Fighting with a double weapons

[sdt]

Can someone let me know how double weapons work for damage. If I have a 18 strength while using a double weapon do I get a +6/+2 strength bonus for damage or is it +4/+2 only? Also, do I get the 2 for 1 power attack bonus (3.5 rules) for the primary attack? I would appreciate the help.

 

[reiella]

First part. For damage, they work as a one-handed weapon and a light weapon. And follow the bonus damage that way.

Primary Attack gets the Str-Mod, secondary gets +0.5 Str Mod.

For Power Attack, you'd follow the same logic, and it is explicitly spelled out in the Power Attack feat as well.

(Normally, you treat a double weapon as a one-handed weapon and a light weapon. If you choose to use a double weapon like a two-handed weapon, attacking with only one end of it in a round, you treat it as a two-handed weapon.)

You do not get the 2 for 1 bonus with Power Attack.

Now, if you only use "one" part of the weapon, you do have the option of using it as a Two-Handed weapon for both the +1.5x StrMod, and the 2:1 Power Attack.

 

[sdt]

Thanks for your help.

 

[italianranma]

What are the benefits to two weapon fighting with a double weapon? Is it just the flexability of having either two weapons or a two handed weapon? I need to know this for an upcoming character.

 

[Al]

italianranma- The main advantage of fighting with a double-weapon over regular two-weapon fighting is that the double-weapon base damage is usually higher than that of two weapons: a double-bladed sword is d8/d8 versus two short sword's d6/d6 (and the longsword + shortsword combo is ill-advised for two-weapon Fighters who want Weapon Spec etc.) and that one end can be Power Attacked with (NB that the PA damage would not apply to the light end, so PA is usually a bad way to go).

Other advantages include increased difficulty to disarm (since it's a two-handed weapon) and more options (since you can use it two-handed: useful if you only get a standard instead of a full attack).