Defeat The Vile 5' Step

[Hypersmurf]

You don't even need a reach weapon.

Yeah, but the reach weapon nets you an AoO on the first exchange.

-Hyp.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Yeah, but the reach weapon nets you an AoO on the first exchange.

-Hyp.

True, but overall I consider them a hinderance when fighting non-[natural]-reach opponents. Perhaps that's just my personal bias showing through, though. I can't say I have much experience in game with it.

 

[Hypersmurf]

True, but overall I consider them a hinderance when fighting non-[natural]-reach opponents. Perhaps that's just my personal bias showing through, though. I can't say I have much experience in game with it.

It's with Spring Attack that the reach weapon shines. Especially against two-weapon fighters.

The opponent closes - you get an AoO - he gets one attack. You spring back five feet, get one attack, spring back five more feet. Round one - you get two attacks, he gets one.

The opponent is now fifteen feet away, so he can't 5' step to avoid an AoO, and he can't 5' step to full attack. So if he closes, you get an AoO, he gets one attack, and you get one spring attack. You've now had four attacks to his two.

And of course, since you're restricting the combat to full-BAB attacks, it's perfect for a Power Attacker... if you also have the Elusive Target tactical feat, you can benefit from the Power-Attack-friendly situation, but he can't...

-Hyp.