, post: 1323199, member: 3146"] I don't remember the disproportionate advantage of power attack ever being shown to enable TWF characters to do significantly more damage than THF characters except under very carefully controlled circumstances. (Assuming fighters or rangers rather than rogues since sneak attack has such a large effect upon the damage advantages of TWF/THF that it obscures the effect of power attack). And TWF characters would need to significantly outdamage THF characters in order to modify game balance. As I recall the trends in analyses that did not include PA, TWF, could only equal or slightly exceed THF at a few specific instances--4th level (weapon specialization), 8th level (Imp TWF), and possibly 12th level (if GTWF was allowed). Otherwise, the advantage stayed with THF by a small margin--well at least the margin was small if the TWF used a double sword or orc double axe, it was bigger with shortswords. (3.5 GWS and core GTWF, allow TWF to take a slightly more sizable lead at the relevant levels and hold it a little longer but other 3.5 changes (such as the inability to do the haste partial charge+full attack) emphasize the disadvantages of TWF). Unless the Power Attack differential made very significant differences in that calculation (something I never observed it to do--singly or cumulatively), I would not consider it to unbalance TWF vis a vis THF or sword and shield. (TWF, does, after all, take up a lot of feats). [/QUOTE]

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