Is Power Attack balanced?

[blargney the second]

I recently came to the conclusion that Power Attack is a time-saver. They get through monsters' hp faster, so they get to have more encounters in a game session. Yay!

 

[Stalker0]

I think that the new power attack is unbalanced when it comes to comparing fighters with it to fighters without it...or one-handed vs two-handed styles. However, I do think it helps fighters do the damage they need to do vs casters.

Personally I think it would be nice if everyone could power attack...but if you took the feat you got x2 power attack, or something to that effect.

 

[hong]

I'd like Power Attack to be worthwhile for more people than just 2-handers. But not too good for 2-weapon guys either.

Something like: -1/+2 if you wield one weapon (whether in one hand or both hands), or -1/+1 otherwise. The latter would include multiple natural attacks and oddballs like the marilith.

 

[Fieari]

It's too good when compared to just about any other melee damage-dealing option, but fine (in my experience) when compared to casters. The real pity is that it makes all sorts of fighter builds simply subpar, because power attack is so important. I prefer beefing the other options to nerfing PA.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Yes.

And, I think the off-hand weapons of a TWF practicioner should get 1/2 the bonus. Thus, 2-handed gets x2; and TWF gets 1x with primary and 0.5x with the off-hand, but with more attacks than the 2-hander. Seems about right to me. Some feats and abilities just favor one style over another. A feat that lets you do something extra on every attack you make with no regard to the damage dealt is strictly better for TWF, for example.

 

[Darklone]

I will most likely use the 1 to 1.5 houserule in my next campaign. The campaign I am playing right now has 3.0 Power Attack.

 

[Caliban]

I've often though that it should cost a feat to do the extra power attack damage with a 2-handed weapon. Or even the x1.5 str damage with a 2 handed weapon.

Haven't felt strongly enough to houserule it though.

 

[Gerion of Mercadia]

against an opponent with a sense of tactics...

Power attack for +20 all you want.... on My next available turn, Disarm

What's your new modifier on this opposed roll?

 

[Drowbane]

Yes

 

[Plane Sailing]

3.0 was balanced. A good one : one trade off for everyone.

With 3.5 the stupid idea of not allowing light weapons to power attack and giving 2H weapons x2 was just ridiculous. It causes a whole host of problems ... snip...

It is a change I never made from 3.0

I concur. The cynic in me wonders whether some of the 3.5e revisers had favourite 2H weapon wielders