You Bash the Balrog ...

[devilbat]

Every time I scroll past this thread, I read "You bang the Balrog". Too much time at Off Topic I suppose.

 

[Henry]

For you melee mavens, here you can find an essay on weapon motion and impact. Be sure to check out the articles on sword weight and sword cutting as well.

How would you account for user skill when determining damage?

Actually, I wouldn't see this treatise as a backing of exceptional user skill causing more damage -- I'd see this treatise as an inspiration for creating a "crapwork" mechanic to balance the "masterwork" enhancement to swords. His main point was that swordcrafters in the modern day, even those who try to painstakingly recreate original pieces, don't have the skills needed to create pieces that have the same expert handling of authentic swords, and that these characteristics can be mathematically described, even if how to make them happen is lost. He may or may not have it on the head, but based on his evidence, I think he's on the right track.

 

[Umbran]

Might be worth asking the question why there isn't a feat that is based on INT that enables you to swap BAB for damage for any light weapon, as a parallel to power attack.

I'd argue that it would have to be Dex based. It isn't as if you've got a whole lot of time to think about exactly you're going to swing. On the single-round timescale, it would make more sense that this has to be "muscle memory" application, and thus Dex-based.

Then, though, you've already got a feat that allows use of Dex instead of strength for attack bonus. And that's starting to make Dex a little too potent....