Speed Enchant: Why is it a poor choice?

cjosephs1s

First Post
I've read on a couple of different forum posts about the speed enchant being a poor choice for a weapon enchant. While I personally think its great perhaps this is just due to my choice in how I build my toons.

So I want to know why this is a poor choice? Please keep comments respectful to all and if possible show cost/benefit analysis or opportunity cost of why other enchants are superior?

Again perhaps this is just due to how I built my toon and how our campaign is run.
 

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It might be good as a +1, maybe even a +2, but +3 is the first problem. The Splitting weapon enhancement, also +3, for example, splits all your ammunition in to 2 shots, literally doubling your number of attacks. As compared to just 1 extra attack. I think it's in Champions of Ruin.
 


It might be good as a +1, maybe even a +2, but +3 is the first problem. The Splitting weapon enhancement, also +3, for example, splits all your ammunition in to 2 shots, literally doubling your number of attacks. As compared to just 1 extra attack. I think it's in Champions of Ruin.

Ok so that looks like a better enchant for ranged weapons. What about Melee?

[MENTION=1164]frankthedm[/MENTION] And the Speed enchant is easy to get and always there. So instead of speed what would you enchant a melee weapon with for a +3?
 

If you do the math out, continuous Speed isn't something that you need more than a dozen or so rounds/day, especially since Speed doesn't give you any of the other benefits of Haste, such as the move speed increase and the +1 AC bonus.

Weapons are expensive. A +4 weapon (+1 speed) costs you 4^2 * 2000g, or 32,000g (plus tax, title, and masterwork costs). Plus, it makes adding OTHER enhancements to the weapon even MORE expensive. If you want to add Wounding on top of Speed, it'll cost you a whopping 40,000g additional (72k - 32k = 40k). Because of this exponential cost of increase, you generally want to only put effects on your weapon that you can't replicate via other means.

Boots of Speed cost 12,000g and give you 10 rounds of Haste per day at no activation cost. If thats not enough, you can add Speed to your armor for like, +4000g (static adder, rather than plus equivalent) for an extra 3/day uses. Thats 10-13 uses per day, which is 3-4 uses per combat for 3 combats per day. Remember that you only really benefit from Haste on rounds that you can full attack, so its not useful on rounds you spend activating magic items, initiating standard action martial strikes (or using standard action feats), or charing without Pounce. If you sit down and math it out, thats plenty enough uses.

You could even buy 2 sets of Boots of Speed for less than the price of a single Speed weapon to get 20 rounds of Haste per day, as long as you have time to swap boots between combats. Thats a LOT.

So, as you can see, it costs a LOT, primarily for the fact that you can use it all day. But the truth is, you'll seldom need to use it all day, and the amount of time you get from lesser, cheaper items is PLENTY.

Heck, for the price of a +1 Speed weapon, you could buy a +1 Wounding weapon AND a pair of Boots of Speed and STILL have 2k left over for potions of Flying and other swag. Its just not worth what you pay for it.
 
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So instead of speed what would you enchant a melee weapon with for a +3?

Wrathful Healing? Doomwarding?

You'd be better off with a bunch of +1/+2 like:
Valorous
Warning
Blindsighted
Smoking
Transmuting
Magebane
Sacred
Martial Discipline (if you are ToB)
 

[MENTION=98256]kitcik[/MENTION] I've never heard of Wrathful Healing but after finding it its an enchant I've been looking for. Thanks a million. Most of the other enchants are circumstantial though which I'm not big on. If I'm going to spend the money I want a constant enchant that will work all the time against just about any creature I come up against.

[MENTION=97681]Wyvernhand[/MENTION] Wounding is a nice enchant for the money but once again circumstantial to a certain degree. Also with the kind of damage my toon is putting out the creature would have to have tons of HD to make it worth while (Current base damage is 10d6+72 crit 15-20x4). Estimated max damage at the end of the campaign is 48d6 + 166 crit 15-20x4. And i'm sure I'll find ways to boost it higher. Maybe this is why I like speed so much..lol

Current toon is not using TWF. Its Gestalt: He's a Huge sized Fire Giant 20/Fighter20 and then for epic going to go Warhulk 10/Monster of Legend 7/Hulking Hurler 3. I like the build so lets not discuss that but maybe this will shed some more light on alternatives to Speed. Epic enchants are a possibility but wow are they pricey and just don't seem worth it. Oh and Weapon is currently a +5 speed Greathammer called "Herpes" (lol. Feel free to poke fun of this..we did for several game sessions but like herpes you don't wanna come in contact with it..lol)
 

in that case, get Boots of Speed and save the money you'd pay for Speed. Don't get Wounding, get Holy or Collision or Transmuting.

Seriously, next time you have a D&D session, found how many rounds you spend full attacking. If its 10 or fewer, you don't need the weapon. Also, Boots of Speed give you the full benefits of Haste, including the +1 hit and +1 AC.

Spend the extra money on inherent bonuses or immunities. Get yourself a FoM Ring and some nice Soulfire armor. You'll be happier.
 
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Current toon is not using TWF. Its Gestalt: He's a Huge sized Fire Giant 20/Fighter20 and then for epic going to go Warhulk 10/Monster of Legend 7/Hulking Hurler 3. I like the build so lets not discuss that but maybe this will shed some more light on alternatives to Speed. Epic enchants are a possibility but wow are they pricey and just don't seem worth it. Oh and Weapon is currently a +5 speed Greathammer called "Herpes" (lol. Feel free to poke fun of this..we did for several game sessions but like herpes you don't wanna come in contact with it..lol)

Well, at that power level, it might be easier to find someone who casts Persistent Haste every day.

Also, if that is an epic level game, you would better get either Transmutation ability or make your weapon's enhancement bonus to 6+, or both. You will likely to fight against something with DR X/Epic, right?
 


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