Weapon Stunt: Uncanny Blow + Power Attack

[Scharlata]

Hi, fellow exotic weapon mistresses!

According to the description of the weapon stunt Uncanny Blow (Complete Warrior, p. 31), you deal extra damage, when wielding a one-handed exotic melee weapon in two hands (x 2 instead of x 1-1/2). The second sentence of this class feature regarding Power Attack is it that makes me wonder:

If he has the Power Attack feat, he treats the weapon as two-handed for purposes of determining his bonus on damage rolls.

The feat Power Attack in the Player's Handbook (3.5) p. 98 tells us under the header "Special":

If you attack with a two-handed weapon, or with a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands, instead add twice the number subtracted form your attack rolls.

Question: What kind of difference between the second sentence of Uncanny Blow and the description of the Power Attack feat exists?

Kind regards

 

[IcyCool]

Exotic Weapon Master ability in regards to Power Attack = Something you could do anyway.

 

[Seeten]

The ability as written does absolutely nothing. Don't ask me.

 

[KarinsDad]

The second sentence does not talk about what the bonus to damage is. Instead it indicates how to treat the weapon.

Hence, it appears to indicate that the weapon is considered two handed, even when wielded one handed:

UB for a Bastard Sword would be: D10 + 2 * Strength two handed
UB with Power Attack feat would be: D10 + 2 * Strength one handed
UB using Power Attack feat would be: D10 + 2 * Strength + 2 * PA one handed

 

[Scharlata]

The ability as written does absolutely nothing. Don't ask me.

Hi!

Err, the first sentence of the Uncanny Blow does enhance the normal damage bonus from x1-1/2 to x2. That's a benefit I understand. It's the second sentence that makes me wonder.

I'm not certain if the second sentence does refer to an (implied) case of wielding the weapon in one hand getting an enhanced bonus of x1-1/2 instead of x1 out of Uncanny Blow.

Kind regards

Thanx for your replies.

 

[Seeten]

Hi!

Err, the first sentence of the Uncanny Blow does enhance the normal damage bonus from x1-1/2 to x2. That's a benefit I understand. It's the second sentence that makes me wonder.

I'm not certain if the second sentence does refer to an (implied) case of wielding the weapon in one hand getting an enhanced bonus of x1-1/2 instead of x1 out of Uncanny Blow.

Kind regards

Thanx for your replies.

Yes, the first part works fine. Its the part in regards to Power Attack, it literally does nothing. Power Attack does 2 for 1 with a 1 handed weapon in 2 hands, so its just reiterating the way power attack works, not giving you a new option, or making power attack better. Karinsdad is right, though, it improves the weapon in 1 hand, as per the first line. Specifically, to dispute Karinsdad's other conclusion, the first line of Uncanny Blow says, "When wielding a 1 hand exotic weapon in 2 hands" so you dont get the benefit of 2 hand power attack while wielding the weapon in 1 hand, because the ability only functions while you wield it in 2 hands.

 

[KarinsDad]

Specifically, to dispute Karinsdad's other conclusion, the first line of Uncanny Blow says, "When wielding a 1 hand exotic weapon in 2 hands" so you dont get the benefit of 2 hand power attack while wielding the weapon in 1 hand, because the ability only functions while you wield it in 2 hands.

Not necessarily.

The first sentence might have no bearing whatsoever with regard to the second sentence.

Several feats in the Complete books are starting to be combined feets. You get a, b, and c.

In this case:

a) you deal extra damage, when wielding a one-handed exotic melee weapon in two hands

and

b) if you have the Power Attack feat, you are considered to be wielding the exotic weapon two handed for purposes of bonus damage.


This basically says that you deal bonus damage two handed and if you have both feats, you are always considered to be fighting two handed.

 

[Seeten]

I see where you could make an interpretation of that, on designer intent, maybe, but I dont get that out of the actual rules written.

It says, "When wielding a 1 handed exotic weapon in 2 hands, he gets 2 times his strength bonus to dmg instead of 1.5x. If he has the power attack feat, he treats the weapon as a 2 handed weapon for power attack dmg."

I can't justify your stance from the RAW, but I agree that the ability is awful as written, and I dont think your ruling would be bad as a house rule. I'd love to hear the guy who designed this one tell us what that text block was supposed to say.

 

[Scharlata]

I see where you could make an interpretation of that, on designer intent, maybe, but I dont get that out of the actual rules written.

That's the tricky part. Some months ago, I was a devoted defender of that "interpretation", but now I ain't sure anymore.

I'd love to hear the guy who designed this one tell us what that text block was supposed to say.

Me too!

 

[IndyPendant]

Karinsdad has it right. --Almost. The two statements for the feat are completely independent. Therefore, you have:

1) When wielding a one-handed exotic weapon two-handed, you deal 2xStr damage instead of 1.5xStr. No one is disputing this.

2) If you have Power Attack, the one handed exotic weapon is treated as two-handed for the purposes of Power Attack bonus damage only. --Not for all purposes, as Karinsdad is (accidentally, I believe) implying, but only for Power Attack. So when wielded one-handed, the weapon deals Strx1.0 damage and does not gain the two-handed weapon +4 bonus on disarm attempts--but it does Power Attack at 2-for-1.

This is the literal RAW of the paragraph. Is it the intention of the writers? Well, the Complete Warrior has been out for a very long time now, and this has not been errata'd. Seems clear to me that it's intentional. *shrug*