Single weapon fighting?

[Sinklar]

This is a question posed by one of the people in my gaming group:

"I feel like I'm missing something here. I know under 2nd edition you had fighting styles you could get and single weapon fighting was one of them. I believe it allowed you to add 2 to your AC (or subtract under 2nd edition) if you were fighting with only one weapon and your other hand was empty. Under 3rd edition rules, fighting with one weapon appears to be very limited. There is not reason why you shouldn't either use a shield, fight with two weapons, or use a 2 handed weapon. I am running into a delima with my Rogue/Fighter right now. She focuses more on sneak attack damage, so she doesn't really care how much damage the weapon inflicts. With that in mind, I can't really justify using a longsword over a dagger, but I also see no reason why she wouldn't start using 2 weapons. The problem is I feel my character is starting to get too much like another member of our party and I'd rather her be more unique then that. So, my question is, is there any advantage of using a single weapon over two weapons, any feats that would exploit the benefits of doing that?"

I've even checked the Netbook of Feats and can't find anything that answers this. Does anyone here have a good solution for this question?

 

[Crothian]

Well, fighting with one weapon is better over two because you don't get any minuses. You're a rogue, those attack numbers are really important to keep high. You say your not doing it for damage, so why do it? Be stylish.

Also, it takes 2 feats to get good with 2 weapons. Rogue's need their feats elsewhere. You want to specialize in sneak attacks, then there are great feats you want in Traps and Treachery and Song and Silence.

 

[hong]

I've even checked the Netbook of Feats and can't find anything that answers this. Does anyone here have a good solution for this question?

Pick up the duelist PrC, in S&F.

 

[Don21584]

Well, if you want to steal your opponent's weapons (feat in S&F) or Deflect Arrows (feat in PH lol), you have to have a free hand.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Why would you only fight with a one-handed weapon? You have a hand that you aren't doing anything with. That seems like a liability to me. And if you are doing it for role-playing reasons, then you are going to have to suck it up and deal with the fact that a small weapons with nothing in the other hand is a rather sub-optimal style.

The only thing in 3E that I know of that takes advantage of having a free hand is the Duelist PrC from S&F that hong mentioned.

Really though, if they want to be good at fighting, they should either take the Duelist PrC ASAP, multi-class into fighter some more (so they can take the two-weapon fighting feats and get more HP and a better BAB), or start using a shield or buckler.

And besides, the way to not feel like another member of the party is to role-play differently, not fight differently, IMHO.

--Ambidextrous Spikey

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Also, you need one hand free to cast spells. So pick up a level or two of wizard or sorceror. Then you actually have a REASON to fight with one weapon so you don't get penalized for role playing.

 

[Veldrane]

I know the Duelist is more effective, but a Bladesinger (errata-ed) could be a good fighter with just one hand (and must have the other hand free)...

 

[Tony Vargas]

Reasons to use a single one-handed weapon:

Finessing a Rapier.

Duelist Precise Strike.

Hand free to snatch a disarmed weapon.

Hand free to initiate a grapple (perhaps after disarming your opponent).

Hand free to deflect arrows.

Hand free to cast spells.

...

If you want something like old Single-weapon style, maybe a feat like:

Dueling
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp You are trained in the specialized art of dueling with a single opponent along an 'immaginary line,' keeping your primary hand towards your opponent to make attacks, and standing sideways to minimize the target you present.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Prerequisites: Dodge or Expertise or Weapon Finesse
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Benefits: While using a one-handed melee weapon, and keeping your off-hand free for balance, you may choose one melee opponent each round to Duel. Against that opponent, any AC bonuses you get from the Dodge and/or Expertise Feats are improved by 2 (+3 AC for Dodge, +3-7 for Expertise, +4-8 for both). However, you get no AC bonuses from Dodge or Expertise vs any other opponents. You also gain a +2 bonus to make or resist Disarm attacks against your chosen opponent, and a +2 bonus on any contested roll to resolve a Fient against that opponent. If you take a Full Attack action you must use all the attacks against your chosen opponent (while he lives, if you kill him, you can choose a new opponent immediately). You may use this feat while facing multiple opponents, but not while Flanked.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Special: If you are also have 6+ Rogue or 5+ Barbarian levels, you can always choose to use this feat, as you cannot be flanked because of your Uncanny Dodge ability.

 

[Artoomis]

Tony - I like what you've done with that feat. Quite clever, a good bonus, but very limited in scope. Nice.

 

[RigaMortus]

Reasons to use a single one-handed weapon:

Finessing a Rapier.

I could be wrong, but I don't think you need a hand free to finesse a Rapier...