Ways to make daggers good?

[javcs]

In 3.5 you can't power attack with light weapons, only one and two handed weapons, daggers are light weapons. Additionally, the 3.5 Weapon Finesse is not with a specific weapon, it works for all finesseable weapons, so it's just Weapon Finesse, you are then able to finesse a dagger, shortsword, rapier, spiked chain, kukri, etc for the one feat.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Polymorph any object.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Ummm... no. I gather we did that wrong?

In 3.5 you can't power attack with light weapons, only one and two handed weapons, daggers are light weapons. Additionally, the 3.5 Weapon Finesse is not with a specific weapon, it works for all finesseable weapons, so it's just Weapon Finesse, you are then able to finesse a dagger, shortsword, rapier, spiked chain, kukri, etc for the one feat.

Right. If you'd said "Weapon Finesse" instead of "Weapon Finesse: Dagger", I'd have assumed that it was 3.5, but that the Power Attack feat was being used purely as a prerequisite for the future Cleave feat... which you indicated was only a possibility, since he might delve into the TWF chain instead.

Power Attack just seems an odd choice for a dagger specialist in 3.5 (as opposed to 3E, where it was pretty decent).

-Hyp.

 

[rvalle]

Yep, looks like we did it wrong. I knew about the Weapon Focus rule... he was just using it for Daggers at the time.

He snuck the PA in. Too bad an untimely Lighting Bolt dropped him or I could have nerfed his butt.

Thanks,

rv

 

[Klaus]

Oil of Keen Weapon, or Wand of Keen Weapon + Use Magic Device, until you can get a +1 keen dagger (or, preferably, kukri).

 

[malladin]

What about porting over the Razor Fiend feat from Iron Heroes - some of it's mastery levels could just simply become new advanced feats on teh Razord fiend tree.

Ben

 

[Hypersmurf]

What about porting over the Razor Fiend feat from Iron Heroes - some of it's mastery levels could just simply become new advanced feats on teh Razord fiend tree.

Before Iron Heroes, Razorfiend was a PrC Mike Mearls produced for 3E...

-Hyp.

 

[geosapient]

Ummm... no. I gather we did that wrong?

You can't use power attack with a light weapon.

Edit: Disregard, I didn't notice a second page (failed spot check DC 5)

 

[Magesmiley]

I'd have to concur that the more effective builds using daggers that I've seen rely on numbers of attacks coupled with abilities that grant extra damage to the weapons.

Get two-weapon fighting and rapid shot for a couple of your feats. Quick Draw is also important as well. You might also consider Improved Initiative to be able to sneak attack things while they are still flat-footed.

You probably want to draw from fighter, ranger, and rogue for your class choices. The key abilities would be weapon specialization, favored enemy, and sneak attack. I'd probably lean towards a ranger/rogue myself.

I'd probably opt for a halfling - going from 1d4 to 1d3 really isn't much of a loss for the extra dex and the bonus on thrown weapons (plus the bonus to hit due to size).

So, a halfling...
Level 1: Rogue (you might also consider the halfling rogue substitution level from Races of the Wild). Take Two weapon fighting as your feat. You should have a fairly high Dex.
level 2: Ranger. Take human as your favored enemy.
level 3: Ranger. Pick the archery combat style, giving you rapid shot. Take Quick Draw as your level 3 feat. You can crank out 3 attacks/round thrown right now. If you go before the enemy on the first round of combat, toss daggers at them while they're still flat-footed for lots of damage, especially if they are human.

This is just a place to start. You didn't say what level of character you're making.