Snowflake wardance and douple weapons

[Noldor Elf]

The feat Snowflake wardance (Frostburn) gives bonus to attack rolls with any melee weapon wielded in one hand. Does douple weapon count as two weapons wielded in one hands for purposes of this feat (is used with TWF)?

 

[Diirk]

Double Weapons: Dire flails, dwarven urgroshes, gnome hooked hammers, orc double axes, quarterstaffs, and two-bladed swords are double weapons. A character can fight with both ends of a double weapon as if fighting with two weapons, but he or she incurs all the normal attack penalties associated with two-weapon combat, just as though the character were wielding a one-handed weapon and a light weapon. The character can also choose to use a double weapon two handed, attacking with only one end of it. A creature wielding a double weapon in one hand can’t use it as a double weapon—only one end of the weapon can be used in any given round.

So no, I'd say not. You're only considered as wielding it in 1 hand if you aren't two weapon fighting with it. On the other hand I don't see the harm in it, so feel free to houserule.

On a side note tho, since a double weapon is listed as a two hand weapon in the equipment section does that mean when you fight two-weapon style with it you do 1.5x/0.5x str damage with main/offhands respectively ? And 2x power attack? It only specifies that you use the attack penalties of two-weapon combat, not the damage ones... (if you could even call the str bonus a 'penalty')

 

[Gez]

A character can fight with both ends of a double weapon as if fighting with two weapons, but he or she incurs all the normal attack penalties associated with two-weapon combat, just as though the character were wielding a one-handed weapon and a light weapon.​

I don't interpret that in the same way as Diirk.

That said, and for stylistic reasons, I wouldn't allow the snowflake wardance to be used with double weapons.

 

[Diirk]

A character can fight with both ends of a double weapon as if fighting with two weapons, but he or she incurs all the normal attack penalties associated with two-weapon combat, just as though the character were wielding a one-handed weapon and a light weapon.

wardance is hardly a penalty, right ? It only counts as using a one-handed weapon and a light weapon for the purposes of attack penalties associated with two-weapon combat.

 

[Gez]

Let's continue the bolding game!

A character can fight with both ends of a double weapon as if fighting with two weapons, but he or she incurs all the normal attack penalties associated with two-weapon combat, just as though the character were wielding a one-handed weapon and a light weapon.​

 

[Diirk]

While that's true, I take that to mean you attack with both ends in the same round (1 end as mainhand, 1 end as offhand), not that the weapon suddenly splits itself in half or anything The way I see it, just because you're using it 'as if fighting with two weapons' doesn't mean you're using it in one hand; you're not, and in fact the weapon description specifically forbids one hand use in conjunction with TWF with it.

The way I see it, sure you can TWF with it, but you'll never have the flexibility of movement that using two seperate weapons offers.

PS. If you disagree with me on the interpretation, there's really nothing more to say; its probably an opinion call past this as I don't think any rules spell it out specifically.

 

[Gez]

The way I see it, sure you can TWF with it, but you'll never have the flexibility of movement that using two seperate weapons offers.

I agree and that's why I said I would disallow it for stylistic reasons.

PS. If you disagree with me on the interpretation, there's really nothing more to say; its probably an opinion call past this as I don't think any rules spell it out specifically.

Yes, I disagreed on the interpretation. I think that by the rules as written, it is valid. But since we would both agree to not allow it anyway were we to game together, the point is moot.

 

[Hypersmurf]

On a side note tho, since a double weapon is listed as a two hand weapon in the equipment section does that mean when you fight two-weapon style with it you do 1.5x/0.5x str damage with main/offhands respectively ? And 2x power attack? It only specifies that you use the attack penalties of two-weapon combat, not the damage ones... (if you could even call the str bonus a 'penalty')

Read the Power Attack feat again.

-Hyp.

 

[Diirk]

Man, it must have been a long time since I read that My bad.