Double Weapon and Str bonus?

[Gumby]

Looking through the PH, I've been unable to find anything that conclusively says, one way or another, how off-hand Str damage bonuses work while wielding a double weapon.

On the one hand (no pun intended), the weapon is being used two-handed. On the other, the rules state that for purposes of attack bonus, the wielder of a double weapon is treated as using two weapons, with one end of the double weapon designated as a light, "off-hand" weapon. But I haven't been able to determine if the virtual "off-hand" end of the weapon inflicts .5 or 1.5 extra Str damage.

I'm perfectly fine with it either way, but can anyone point me to either a specific portion of the PH or DMG or a Sage ruling that clears this up?

 

[hong]

If you elect not to take advantage of the extra attack with a double weapon, you gain 1.5x your Str bonus to damage with all attacks. This is just as if you were using a regular two-handed weapon.

If you elect to take advantage of the extra attack, you gain 1x you Str bonus to damage with your "primary" attacks, and 0.5x with your "secondary" attack. This is just as if you were using two weapons, one in each hand.

Note the language used in the double weapon descriptions. It doesn't say you apply penalties to your attack bonus; it says you "incur all the normal attack penalties associated with fighting with two weapons". Also, look at p.125 of the PHB: double weapons are treated "as if fighting with two weapons". The reduced bonus to damage for the off-hand weapon is part and parcel of fighting with two weapons, and so also applies to double weapons.

 

[Darklone]

Ok

I can't tell you the pages but it's like this:

• You charge at someone with your doubleweapon, or simply hit someone with it without using it as double weapon: you get one and a half Str bonus since it's a twohanded weapon.
• You use the full attack option and want the additional attack for twoweapon fighting: You get that attack, all attacks are at -2 to hit. Str bonus to main weapon, half to offhand attacks.

That's the advantage of double weapons. Versatility. You can have what you want. Need many attacks against small foes and forgot CLEAVE? TWF. Need one big bash (charge e.g.): Use it as twohanded weapon.

Edit: Sorry, double posted with HONG

 

[RogueJK]

You get half of your strength bonus to damage with your off hand. The DnD FAQ deals with this in two places.

On page 7:
"One can use both ends of a double weapon just as if they were two weapons, or just one end. (If you use one end in two hands, you get one and half times your Strength bonus to damage.)"

And then on page 23:
"Using both ends of a double weapon works exactly like fighting with a one-handed weapon in your primary hand and a light weapon in your off hand."

 

[Gumby]

Note the language used in the double weapon descriptions. It doesn't say you apply penalties to your attack bonus; it says you "incur all the normal attack penalties associated with fighting with two weapons". Also, look at p.125 of the PHB: double weapons are treated "as if fighting with two weapons". The reduced bonus to damage for the off-hand weapon is part and parcel of fighting with two weapons, and so also applies to double weapons.

True; I didn't have the book in front of me when typing that. However, I wish they'd have stated clearly "attack and damage penalties." And in the second ruling on page 125, the statement that double weapons are treated "as if you were fighting with two weapons" comes at the end of a list of penalties that are only attack penalties, not damage penalties. We're extrapolating from non-specific rules.

Again, I assume you (and I, for I agree with you) are correct; it's just that, well, if it's actually the more beneficial way, then I sure as hell want to know.

 

[Gumby]

You get half of your strength bonus to damage with your off hand. The DnD FAQ deals with this in two places.

On page 7:
"One can use both ends of a double weapon just as if they were two weapons, or just one end. (If you use one end in two hands, you get one and half times your Strength bonus to damage.)"

And then on page 23:
"Using both ends of a double weapon works exactly like fighting with a one-handed weapon in your primary hand and a light weapon in your off hand."

Ah, cool. Link to the faq? I really need to have this lying around on my hard drive.

 

[RogueJK]

The latest version of the DnD FAQ can be found here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/DnDFAQv02272002.zip

It's a zipped PDF.

 

[Chacal]

If you elect not to take advantage of the extra attack with a double weapon, you gain 1.5x your Str bonus to damage with all attacks. This is just as if you were using a regular two-handed weapon.

You just have to avoid hurting yourself
Using a double axe or a double sword as a two-handed weapon can be tricky.


Chacal