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<blockquote data-quote="bardolph" data-source="post: 4357937" data-attributes="member: 2304">Actually, when taking a good look at this power, it really isn't that bad.&nbsp; The 2-handed Ranger is a pretty viable build.Let's assume +4 STR, Two-Blade Style, Hunter's Quarry and compare maul vs twin warhammers:At-WillMaul - Hit and Run: 2d6 + 1d6 (Hunter's Quarry) + 4 = 14.5 averageTwin Hammer - Twin Strike: 2d10 + 1d6 (Hunter's Quarry) = 12.5 averageIn that At-Will category, the maul is 2 points ahead of twin hammers, and gets better mobility in the bargain.&nbsp; Also note that the maul does better damage with a basic attack, and so gains the edge in Opportunity Attack situations.Level 1 EncounterMaul - Evasive Strike: 4d6 + 1d6 + 4 = 21.5 averageTwin Hammer - Two Fanged Strike: 2d10 + 1d6 + 8 = 22.5 average.Now wait, you say.&nbsp; What about the cookies?&nbsp; Evasive Strike gives a free shift, while Two-Fanged strike gives a damage bonus for hitting twice.&nbsp; Both are nice, and both are keyed off of Wisdom, so for simplicity's sake, let's count them as equal.Level 1 DailyMaul - Hunter's Bear Trap: 4d6 + 1d6 + slowed + 5 ongoing (save ends), miss: 1/2 + slowed (1 turn).&nbsp; If we count average 9 damage from ongoing, this comes out to 30.5, on average.Twin Hammer - Jaws of the Wolf: 4d10 + 1d6 + 8 = 33.5 average, but without the slow effect.Level 3 EncounterMaul - Shadow Wasp Strike: 4d6 + 1d6 + 4 = 21.5 average.Twin Hammer - Thundertusk Boar Strike: 2d10 + 1d6 + 8 = 22.5 average + push.===========Looking at the numbers, you can see that twin hammers edges out the maul in Encounter/Daily powers, but that the maul comes out ahead in At-Will.This means that the twin-blade style can get some nice spike damage, but when it comes to long-term sustainable damage, the &quot;big blade&quot; ranger actually out-damages the &quot;twin blade&quot; ranger.&nbsp; So be careful houseruling powers like Shadow Wasp Strike, and take a look at the big picture.&nbsp; Even though Shadow Wasp Strike may look &quot;gimpy,&quot; when placed into context, it can be a great part of a &quot;big-blade&quot; ranger's arsenal.EDIT: to fully round out the &quot;big-blade&quot; ranger, I would arm him with twin javelins, to gain access to &quot;two-weapon&quot; STR-based powers at range.&nbsp; The twin javelins would cover the big-blade ranger's hole at level 5, by opening up Frenzied Skirmish.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="bardolph, post: 4357937, member: 2304"] Actually, when taking a good look at this power, it really isn't that bad. The 2-handed Ranger is a pretty viable build. Let's assume +4 STR, Two-Blade Style, Hunter's Quarry and compare maul vs twin warhammers: [b]At-Will[/b] Maul - Hit and Run: 2d6 + 1d6 (Hunter's Quarry) + 4 = 14.5 average Twin Hammer - Twin Strike: 2d10 + 1d6 (Hunter's Quarry) = 12.5 average In that At-Will category, the maul is 2 points ahead of twin hammers, and gets better mobility in the bargain. Also note that the maul does better damage with a basic attack, and so gains the edge in Opportunity Attack situations. [b]Level 1 Encounter[/b] Maul - Evasive Strike: 4d6 + 1d6 + 4 = 21.5 average Twin Hammer - Two Fanged Strike: 2d10 + 1d6 + 8 = 22.5 average. Now wait, you say. What about the cookies? Evasive Strike gives a free shift, while Two-Fanged strike gives a damage bonus for hitting twice. Both are nice, and both are keyed off of Wisdom, so for simplicity's sake, let's count them as equal. [b]Level 1 Daily[/b] Maul - Hunter's Bear Trap: 4d6 + 1d6 + slowed + 5 ongoing (save ends), miss: 1/2 + slowed (1 turn). If we count average 9 damage from ongoing, this comes out to 30.5, on average. Twin Hammer - Jaws of the Wolf: 4d10 + 1d6 + 8 = 33.5 average, but without the slow effect. [b]Level 3 Encounter[/b] Maul - Shadow Wasp Strike: 4d6 + 1d6 + 4 = 21.5 average. Twin Hammer - Thundertusk Boar Strike: 2d10 + 1d6 + 8 = 22.5 average + push. =========== Looking at the numbers, you can see that twin hammers edges out the maul in Encounter/Daily powers, but that the maul comes out ahead in At-Will. This means that the twin-blade style can get some nice spike damage, but when it comes to long-term sustainable damage, the "big blade" ranger actually out-damages the "twin blade" ranger. So be careful houseruling powers like Shadow Wasp Strike, and take a look at the big picture. Even though Shadow Wasp Strike may look "gimpy," when placed into context, it can be a great part of a "big-blade" ranger's arsenal. EDIT: to fully round out the "big-blade" ranger, I would arm him with twin javelins, to gain access to "two-weapon" STR-based powers at range. The twin javelins would cover the big-blade ranger's hole at level 5, by opening up [i]Frenzied Skirmish.[/i] [/QUOTE]

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