Single Weapon Style

[Darklone]

I think those to hit bonuses of these feats are too strong.

I'd rather have something similar to these fighting styles in CW, e.g. any time you score a critical hit with your single weapon, you'll get a free unarmed attack (which may be used for trips/whatever)?

That would make scimitars or rapiers interesting.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

The Knights of the Old republic game had a single weapon feat chain:

Duelist: +1 hit and AC while wielding a single weapon.
Improved duelist: +2.
Master duelist: +3.

Seemed to work pretty well for that game, although it's very straightforward, not pen and paper, etc.

I'd make it a requirement that the off hand has to be empty - just to avoid confusion. I'd also consider using the empty hand as a weapon to be 2 weapon fighting.

A different option would be to allow something similar to the (3.0!) monks flurry ability from the style, but that would need some very careful balancing, to avoid making 2 weapon fighting obsolete.

 

[Ferret]

For the first feat in a chain, you have to compare it to other feats. That's why Offhand Balance is too good, too- it's much better than Dodge with no real entry cost. A 1st-level fighter could easily have it and get more versatility than from Dodge, as well as a better AC bonus (it works against everyone). The only reason I think Single Weapon Style (my initial version) isn't too much is that Dodge works even if you're unarmed, using a missile weapon, etc.- the trade-off against Dodge's chosen target for the dodge bonus. Giving the option to make it an attack bonus instead of an AC bonus just instantly pushes it over the edge of a 1st-level feat, imo.

I had just made it, so I hadn't expected to make it perfect. I can't remember what, but I considered something with AoO, I think. Oh well I definatly, though, that increasing to hit is a good idea. If you still stick with your original idea, it may work better if you replace style with dodge and leave out intimidate. That makes sense to me.

 

[AeroDm]

The Knights of the Old republic game had a single weapon feat chain:

Duelist: +1 hit and AC while wielding a single weapon.
Improved duelist: +2.
Master duelist: +3.

Seemed to work pretty well for that game, although it's very straightforward, not pen and paper, etc.

I'd make it a requirement that the off hand has to be empty - just to avoid confusion. I'd also consider using the empty hand as a weapon to be 2 weapon fighting.

A different option would be to allow something similar to the (3.0!) monks flurry ability from the style, but that would need some very careful balancing, to avoid making 2 weapon fighting obsolete.

Actually all of these seem rather plausable to me.

Dropping three feats to gain +3 atk/ac is not really _that_ overpowered when you consider that dropping 257 gp can gain you 2 ac with no penalty. Really we are discussing how not to penalize for style.

The granting an additional attack at -2 shouldn't be too bad but should definitely not be the first feat in a chain. Also should have hard prerequisites.

Finally I think I would allow people to have something in their off-hand. If a player is holding a torch, swinging from a rope, catching the falling maiden, whatever.. i don't want them to lose their abilities. Game is all about allowing the players to be as cool as possible without breaking the system.