Greatsword: To mercurial or not to mercurial?

[Psifon]

OK, so I am building a weapon master, and I want to do a lot of damage. I plan to take 10 levels of fighter before gaining the weapon master levels, so that I can get both whirlwind attack and great cleave before I take the weapon master levels. What this means is that I am putting off chosing my weapon, (and improved critical, specialization etc), in favor of taking great cleave + whrilwind attack by 6th level.

In the mean time I need to decide between a normal greatsword and a mercurial one.

The eratta states that both do 2d6 but the mercurial sword has a X4 critical (as opposed to a 19-20 x2 critical).

So here are the pros and the cons:

Normal Greatsword:
1) Crits more often, so I will have more oportunities to use my extra crit multipliers as a weapon master.
2) Improved crit range means that special crit effects (burst, vorpal etc) happen more often.
3) Critting more often means while I do less average damage, I do extra damage more reliably.
4) Costs one less feat
5) Because it is only x2 damage I am less likely to "overkill" my opponent.
3) Stacks well with great cleave/whirlwind.

Mercurial Greatsword:
1) When I do crit something I am bound to kill it at almost any level. I don't need a vorpal sword because I already have one.
2) Better average damage than the standard greatsword.
3) Once I get that Ki critical ability, Improved crit and a keen weapon, I can treaten x4 damage 25% of the time.
4) Stacks well with cleave

which would you take and why?

 

[Crothian]

I like the normal Greatsword. Less wasted damage, better use of feats as you have the extra one. It's easier to find a magical one. Plus your greatsword advantages outnumber the Mercurial advantages.

 

[twjensen]

In the mean time I need to decide between a normal greatsword and a mercurial one.

Since many DMs don't even allow the mercurial greatsword, it obviously must be better.

 

[EOL]

Re: Re: Greatsword: To mercurial or not to mercurial?

Since many DMs don't even allow the mercurial greatsword, it obviously must be better.

Along those lines I would talk to your DM before you do anything else. Most DM's give out Magical Mecurial Greatswords with far less frequency than normal greatswords. If your DM is like that, it may be foolish to consider the Mercurial Greatsword, because you may never see a magical one, or far fewer.

 

[Tetsubo]

Seeing as the Mercurial weapons are blatantly silly I'd say go with the normal Great Sword.

 

[Psifon]

Helpfull advice please!

I don't see the rareity of the weapon as an issue. One nice thing about 3E is that it is easy enough to enchant an item, that I can expect to commission the construction of the sword I want at any major city, if not withing my own party. So forget about this arguement.

I am also not asking if the weapon is silly. It is legal, that is good enough for me. Also, the fact that they reduced the damage to 2d6 makes up for the silly weapon description in my mind. It is a perfectly viable weapon within the rules. So again, leave out these considerations.

All I am looking for are Min/Max type reasons to chose one weapon over the other.

 

[Psifon]

Helpfull advice please!

I don't see the rareity of the weapon as an issue. One nice thing about 3E is that it is easy enough to enchant an item, that I can expect to commission the construction of the sword I want at any major city, if not withing my own party. So forget about this arguement.

I am also not asking if the weapon is silly. It is legal, that is good enough for me. Also, the fact that they reduced the damage to 2d6 makes up for the silly weapon description in my mind. It is a perfectly viable weapon within the rules. So again, leave out these considerations.

All I am looking for are Min/Max type reasons to chose one weapon over the other.

 

[kreynolds]

Psifon, here is a really good reason to choose the mercurial greatsword. Ever been disarmed by a monk? Ever lost your weapon and had it used against you? Well, they can't use it very effectively if they don't have the exotic feat, and more than likely, they don't, unless they use the same exact sword themselves. I don't about other DMs, but my group and I (we are all player's and DMs) don't arbitrarily give NPCs feats on the fly. I build them out like a character, just like you do.

Anyway, that's the first reason I can think off. Give me a little while and I'm sure I can think of something.

 

[kreynolds]

OH! Of course! A keen mercurial greatsword with improved critical! 18-20x4!

 

[Veldrane]

For a Weapon Master I agree a normal Greatsword might actually be better than a Mercurial...

But what about a Barbarian, who doesn't benefit of the Ki Critical and maybe can get more benefit from a Power Critical 1/day (that multiply x4 his huge Str bonus too)?

Need feedback please...