UA: Whirling Frenzy worth it?

[Darklone]

I'm too lazy and tired right now to do it by myself, has anyone checked this question yet?

Whirling Frenzy gives you one additional attack at your highest BAB, but all attacks suffer a -2 penalty...

Ignoring the obvious advantage in cases where you'd normally only get one attack (Charges etc.), and taking Power Attack for twohanded weapons into account (which makes the whole difference to the similar Rapid Shot question)... would it actually be worth it to get an additional attack with a penalty to all instead of getting +4 damage on all attacks?

I think not, but as mentioned above there are pretty good reasons why I don't check it

 

[hong]

HELL. YES.

The biggest drawback of a barb is the low AC they usually have. Because of this, their high hit points usually aren't enough to avoid getting pulped at regular intervals. Whirling frenzy really helps with this.

 

[ForceUser]

I think Whirling Frenzy is more powerful offensively than normal rage. The extra attack, even at a -2 to all attacks, is huge. You are essentially giving a barbarian flurry of blows.

I have a character with Whirling Frenzy. He's a Bbn 1/Ftr 9 with a 20 Str, WF (falchion), the Whirling Frenzy variant & the Extra Rage feat. On his own he's +17/+12 to hit, or +17/+17/+12 with frenzy going. With normal party combat buffs, that's +20/20/+20/+15, or four attacks at 10th level! (Buffs: inspire courage +2, haste, & elation). Then add in Improved Critical (falchion), Power Attack, Great Cleave & Resounding Blow. Breaking it down by my logic, I'd rather attack at +20/+20/+20/+15 than +22/+22/+17 (which I would be doing with normal Bbn rage). I'd rahter have a whole extra attack and potential crit threat (since I threaten on a 15, or roughly 30% of the time) and all the damage that implies than a little extra damage (from being able to Power Attack for more) on fewer attacks. In my specific character's case, four attacks at 2d4+14 is better than 3 attacks at 2d4+14. Although the attack bonus is slightly less, I have a whole extra opportunity to hit & crit, and I do the same damage as with regular rage. At 10th level there's not much difference between +20 to hit and +22 to hit. For me it's a no-brainer.

 

[Darklone]

Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear enough... You can bet your socks that my barbarian elf takes Whirling Frenzy

I was only thinking whether it's a good idea to use the additional attack at all.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm, ok, it would be four attacks at 2d4+14 against three at 2d4+18... guess it's worth it

 

[ForceUser]

Hmm, ok, it would be four attacks at 2d4+14 against three at 2d4+18... guess it's worth it

Falchion guy too, huh? Here's the way I look at it: more chances to hit = more chances to crit.

 

[Darklone]

Nah, I'm more the TWF scimitar + hand/throwingaxe guy. Totally unmunchkinized, somehow. But Rage and TWF works better than I thought...

And I got already one Whirling Frenzy houserule: Extra attacks only with full attack actions (like haste) and additional attacks for both hands (like haste houserule). Hmm. Munchkin again, I guess.

 

[rrealm]

I love having the whirling frenzy. Gives me an extra attack to make it easier to kill things when they get in my face. If I think I really need to hit a given creature, I just won't use the extra attack so I don't have a penalty. My problem with the barbarian is the low AC. I was at the point of giving up my barbarian and trading him for a fighter. He would give up an average of 1 HP per character level but big deal when you can strap on half plate or similiar armor. It got to the point where I would only rage when my hit points got to 10 or less. That way I had enough HPs left to live through the AoO so I could run away and heal up with potions. I don't see how anyone can play a barbarian with the normal rage.

 

[welby]

it's especially potent early one, as it doubles your damage output. Obviously less effective when you have several attacks, but it's nevertheless cool.

 

[ForceUser]

it's especially potent early one, as it doubles your damage output. Obviously less effective when you have several attacks, but it's nevertheless cool.

I disagree. No matter how many attacks you get, you'll always have an extra attack with whirling frenzy. More attacks is always better than fewer attacks.