Making Weapon Finess a Freebie?

[Blair Goatsblood]

I first heard of this idea from Conan, and the more I think of it the more it makes sense to me.

It allows players trying to make a dex-fighter/swashbuckler types to not have to spend a feat on WF.

It encourages players of high dex characters to use light weapons, allowing for more weapon diveristy in the party. Myabe characters will cary a light weapon for ordinary use and a heavy weapon for situations wheres its necessary. I like "golf-bagging" myself...

Would this unbalance the rogue class?

 

[Crothian]

unbalance no, but since rogues get few feats it would be really helpful.

 

[Psimancer]

I'll second that...

 

[Blair Goatsblood]

Excellent point, now it's official IMC.

 

[Stalker0]

You might do it with certain weapons....for instance, the dagger's "speical" being you have virtual weapon finesse while using it.

 

[dcollins]

Anyone find it funny that this idea came from someone named "Conan"?

 

[Meeki]

I first heard of this idea from Conan, and the more I think of it the more it makes sense to me.

It allows players trying to make a dex-fighter/swashbuckler types to not have to spend a feat on WF.

It encourages players of high dex characters to use light weapons, allowing for more weapon diveristy in the party. Myabe characters will cary a light weapon for ordinary use and a heavy weapon for situations wheres its necessary. I like "golf-bagging" myself...

Would this unbalance the rogue class?

What is your reasoning behind giving this feat away for free? I don't really see people with naturally high dex naturally being able to just know how to use their dexterity to hit say with a hand haxe instead of using strength. Weapon finess was changed in 3.5 to accomodate all light weapons, the rapier, and spiked chain. I don't see a compelling reason to give it away for free. Even the dagger is a difficult arguement, to penetrate a creature with say 8 natural armor with a dagger (representing hitting the target) using your strength would be the natural choice, using dexterity would be alot more difficult thus needing a feet. On top of this strength is used less in the game, its used for damage, certain skills, str checks obviously, and to hit with melee attacks. Dexterity, on the other hand, is used to hit with ranged attacks, AC, initiative, reflex saves, a larger array of skills and more useful skills, dexterity checks, and is easier to get with the base races (elves and halflings) compared to str (half orcs).

 

[Greylock]

I don't mind Weapon Finesse being a feat. My gripe with it is the prereq of a +1BAB. That means the classes that could most benefit from it can't get it until 3rd level. That's a low blow, AFAIC.

 

[CrazyDrake]

if you really want weapon finesse, it's only a fighter bonus feat or a level in swashbuckler away. it's not that hard to get, and it does offer a significant advantage to the majority of character classes (some fighters, most monks, sorcerers, wizards, bards, rogues, and some rangers).

it's a feat that many characters take, and many more would love to get for free. it's your game, but it seems like a bad idea.

 

[whydirt]

if you really want weapon finesse, it's only a fighter bonus feat or a level in swashbuckler away. it's not that hard to get, and it does offer a significant advantage to the majority of character classes (some fighters, most monks, sorcerers, wizards, bards, rogues, and some rangers).

it's a feat that many characters take, and many more would love to get for free. it's your game, but it seems like a bad idea.

Think of it this way: what if all reach weapons required a feat to have that reach? That would suck, right?

I think that giving Finesse for free helps a lot of characters out in combat without making them so good that they steal the spotlight from the Fighter. I also think that making Finesse usable across the board eliminates a small amount of rules exceptions (these weapons can use Dex, but only with Finesse) that are one of the unfortunate side effects of the feat system.

In my opinion, what should be a feat in place of the normal Weapon Finesse is the ability to finesse larger weapons that normally don't fall under the light weapon rules.