Wolf Fang Strike maneuver - what are the penalties?

[sukael]

Page 90 of Tome of Battle has the description of the Wolf Fang Strike maneuver. The description is a bit ambiguous, so what final version of attack penalty distribution would you use:

(a) the user takes TWF penalties, and then -2 to each weapon on top of that,

or,

(b) the user takes -2 to each weapon, but they're generally treated as separate attacks.

 

[Victim]

B, I'd say. Wolf Fang Strike basically just allows for 2 weapon use on a standard attack, rather than a full attack.

 

[Arkhandus]

It's B. Wolf Fang Strike is basically just there to let you use TWF without actually having TWF, and replaces the standard TWF penalties with a straight -2 on attack rolls. But you only get the one attack with each weapon; so Improved/Greater TWF feats won't help Wolf Fang Strike. The drawback of course is that you can't use WFS again until you recover maneuvers, so you can't make that kind of double attack very often.

 

[sukael]

So the opinions so far seem to be for it as a "replacement TWF"...

My player will like this, as it gives a worthwhile maneuver to use with her sword-and-board fighter's general fighting style... and it qualifies her for the Hunter's Sense stance (gain the scent ability).

 

[Kmart Kommando]

Wolf Fang Strike is great for when you need to move and attack, just standing there and doing it isn't really helping you much, unless you're not dipping into the TWF tree. Though, why you'd want to invest in Tiger Claw Maneuvers and not in TWF is beyond me, a dual-wielding barbarian is an awesome archetype for a TC Warblade.