Weapon Focus: Per Attack or Per [W]?

[Incenjucar]

I agree, Obryn. I dearly hope that 5th edition allows for small-damage weapon-based multi-attacks. As bold as WotC is with revisions, I'm don't think that they're so bold as to add that in with 4th. Certainly not for some years since they just updated everything with Essentials.

 

[Kaodi]

What makes Twin Strike so strong though? I mean, I understand you get bonus damage from weapons and feats to both attacks, but the fact that you do not get bonus damage from strength or dexterity is still rather substantial, especially if you are an archer ranger.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

What makes Twin Strike so strong though? I mean, I understand you get bonus damage from weapons and feats to both attacks, but the fact that you do not get bonus damage from strength or dexterity is still rather substantial, especially if you are an archer ranger.

Substantial at low-level, but inconsequential at higher level as the static bonuses you get from enhancement and feats start to add up. You do lose your +stat mod on both attacks, but you get two attacks at will, with very few targeting restrictions, and the bigger your damage dice, the less that loss of +stat mod damage becomes.

Then there's the effective boost to accuracy; making two attacks is equivalent to something like +5 to hit on one attack, so that's a much higher chance of triggering your quarry or whatever.

It wouldn't even be that bad if not for the Half-Elf/Versatile Master cheese that allows you to combine TS with basically any class as an at-will by Paragon.

 

[Neonchameleon]

What makes Twin Strike so strong though? I mean, I understand you get bonus damage from weapons and feats to both attacks, but the fact that you do not get bonus damage from strength or dexterity is still rather substantial, especially if you are an archer ranger.

The dex bonus is pretty much static as you level. Other bonusses are not.

At first level, a [1w] + dex attack with a dex of 18 and a longbow will be doing d10 + 4 damage * to hit probability. Twin Strike will be doing 2*d10 (or very slightly more as twin strike gets the Quarry bonus if either attack hits).

At sixth level with a +2 weapon, +2 Bracers, and Weapon Focus and a Greatbow (superior weapon), the d12 + dex attack will be doing 1d12 + 9 damage. The Twin Strike will be doing 2*(d12 + 5) = 2d12+10 damage. Or effectively the amount of a [2W] power as an at will.

Assume at 11th level (Paragon) you take the feat that allows you to do +5 damage to your Prime Shot target (or frostcheese - and remember you can do both). Your dex is now 21. And you have a +3 weapon (and +2 from focus and a further +2 from the bracers you were using before). Ordinary attack: d12 +17. Twin strike: 2*(d12+12). You're now about the level of a 3[W] attack as your at will.

And it continues to increase as you level of course...

 

[keterys]

You also get twice the crits, which can actually get pretty substantial at higher level. There's a thief with twin strike in one game I have whose crit not only maxes her sneak attack on top of her damage dice, but also adds 5d12+10 as extra crit damage... and gives her a free ranged basic attack for another 50 or so damage. Twin strike is pretty noticeable there, and a heck of a lot better than even a 7W or 9W at-will attack would be for her.

 

[BobTheNob]

So twin strike is
* Best accuracy at-will in game
* Highest damage at-will in game
* Best crit fish at-will in game

...and oh-yea, you can target seperate enemies with it

Seems balanced to me!

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

My prediction is it will get a -2 penalty to both attacks when they finally hit it with the nerf bat.