Does everyone take Superior Weapon Proficiencies?

[fba827]

Between all the character rerolls (from deaths and character changes and such we're talking about 15 PCs) I have yet to see anyone in my group take this feat for any of their characters.

Edit: not saying it isn't good for some builds, I'm just saying it's far from being a "must have" in my group.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I think most people take both.

For my part, I generally take Superior Weapon proficiency (or a different feat that grants the proficiencies) with my characters.

Dwarf ranger: Dwarven weapon training and twin craghammer
Human battle cleric: Superior weapon proficiency: fullblade
Eladrin warlord: Eladrin soldier, greatspear, and tratnyrs
Human great weapon fighter: Just uses a heavy flail--the character seemed a lot more viable before martial power.
Human strength paladin: Superior weapon proficiency: bastard sword
Human warlord: Superior weapon proficiency: bastard sword

If I get a chance to play my rogue, it will be superior weapon proficiency: Double sword (and backstabber)

Back on topic: Extra damage is good. Superior weapon proficiency gives you ~1 hp extra damage per attack. However, so does the feat Weapon Focus. So if you don't want to specialize in a single weapon, take a weapon group instead.

 

[Nail]

You're missing one important element, though. Weapon Focus gives you +1 per attack. Superior Weapon Proficiency gives you (on average) +1 per weapon die.

True! A good reminder.

Consider, though, how often you use 2[W] (or higher powers). So far my PCs tend to be using a lot of 1[W] powers. Still, your point stands.

 

[Victim]

In our group, only the warlock and my warlord don't use superior weapons. The ranger has a greatbow, the fighter has a bastard sword, and the pally has a triple flail.

I tried out a Spiked Chain and didn't like it much; I prefer one handed weapons on my warlord, since my HP and surges aren't very good. And right now, new martial power feats are trumping superior weaponry for my character. Both the tactical presence booster and the one that adds a bonus to granted attacks seem more desireable right now.

 

[Ibixat]

I think most people take both.

For my part, I generally take Superior Weapon proficiency (or a different feat that grants the proficiencies) with my characters.

Dwarf ranger: Dwarven weapon training and twin craghammer
Human battle cleric: Superior weapon proficiency: fullblade
Eladrin warlord: Eladrin soldier, greatspear, and tratnyrs
Human great weapon fighter: Just uses a heavy flail--the character seemed a lot more viable before martial power.
Human strength paladin: Superior weapon proficiency: bastard sword
Human warlord: Superior weapon proficiency: bastard sword

If I get a chance to play my rogue, it will be superior weapon proficiency: Double sword (and backstabber)

I'm sorely tempted by the double sword cheese myself, but I'm sticking to my dagger hand crossbow drow. I'll take it over the mechanical benefit =(

 

[Mengu]

Weapon Focus gives you +1 per attack. Superior Weapon Proficiency gives you (on average) +1 per weapon die. Your basic attacks for 1[W] get +1 damage either way; but an encounter power that does 3[W] damage still only gets +1 from Weapon Focus, but +3 from Superior Weapon Proficiency. Thus, at Heroic tier, SWP is the better feat.

Just to add, superior weapons also yield slightly better damage on criticals, than Weapon Focus.

 

[Eldorian]

Back on topic: Extra damage is good. Superior weapon proficiency gives you ~1 hp extra damage per attack. However, so does the feat Weapon Focus. So if you don't want to specialize in a single weapon, take a weapon group instead.

Actually, superior weapons really shine when you use powers that do multiple [W] damage, which is basically most of the time after heroic tier. That's why they're better than weapon focus. Plus they stack.

 

[Gruns]

Plus...

(snip)
Toughness is very good (for a 4e feat). If you keep in mind that in order to damage something, you have to expose youself to the chance of being hit, you'll "get" why toughness is good. How many attacks can you take (on average) before you become bloodied?

Not to mention that Toughness always adds at least 1 to your Healing Surge value, sometimes 2. This is what I feel is what makes Toughness so good. Those extra Hit Points add up fast. It's a lot more to get excited about then the initial "it's just 5 Hit Points per tier" effect.
Later!
Gruns

 

[Cadfan]

Actually, superior weapons really shine when you use powers that do multiple [W] damage, which is basically most of the time after heroic tier. That's why they're better than weapon focus. Plus they stack.

Weapon focus stacks up pretty evenly to superior weapons.

At heroic tier the majority of your attacks will deal 1[W] damage. So most of the time +1 from weapon focus is just as good as a weapon that does +1 per [W] on the average attack. This slightly favors superior weapons.

At paragon tier weapon focus does +2 per attack. So its better for at wills and attacks that do 1[W]. Its even for attacks that do 2[W], and behind for attacks that deal 3[W] or more. This is pretty much a wash.

At epic tier weapon focus does +3 per attack. Even though your at wills deal 2[W] now, +3 still beats +2 from superior weapons. For attacks that deal 3[W], both choices are even. Superior weapons only pull ahead for 4[W] or more.

But seriously? We know you're going to take both of them anyways, since they stack. They're not really in competition.

 

[Shroomy]

I think I'm the only player in my group with a superior weapon; I'm an artificer multi-classed into rogue, so going for rapier was pretty much a no brainer for me.