Do you think there will be double weapons?

[Plane Sailing]

I'm not particularly interested in the doublesword, doubleaxe, doubleflail and other similar monstrosities, but I was rather partial to the quarterstaff as a double weapon in 3e, which could be used either two handed or for two weapon fighting.

All the two weapon fighting things that we've seen so far refer to actually having two weapons as a prereq.

So
a) do you think double weapons have gone the way of the dodo?

b) do you think the quarterstaff will be getting any love in 4e?

Cheers

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I think there was a comment indicating that there were no double weapons.

Quarterstaffs might primarily get love as an arcana implement, less as a melee weapon. But that might be not all to it.
I can see powers or feats for improving quarters staff use.
If it was missed, I really hope it would be easy to house-rule the quarterstaff as a double weapon useable with a Ranger's Two-Weapon Fighting.

 

[Khaalis]

So
a) do you think double weapons have gone the way of the dodo?

b) do you think the quarterstaff will be getting any love in 4e?

Cheers

I have a gut feeling that since the spiked chain is still around, that the double weapons will stick around (though I too am not a fan of most) but as Superior Weapons. I think that any double weapon will allow you to use the weapon for any "two weapon melee" power that you have unless they have powers specifically designed for certain combos (such as rapier and dagger).

We already know that weapon type has some importance, such as feats specific to weapon types. In this way I think most weapons can or will get some love, allowing you to do tricks that are weapon specific. I do hope that the quarterstaff is one of these.

An example of this was from the Power Source Design & Development article, is where they say: "A skilled halberdier can hack a foe with his weapon’s blade and spin around to smash a second foe with the haft. A fighter with a longsword disarms her foe with a flick of her wrist, while a battle hungry axeman cleaves through shields, armor, and bone."

 

[Jack99]

I think there was a comment indicating that there were no double weapons.

Yes there was.

 

[Mentat55]

Well, double weapons showed up in Races & Classes (even if you exclude the quarterstaff from the equation):

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/RacesNClasses_Gallery/112957.jpg

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/RacesNClasses_Gallery/109882.jpg

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/RacesNClasses_Gallery/111086.jpg

But these are just sketches, and still pretty far before the finalized PHB, so it could be double weapons are gone.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Luckily, these are an easy thing to add back in!

 

[Kzach]

Ugh. I hate double-weapons. Easily one of the worst things in 3.x

I would, however, love to see quarterstaffs get something good.

 

[HRG]

I would, however, love to see quarterstaffs get something good.

Same here. One of my favorite characters is an agile fighter/rogue whose main weapon was a quarterstaff. Not the most optimal choice in previous versions of D&D but he was a lot of fun. If I decide to remake him 4E style it would be great if he could be a little more effective.

He also carries a whip and a boomerang; I do love the exotic weapons.

 

[med stud]

It would be really nice if they could make the quarterstaff a viable alternative. I have a weak spot for quarterstaves and they were pretty efficient back in the days.

 

[Wormwood]

If TWF exists, I can't think of a reason why double-weapons shouldn't.