To Whirlwind or not to Whirlwind?

[Dread Polack]

So, I'm working on a character that specializes in fighting with a staff. No, I'm the other guy building the staff character.

My dilema is simple: A human fighter gets 19 feats over the course of his non-epic career, and I want about 50. I need to make some hard decisions. This is what I want, roughly in order of most to least wanted:

Two Weapon Fighting
Power Attack
Combat Expertise
Weapon Focus: staff
Quickstaff (which requires
Dodge
Two-Weapon Defence
Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Improved Two-Weapon Defence
Greater Two-Weapon Defence
Greater Weapon Focus
Weapon Specialization
Greater Weapon Specialization

And, if I want to take Whirlwind, I'll need:

Mobility
Spring Attack
Combat Expertise
Whirlwind attack

Here's the more specific dilema: I've heard talk of whilwind's usefulness (or lack thereof), next to simply having extra attacks (via 2WF), since it only kicks in when you're fighting a mess of opponents with a reach weapon. It seems to fit the concept of a spinning mass of wooden death, but the price seems too high for the payoff.

What's your take on this?

Dread Polack

 

[pawsplay]

If you take TWF and improved two weapon fighting, Whirlwind Attack is redundant. I think with that many attacks, you can just roleplaying being a whirlwind.

 

[Legildur]

The advantage with a Whirlwind Attack is that it would allow you to Power Attack and claim 1.5x Str bonus to damage at, of course, your full BAB. It's situational, but useful. But since you are at your full BAB, the use of Combat Expertise becomes more attractive as against when you are relying on multiple iterative attacks.

Sure, the use of Whirwind Attack allows greater average damage to be dealt out in the course of a round when facing multiple opponents, but it does come at the cost of not concentrating on one opponent to take them out of the fight, so you effectively expose yourself to receiving more attacks (and probably damage).

I note that you list Combat Expertise twice - once on the 'prime' list and again on the 'need' list for Whirlwind Attack. So you really only need Mobility, SPring Attack and Whirlwind Attack.

You also need to consider the usefulness of Mobility and, more importantly, Spring Attack, as prerequisite feats. I can't stress how useful Spring Attack can be for avoiding AOOs from opponents with reach.

I would be asking to use the Melee Weapon Mastery (bludgeoning) from PHB II, as that could effectively replace the Greater Weapon Focus/Specialisation feats and give you a spare feat.

Given you are using a double weapon, I'd stick with the TWF route. But that's just me. I'm a big fan of Whirlwind Attack (I have an evlevn Ftr8/Pal6 wielding a longsword who makes solid use of it), but I would choose one route or the other - not both.