New Feat, Balances Proficiency: Bastard Sword

[Cadfan]

Two Handed Weapon Specialization
When wielding a two handed weapon, all weapon damage you inflict using that two handed weapon is increased +1. This includes damage from additional effects like Cleave or Reaping Strike.
Special: Increase this amount to two at level 11, and three at level 21.

I know its poorly drafted.

The way I see it, two handed weapons would be balanced if bastard swords weren't in the game. Bastard swords let a sword/shield fighter increase their damage to the level set for a two handed weapon wielder, at the cost of a feat. This would be ok, if a comparable feat existed for two handed weapon wielders that let them either boost their defense to the level set for a sword/shield fighter, or which provided them a similar boost to damage.

This should do that. I considered making it "+1 per [W] in an attack," and having it apply like normal bonus damage (not to cleave, etc), but I thought this might be more unique. And boosting Reaping Strike emphasizes the two weapon fighting theme.

Think this is a fair addition to my game to help give two handed weapon fighters a boost? Would you consider taking this feat?

 

[keterys]

I'd take it... but I don't think it's good precedent to give bonuses that aren't feat bonuses from feats

Wouldn't the more viable solution be to add a two-handed weapon as a superior that was ...
I guess the options would be:
+3 prof, 2d6 damage
+3 prof, 1d12 damage, high crit

That's a real choice over bastard sword.

 

[keterys]

A slight variant on the idea:

Two Handed Weapon Specialization
When attacking with a two-handed weapon, you gain a +1 feat bonus to your strength modifier for purposes of resolving all attack results.
Special: Increase this bonus to +2 at level 11, and +3 at level 21.

Which is odd, but also allows it to work with theoretical powers that 'push Strength modifier squares' or whatever.

 

[Cadfan]

1. There are other feats that provide bonuses that aren't "feat" bonuses, including bonuses to damage. Also, in a way, this is what Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword does, since it increases the size of your damage die. On average, it adds 1 per [W] in an attack as a non feat bonus.

2. I don't really want to start adding new weapons, because that leads to an awkward escalation- everyone starts wielding the reallygreatsword instead of the greatsword. But I wouldn't be against a feat that let you count your two handed weapon as being one step more damaging in terms of damage dice. There's a chart for that. It would function exactly the same as upgrading your weapon one size, without requiring you to go get special super huge weapons.

3. Ooh, I like your idea in post 3. It accomplishes everything I wanted my feat to accomplish, plus some neat extras. How about,

Two Handed Weapon Specialization
When attacking with a two-handed weapon, you gain a +1 feat bonus to your strength modifier for purposes of resolving all attack results. This does not include your attack roll itself.
Special: Increase this bonus to +2 at level 11, and +3 at level 21.

Its the same thing with a clarifying line to make sure that everyone understands that this isn't going to increase your attack bonus.

 

[keterys]

1. Really? Are you referring to feats like Backstabber or the dragonborn breath weapon? Those are quite different, after all. At any rate, it doesn't change my stance. You put untyped damage bonuses in feats and eventually you stack a lot of them. Poor deal.

2. Except, it's still true. You complain about the bastard sword because it's a superior weapon and there aren't other two-handed choices. If you don't want to add superior weapons -take out the bastard sword-. Fix the actual problem, not toss something else out to compensate that will eventually be overpowered when they do come out with the reallygreatsword I will say that increasing dice seems too powerful for the maul (2d6->2d8).

3. Good call on that fix.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

You put untyped damage bonuses in feats and eventually you stack a lot of them. Poor deal.

Here, I agree wholeheartedly

2. Except, it's still true. You complain about the bastard sword because it's a superior weapon and there aren't other two-handed choices. If you don't want to add superior weapons -take out the bastard sword-. Fix the actual problem, not toss something else out to compensate that will eventually be overpowered when they do come out with the reallygreatsword I will say that increasing dice seems too powerful for the maul (2d6->2d8).

However, I don't believe the solution is to just take out the bastard sword (people will always want katanas/bastardswords in their D&D), so an alternative solution might still be to add "oomph" to regular two-handed weapons... Let me propose this:

High Torque!
Prereqs: Str 13, Wis 13
Benefit: If you are wielding a two-handed heavy blade or axe, you add +1d6 to damage on a critical hit.

Since versatile weapons are technically not two-handed weapons, this feat only benefits people with Falchions, Glaives, Greataxes, Greatswords and Halberds.

 

[Cadfan]

I'll have to get back to you with details since my books aren't with me at work.

I agree with you on principle regarding feat bonuses, but what I'm getting at is this- the problem is that a person using a one handed weapon can spend two feats to upgrade it. He can get proficiency with a larger weapon (so far just bastard sword, but I expect dwarven waraxes soon enough, and he can get weapon focus. These two feats, each of which provide different types of generally applicable damage bonuses, stack because one is a die size increase, and the other is a feat bonus to damage.

A two weapon fighter can only get the feat bonus to damage from weapon focus.

If we make the bonus from this feat a "feat bonus," it won't stack with weapon focus. This will put two weapon fighters back where they started.

 

[keterys]

If we make the bonus from this feat a "feat bonus," it won't stack with weapon focus. This will put two weapon fighters back where they started.

And that's still a problem with _superior weapon_ proficiency, not the balance of the rest of it

Leave the bastard sword in, make the greatsword a superior weapon that's +2d6. I mean, rapiers and bastard swords can be superior, why not greatswords? They're kinda wacky to use frankly.

Poof, also fixed.

Two-handed weapons get a benefit from power attack as you go up in level, that's one benefit for them.

You could also just houserule weapon focus to give +2/+4/+6 for two-handed melee. After all, it gives the bonus twice for dual wield.

 

[runnerXL]

Looking at the problem from a different angle:

Two Handed Defense (heroic)
Your large whirling weapon defelects enemy attacks.

prereqs: Two-handed Weapon specialisation
benefits: When using a two-handed weapon you gain a +1 shield bonus to AC. Increase this bonus to +2 at 11th level and +3 at 21st level. At 21st level gain a +1 shield bonus to reflex saves.

I don't have my books with me so I can't compare this with other feats, power or flavour wise. Gives less bonus than a shield would but if you are aiming for high defenses you wouldn't be going the two-handed route...

Any suggestions for developing ideas to tackle the problem in this direction?

(This is my first post here, hope it isn't a total waste of space )

 

[keterys]

That would give a bigger bonus than using a heavy shield so... yeah... too much. It is an interesting variation on approaching the problem.

I think the big thing is that a bastard sword is even the best option for a 2H type in some ways - use it 2H, it's 1d10+1 with +3 bonus.

That's odd. I think I'm sticking with the recommendation to make greatswords superior. That said, now that I've been able to read the books a bit more, you're right that handing out more random damage bonuses is not that uncommon. Sigh.