Melee Build Advice

[Dannyalcatraz]

Monkey Grip can only be used with special big weapons, while Power Attack can be used with any standard one-handed or two-handed weapon. You know, the size you normally find in piles of treasure.

Special in what way?

You just have to be big enough to use the particular weapon (no more than 1 size class smaller), that's it (a S PC couldn't use a L 2handed sword). But a PC could use MG to wield a Large One handed or Light weapon if he so chose...he just couldn't use one in his off-hand.

As for what you normally find in piles of treasure...that depends upon the campaign & adventure. Size M weapons are probably the norm, true...but that just means that a S sized PC w/MG could use the size M 2 hander!

Don't discount the ability to hit stuff on demand. The ability to shift focus from attack to damage is quite strong.

Believe me, I'm not! Almost every time I've designed a PC with Monkey Grip or Heavy Weapon Proficiency, that PC has had Power Attack as well.

I just think that the true strength of the Feat is that it opens up so many other options for a PC...Sundering, Cleaving, Leap Attacks, certain PrCls...while Monkey Grip and HWP do only one thing.

 

[Nifft]

Special in what way?

Look, in order to get anything resembling a decent payoff you need a weapon that normally deals 2d6 or 1d10 damage, and then you get one size larger.

Getting to use a Large Dagger for -2 attack, 1d6 damage is a BAD DEAL, and you know it.

a PC could use MG to wield a Large One handed or Light weapon if he so chose...he just couldn't use one in his off-hand.

But unless he's gaining at least +3.5 average damage, it's a BAD DEAL.

As for what you normally find in piles of treasure...that depends upon the campaign & adventure. Size M weapons are probably the norm, true...but that just means that a S sized PC w/MG could use the size M 2 hander!

I can't think of a Small weapon that deals 2d6 base damage, so I'm going with BAD DEAL in this situation as well.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

a PC could use MG to wield a Large One handed or Light weapon if he so chose...he just couldn't use one in his off-hand.
But unless he's gaining at least +3.5 average damage, it's a BAD DEAL.

It may be a "BAD DEAL" for light weapons, but there's nothing "special" about a M weapon having a base damage of 1d8 or better (the actual point where MG becomes useful).

PA with a -2 shift for a One handed weapon wielded one handed.

1d8 + 2 = avg damage of 6.5 pts per blow.

MG (M-->L)with a -2 shift for a One-handed weapon wielded one handed.

1d8-->2d6; An avg Base damage increase from 4.5 to 7 per blow... That would be the base damage improvement for all but 4 Martial One-handed melee weapons and half of the simple ones from the PHB.

Obviously, as the PA warrior increases his BAB, the balance shifts in favor of that Feat. However, MG allows a warrior with less than a 13 Str and about a +2BAB to do PA type damage when similarly equipped.

As for Small weapons that meet the criterion of doing 1d8+ damage, AFAIK, all are 2 handed or Exotic (Bastard Sword, Dwarven Waraxe, Warmace, & Maul).