What's the most/least cost-effective melee style?

[Li Shenron]

I know there have been several discussions already about this... Just wanted to post a quick poll about the 4 basic melee weapon styles to see what's the general opinion nowadays.

There should be 2 separate polls, but I merged them (I hope they're still clear). You can vote more than one for 'best' and 'worse', although you probably shouldn't vote one style for both...

Let's think about CORE stuff only, because the practical reason for me to post this poll is actually to see if I should look for some extra stuff (e.g. in terms of new weapons, feats or magic enhancements) to allow, in case one style is generally considered in need of a little boost.

My current opinion is that double-weapon fighting is a bit too "expensive" compared to the others, because it usually requires 2 feats to use and possibly double cost for magic enhancements, in exchange for versatility but not power (you could switch between 2-handed use and 2-weapon use).

In general I'd say the best is still fighting with a 2-handed weapon. Sword & board still a valid alternative for more defensive characters, but more expensive on the long run.

What do people think?

 

[Particle_Man]

With the new power attack rules, it is not even close. 2-handed weapons all the way!

 

[shilsen]

Best at what? The sword-and-board style is the best for defense and the two-hander is the best for damage. Two-weapon and double weapon fighting lag behind the other two, since they can't match up in either defense or offense categories, and requires more feats for real effectiveness.

So I voted for sword-and-board and twohander as best and the other pair as worst.

 

[Majere]

TWF does more damage than THF, but only if you take all the feats, and then only marginally so.
Therefore TWF is the most cost effective style.
Having done the damage analysis the main problem is the 2for1 PA on THF, if you remove that TWF actually becomes a worthwhile technique. Double weapons are always more powerful (and flexible) than TWF with two seperate weapons.
(Note on a technicallity, as double weapons are twohanded weapons hypersmurf would clam they get the 2for1 powerattack).

My personal feelings are along the lines of.
PA for THF should be 1.5, not 2 for 1.
You should get 1.5for1 on combat expertise with a non-animated shield. (Because at the moment, once you can afford an animated shield there is no reason to not use THF).

Majere

 

[XO]

Offense / Defense

Given the age-old statement about the best defense being a strong offense, the two-handed weapon approach defends very well by reducing the amount of time you spend in harm's way.

 

[jodyjohnson]

The worst style is one handed and no shield. Which is flavorful but apparently not even an option for most melee folks.

 

[Li Shenron]

Note:

I have deliberately excluded single-handed weapons, because IMXP it's not an entirely different style you choose, but rather a consequence of not being able to afford the two-handed weapon style or the sword & board style.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Tell that to the Duelist. Single-weapon fighting is IMO one of the coolest and most archetypically "swashbuckling" styles, and it's a bit sad that it's not supported well in the core rules.

 

[zalgar07]

Of course, there's mitigating factors...

Things like playing smaller/larger characters or prestige classes. IMHO, the Duelist and Exotic Weapon Master were created specifically to compensate for weaker combat styles.

 

[Gort]

Of course, two-handed AND sword and board are the best.

Two-handed sword plus animated shield, that is.