Two-weapon warrior archetype: Twin Blades

[concerro]

Twin Blades (Ex)

At 5th level, a two-weapon warrior gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls when making a full-attack with two weapons or a double weapon. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels after 5th.

This ability replaces Weapon Training 1.

This ability seems lame. You get your normal weapon training bonuses when fighting with two weapons and taking a full attack action. But you get nothing when making a standard attack with both weapons when doing the following:

Doublestrike (Ex)

At 9th level, a two-weapon warrior may, as a standard action, make one attack with both his primary and secondary weapons. The penalties for attacking with two weapons apply normally.

This ability replaces Weapon Training 2.

Equal Opportunity (Ex)

At 13th level, when a two-weapon warrior makes an attack of opportunity, he may attack once with both his primary and secondary weapons. The penalties for attacking with two weapons apply normally.

This ability replaces Weapon Training 3.



So no bonuses when making AoOs or a single standard action attack with both weapons. So you only get the bonus when in position to make a full attack.

Is that how it is adjudicated? Seems like a lot to give up when you can build a two-weapon fighter without taking the Two-weapon warrior archetype and pick multiple weapons to be good at and get their bonus all the time. The weapon training bonus alone cancels out fighting with two one-handed weapons and still gives you +4 damage.

And you don't lose armor mastery or the ability to get other weapons like a bow or thrown weapons with later weapon training.

Is the Two-weapon archetype so poorly designed that it is better to build a two-weapon fighter without the archetype?

The only advantage is once your 19th level and get a ton of AoOs when people hit you, but you don't get a bonus on attack and damage on your AoOs. But other than that, there is no real advantage to the Two-weapon warrior archetype over building a two-weapon fighter using the standard fighter abilities.

Anyone see the advantage of choosing the Two-weapon Archetype over the standard fighter using feats to be a great two-weapon fighter?

The TWF archetype allows you to use two one-handed weapons in both hands. The is due to the ability that takes away the penalties for TWF, and allows you to treat the off-hand weapon as a light weapon.
The level 19 ability is on AoO per opponent, not per attack. I am still waiting for that one to be officially entered into errata of the FAQ though.
You most likely won't be fighting same sized opponents at level 19 anyway so it may not matter that much.

edit:TWF'ing is something I used for crit based builds. 15-20 crit range X a lot of attacks + crit feats equals dead opponents. Stun-locking is very possible.

 

[Samson S]

From what I've been looking at for the Two Handed Fighter, couldn't the Fighter potentially (with the furious focus feat) use Devastating Blow with Greater Powerattack for an extra 24 damage, while using a +5 greataxe with assumed +11 Str modifier for an extra 22 damage, auto confirm crit from weapon mastery, and deal over 260+ damage in one shot with the new x4 crit? It's a good way to get an instant crit with more assurance, I guess. You can obviously do more with a scythe, but I don't like them, much.