Level Up (A5E) Dual-wielding character options...

[DeVelaine]

I'm doing a bit of research for a friend on building out a concept based around dual-wielding (scimitars specifically, but could be applied to nearly any one-handed melee weapon). My initial digging through the books I have (AG clearly, and a bunch of the PMG books) has left me with a desire for direction in this quest, and I'm wondering I might need additional 3PP books for. Specifically, I'm wondering if there is an A5E version of the O5E feat that grants a fighting style. Also, on the class front, I note that there's not an adept archetype similar to the kensei (blade dancer in MoAR Complete is not the same), unless I'm missing something. Are there books that cover these options that I'm not aware of?

 

[Selganor]

Since Adepts do the damage of the best dual wielding weapons from 5th level with their unarmed attacks I can see the lack of dual-wielding adept archetypes, especially since they get "two weapon fighting" for their unarmed attacks for free with their martial arts.

Which of the Kensai features would you really "need"?

If all else fails you can always just use the Kensai archetype as is (since they are compatible)

 

[Verall]

This may be of help— though not specifically what you asked for—issue 41 of GPG has an option for the warlock that grants a fighting style i believe there is also 1 fighter archetype and one ranger archetype that grant a fighting style.

 

[Toan Li]

I've found the A5E fighter tends to have a more exclusive hold on fighting styles. Combat Maneuvers exist to replace O5E's way of giving styles to most martials.

Heroes Old and New makes an effort to convert some O5E archetypes to an A5E format though. The Hunter ranger from there provides a few fighting style options, including two-weapon fighting. Issue 34 of GPG also provides a long list of fighting styles if you want something a little different.

As far as feats go, there is precedent for them to provide class knacks and specific maneuvers. I think a fighting style is a small enough step for a generous narrator to allow.

Other ideas could include a custom magic item, along the lines of a Schooled Weapon, or simply allowing downtime training, as if relearning a class feature.

 

[Corinnguard]

Combat Maneuvers exist to replace O5E's way of giving styles to most martials.

A5e's Combat Maneuvers are also supposed to help deal with the martial-spellcaster gap by being the equivalent of spells.

It would be neat if there was a Combat Tradition for characters who want to dual wield.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

A5e's Combat Maneuvers are also supposed to help deal with the martial-spellcaster gap by being the equivalent of spells.

It would be neat if there was a Combat Tradition for characters who want to dual wield.

i've found that a lot of combat maneuvers (specifically the ones that give a rider to all attacks until either the end of your turn or the start of your next) are already VERY synergistic with two-weapon fighting, to the point where my two-weapon fighting player and i kept wondering if removing the bonus twf attack that comes with extra attack might be a good call to keep styles balanced or not.

 

[lichmaster]

I'm doing a bit of research for a friend on building out a concept based around dual-wielding (scimitars specifically, but could be applied to nearly any one-handed melee weapon). My initial digging through the books I have (AG clearly, and a bunch of the PMG books) has left me with a desire for direction in this quest, and I'm wondering I might need additional 3PP books for. Specifically, I'm wondering if there is an A5E version of the O5E feat that grants a fighting style. Also, on the class front, I note that there's not an adept archetype similar to the kensei (blade dancer in MoAR Complete is not the same), unless I'm missing something. Are there books that cover these options that I'm not aware of?

It's not clear to me what kind of character you want to build, besides the dual wielding aspect.
Combat styles are surely useful, but they must be contextualized wrt the character you want to build.
Consider that any A5E character with extra attack will be more powerful when dual wielding wrt their O5E counterpart, simply because they also gain an extra attack with the offhand weapon.
That means that any feature or spell that applies to all attacks (riders) will affect one more attack, and if that effect has a save or negate mechanic, the chances of inflicting the condition can increase significantly