Titan Mauler

[Rook Darklyth]

Quick question - is the Titan Mauler archtype available in society play?

[Caderyn]

Yes it is, however you will need to be sure you know the rules for the class correctly

1. you can use medium two handed weapons in 1 hand at a -2 penalty

2. you can use large one handed weapons in 2 hands at a -2 penalty

3. you can use huge light weapons in 2 hands at a -4 penalty

4. you cannot use huge one handed weapons at all

5. you cannot use large two handed weapons at all

[Nefreet]

...at the associated levels where you get such abilities.

[Caderyn]

Very true I should have included that as well

I figured it was a good idea to include a summary list of what you can and cant use in PFS as generally 90% of people who want to play titan maulers are hoping to use large greatswords.

[Rook Darklyth]

Well I was thinking about making either a halfling or gnome Titan mauler so I'm not sure how that effects the weapon usage.

[CWheezy]

1. you can use small two handed weapons in 1 hand at a -2 penalty

2. you can use medium one handed weapons in 2 hands at a -2 penalty

3. you can use large light weapons in 2 hands at a -4 penalty

4. you cannot use large one handed weapons at all

5. you cannot use medium two handed weapons at all

[The Beard]

The amusing thing is that wording on the archetype does seem to imply you would be able to wield a large two-handed weapon. There has long been debate over whether or not this is indeed the case, as it could easily be a case of RAW producing unintended possible meanings.

[Rook Darklyth]

Awesome thanks! Just curious are these society specific?

[Caderyn]

No these rules for the class are not society specific, basically the authors original intent was to allow the class to use larger weapons, however the design team decided that this was an unwise decision, and have released a FAQ specifically limiting the titan maulers access to weapon sizes.

The relevant FAQ is below from the Ultimate combat FAQ section.

"Barbarian--Titan Mauler: Can a Medium titan mauler wield a Large two-handed weapon, such as a Large greatsword?

No. The "Inappropriately Sized Weapons" rule (Core Rulebook 144) says (in summary) that a creature can't wield an inappropriately-sized weapon if the size difference would increase it one or more "steps" beyond "two-handed." None of the titan mauler's abilities say the character can break the "steps" part of the "Inappropriately Sized Weapons" rule, so the character still has to follow that rule.

—Pathfinder Design Team, 03/15/13"

[The Beard]

I think I'd just settle for an armored hulk or invulnerable rager, personally. Armored Hulk allows you to use heavy armor. In fact, it gives you a speed bonus for doing so. Furthermore, it gives you a handful of other useful abilities. My own barbarian uses that archetype, and the extra AC versus crits is a life saver. I think I prefer being able to drop my dex to a 12 and focus on other stats to getting to use a 2d8 weapon over a 2d6.

[CWheezy]

2d6 goes to 3d6 actually.

Also maybe it is just cool to use big weapons?

[The Beard]

The highest you can obtain by wielding a large one handed weapon in two hands is 2d8. I was implying that I prefer wielding a normal sized 2d6 damage two-handed weapon instead.

[Caderyn]

Quick note is that anyone can use a large one handed weapon in two hands, you do not require the titan mauler archetype for that.

Hence if you wanted a Large Bastard sword you could play any version of barbarian and still get it at -2, Titan mauler has the advantage that they get slightly reduced penalties as they level up (at level 6 wielding a large bastard sword with no penalty).

The most useful features of titan mauler is wielding two handed reach weapons in 1 hand, freeing up the other hand for shield use and having the flexibility to bash the guy grappling you with your greatsword (as for you its a one handed weapon and thus legal for use in a grapple)

[Jason Wu]

I do recall the author of the archetype had originally intended for the Mauler to be able to use larger size weapons than non-maulers, but was apparently overridden in editing.

-j

[David Bowles]

You can still get a lot of damage out of a large bastard sword with a vital strike build. PFS didn't need huge tetsubos running around.

[Cao Phen]

Bah, want to max damage? Get a huge Aklys.

1d8 Base (Light Weapon), 2d6 Large (One-Handed Weapon), 3d6 Huge (Two-Handed Weapon). Enlarge Person, 4d6. Impact Enchant, 6d6.

THEN Vital Strike, better yet, with the Barbarian, Furious Finish. Max out damage Variables from Vital Strike.

Endgame Damage, 72 Damage BASE, without modifiers (STR, PA, etc.). Oh and you are Fatigued. Not that a Wand of Lesser Restoration could fix it.

Oh and you can throw the Aklys 20 ft. And you can bring it back to you with a move action. Sure, it would only be 4d6 since it is thrown (Enlarge Person is remove from the formula), but to do 48 base damage from the furious finish is still devestating.

Imagery-wise, think of tossing around a log on a rope.

[Artanthos]

The Beard wrote:

I think I'd just settle for an armored hulk or invulnerable rager, personally. Armored Hulk allows you to use heavy armor. In fact, it gives you a speed bonus for doing so. Furthermore, it gives you a handful of other useful abilities. My own barbarian uses that archetype, and the extra AC versus crits is a life saver. I think I prefer being able to drop my dex to a 12 and focus on other stats to getting to use a 2d8 weapon over a 2d6.

Take Titan Mauler and Bastard Sword proficiency. It is a large weapon you can use 2-handed for 2d8 damage. By 6th level, the -2 penalty goes away.

For extra fun, give it the impact property when you can afford it and always carry a few enlarge potions. You can reach 4d8 base damage with both.

[Nefreet]

Artanthos wrote:

By 6th level, the -2 penalty goes away.

O.O

I never realized that before, but you're right. Awesome.

[Rook Darklyth]

Artanthos wrote:

The Beard wrote:

I think I'd just settle for an armored hulk or invulnerable rager, personally. Armored Hulk allows you to use heavy armor. In fact, it gives you a speed bonus for doing so. Furthermore, it gives you a handful of other useful abilities. My own barbarian uses that archetype, and the extra AC versus crits is a life saver. I think I prefer being able to drop my dex to a 12 and focus on other stats to getting to use a 2d8 weapon over a 2d6.

Take Titan Mauler and Bastard Sword proficiency. It is a large weapon you can use 2-handed for 2d8 damage. By 6th level, the -2 penalty goes away.

For extra fun, give it the impact property when you can afford it and always carry a few enlarge potions. You can reach 4d8 base damage with both.

Is this for a halfling or medium size races?

[Cao Phen]

With that situation, Medium-sized.

[Lab_Rat]

A huge aklys is actually a pretty good weapon choice once you get up high enough in levels. You end up doing the same damage as a large great sword but can also throw it and trip with it. The initial -4 attack penalty is pretty harsh but I guess going the vital strike chain could alleviate some of that pain.

Still that is a lot of feat/time investment to do average damage (probably around 100-110 with Str/PA/etc).

[Cao Phen]

Remember, a large greatsword cannot be weilded by a medium creature, since it is "equivalent to 4 hands".

In comparison to a Bastard Sword with all weapon size modifiers when vital striking/furious finishing an opponent, a Bastard Sword does 64 damage (8d8) without mods, while the Aklys does 72 (12d6). When thrown to Furious Finish, the Aklys does 48 Damage (8d6).

[CRobledo]

Sadly, Even a Large Aklys cannot be enchanted with impact. The fact that you treat it as one-handed or two-handed for being larger doesn't mean it is no longer a light weapon. Which makes it inelegible for the impact enchant.

Otherwise, would you say a Large Aklys can no longer be finessed by a Colossal creature?

I have a barbarian/Kensai that is going the vital strike specialist route. But I selected bastard sword for that reason.

(L) Bastard sword 2d8
lead blades (via wand) 3d8
enlarge person 4d8
impact 6d8
vital strike 12d8

maximized via Kensai level 4 ability, or later, furious finish.

Plus, can't beat the greater threat range when I can make a bastard sword x3 crit instead of x2 (also thanks to level 4 kensai)

[Artanthos]

Lead Blades and Impact do not stack.

[Nefreet]

Artanthos is correct. It's a common misconception on the Rules Forum, too.

[CRobledo]

Ah, ok. To be fair, I just learned about the impact enchant on this thread. I was going to go for Keen plus Furious instead anyways :D