Jonathan Tweet denounces Power Attack

[Voadam]

I'm not too sure what that has to do with anything here... but yes, I've had characters use a scythe.

Power attack bonus x4 on crits.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

don't forget the joy of power attacking and thus cleaving thru hordes of mooks.
sure -5 to hit +10 damage isn't such a bright idea against Lord Dark but it's a great idea versus his 101 faceless minions.

Nobody remembers the strike outs-- but they damn sure remember the home runs.

Drop a cool 100+ damage on Lord Dark, you'll have a gaming tale for the ages.

Swing for the fences.

All Power Attack, All the Time.

 

[billd91]

I'm not too sure what that has to do with anything here... but yes, I've had characters use a scythe.

Power attack + 4x critical = lots of damage... if you get a critical.

Personally, I don't see power attack as a significant problem, though I would prefer a return to the 1 for 1 for all weapons that 3.0 power attack gave. I also wouldn't mind seeing the effect capped at 5 points like Combat Expertise.
The problem is the players who hold up the game because they either can't handle power attack calculations or who try to figure the optimal amount with their spreadsheets and tables. Pick a number and go with it! If you rolled reasonably well but missed, tone it down a couple points and try again. If you hit with a relatively low roll, dial it up a bit and swing for the fences.

 

[Nebulous]

Power attack + 4x critical = lots of damage... if you get a critical.

Which makes one wonder how, exactly, is getting critically hit by a scythe so much worse than getting hit by a 2H greatsword. Get enough farmers with scythes, they'll hold off an orc invasion any 'ol day.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

Even simpler and faster would be a feat that makes the power-attack effect always on. That way the reckless barbarian could make attack rolls just as quickly as any other character rather than having to pause and assess the odds with every swing

This would be an interesting way to make the Barbarian into form of Martial Striker - he just deals out craploads of damage, provided he's raging. It would also make calculating a Barbarian's bonus to attack and damage lots easier to implement than changing the Strength score.

 

[Reaper Steve]

Nobody remembers the strike outs-- but they damn sure remember the home runs.

I remember all the times I chose to power attack and was told "Oh, you miss by 1."
Curse you, power attack!

I like the idea of a binary use-it-or-not option that gives a flat -to hit/+ damage versus the sliding scale as well. Granted, I never used a spreadsheet to optimize it and always try to decide how much to use before my turn, but use-it/don't-use-it should really be the only decision point.

 

[Umbran]

I'm torn apart.

Nah, that'd require something like Torn Asunder, which isn't Core.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think this is one situation where overly enthusiastic power gamers are more to blame for any slow downs in game play. It isn't the feat's fault if you're constantly spending 5 minutes a turn trying to squeak out that last 0.10 HP of damage.

Yes, it is.

Make Power Attack scale with level, but the numbers aren't a matter of individual taste. A level 20 Power Attack is always, say, -10/+20 effect. No delay at the table, no problem.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The real problem is that it interruptes the fast paced flow of an MMO

OK, you've clearly never played EverQuest.

 

[Michael Morris]

I use the fix of Neverwinter Nights and Neverwinter Nights 2 -- Power Attack is in 5 point increments, and a feat for each

PowerAttack = -5 hit / +5 damage
Improved Power Attack = -10 hit / +10 damage
Greater Power Attack = -15 hit / +15 damage.