Double Weapons-What's the Point?

[Xerxal]

Last night, as I figured up the damage potential of my new orc double axe wielding dwarven fighter, I noticed something I found pretty distressing.

I realized that two battleaxes would perform the exact same task, while saving me 40 gp, and an all-precious feat that would be wasted on exotic weapons.

Additionally, I saw that if I were to spend a feat on an exotic weaon, two dwarven waraxes would give me a pair of d10s of damage instead of the d8s on the double axe, for the exact same price in gp.

It's the exact same way with two-bladed swords, longswords, and bastard swords; as well as the dire flail and the light flail.

I assume that I'm not the first person to notice this problem, so I suppose that I'm asking if there is anything about double weapons that I'm just not seeing. I'd rather not insult WotC's intelligence by assuming that they would add a new type of weapon to 3E, only for it to be ten-times crappier than the other, simpler items.

 

[IceBear]

Could you post your calculations? I find it easier to work when I see someone's numbers.

And BTW, some people don't play just to have the best numbers. Some people would take Weapon X because that weapon fits with their character concept.

IceBear

 

[JCLabelle]

Battle Axes, Dwarven war axes, Bastard Swords or Longswords would not be considered Light when used in the off-hand by a Medium Size Character, whereas using a double weapon counts as having a Light off-hand weapon.

 

[RogueJK]

I assume that I'm not the first person to notice this problem, so I suppose that I'm asking if there is anything about double weapons that I'm just not seeing.

When wielding a double weapon, you are considered to be fighting with a light weapon in your off-hand. If you wield two battleaxes or two Dwarven Waraxes, you take an additional -2 to your attack.

Plus, you only have to worry about drawing one weapon.

[Edit] Darn, too slow. [/Edit]

 

[Archer]

Double weapon prestige classes make the double weapon more viable. Its quicker to switch from 2 handed to 1 handed or a single 1.5x str attack for those times you don't have a full attack action with a double weapon as well. As a lg 2 handed weapon its considerably more difficult to disarm.

 

[IceBear]

Yeah, that's why I wanted to see his calcuations to see if he accounted for the second head as being Light.

IceBear

 

[Caliban]

Two battleaxes:

-4 on all your attacks when using both axes.

Each axe is a Medium weapon for Disarm attempts.

You are more likely to find magical battleaxes.

Orc Double Axe:

Same damage, but only a -2 on all your attacks when using both ends.

It is a Large Weapon when it comes to Disarm attempts.

It's a bigger weapon, and is there for harder to Sunder than a single axe would be (more hit points).

You can switch to a two-handed grip for single attacks. (I.e. when you move and attack, when you make an AoO, when you are hasted or slowed, etc.)

Finding enchanted double weapons is kind of rare. You will generally have to pay to have it enchanted yourself.

 

[Marshall]

It's a bigger weapon, and is there for harder to Sunder than a single axe would be (more hit points).

But then again, one hit is all it takes to render the DW useless...

 

[Xarlen]

Why couldn't you pick up the sundered weapon and start wailing again?

I know it sort've Defeats the Purpose of Sunder, but if someone cuts your double axe in half... Hey, two axes! Or, cuts one of the heads off, you know have a rather large-hafted axe.

 

[theridion]

xarlem- sundering rules apply to destroying a weapon. i.e. your longsword breaks in half...

it really would be a DM call, but if you've ever cracked a wooden shaft, you'll notice it splinters.. it wouldn't form two axes directly in the middle, but instead, the wood shatters, one of the heads breaks off its shaft... etc.

if you continued using it, assuming the DM said that one end was useless but 1/2 the shaft remained useable, it would then be considered an IMPROVISED weapon(in my opinion)...

the weighting would be off dramatically.