Anger Nogar |
1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
The Sentinel's Symbolic Weapon ability says: When wielding his deity's favored weapon, the sentinel gains a +1 sacred or profane bonus on attack and damage rolls.
I can't help but notice that the wording is different than the Figher's Weapon Training feature: Whenever he attacks with a weapon from this group, he gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Does that mean a Sentinel of Iomedae that is two-weapon fighting with longsword and shield will get the bonus to both his sword attacks and shield bashes?
Gallant Armor |
The Sentinel's Symbolic Weapon ability says: When wielding his deity's favored weapon, the sentinel gains a +1 sacred or profane bonus on attack and damage rolls.
I can't help but notice that the wording is different than the Figher's Weapon Training feature: Whenever he attacks with a weapon from this group, he gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Does that mean a Sentinel of Iomedae that is two-weapon fighting with longsword and shield will get the bonus to both his sword attacks and shield bashes?
Given the wording, I would say the bonus applies to all attack and damage rolls you make while wielding their deity's favored weapon even if you aren't attacking with it. Your weapon is a holy symbol, when held it grants you the boon of increased ability to attack and damage your enemies regardless of the weapon used.
Drahliana Moonrunner |
The Sentinel's Symbolic Weapon ability says: When wielding his deity's favored weapon, the sentinel gains a +1 sacred or profane bonus on attack and damage rolls.
I can't help but notice that the wording is different than the Figher's Weapon Training feature: Whenever he attacks with a weapon from this group, he gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Does that mean a Sentinel of Iomedae that is two-weapon fighting with longsword and shield will get the bonus to both his sword attacks and shield bashes?
You get different wordings because different people write differently.
The answer to your question is No. Shields are not favored weapons for Iomedae. The clear intent of the wording is that the bonus applies to the favored weapon, not anything else he happens to be wielding at the same time. So bonus to Longsword, yes, shield a clear no.
James Risner Owner - D20 Hobbies |
Purplefixer |
I'm inclined to agree with Gallant Armor. Your longsword strike, your shield-bash, and your off-hand kick all get the +1 so long as you continue to wield your blade. If it is put away or knocked loose you lose the bonus.
It's an incredible incentive to continue fighting with a broken weapon in the glorious name of your deity.
Claxon |
It's not crazy that it could buff your other attacks...however the problem is that the meaning of the word "wielding" when used in Pathfinder depends greatly on context.
As a GM, I would rule that the bonus only applies to the longsword (or both if you TWF with two longswords). Regardless the bonus only applies to Iomedae's favored weapon, the longsword.
There is room to interpret it otherwise, but I don't think that was the intention.
If the developers clarified their intention to boost all attacks, I wouldn't fret over it.
James Risner Owner - D20 Hobbies |
James Risner Owner - D20 Hobbies |
I couldn't easily find the comments saying paraphrased "the word is used in too many ways because we made mistakes", but I did find one saying that wield ONLY means actively using
I think some time after 2011, they realized too many people had written too many times in too many ways. The original intended way had lapsed and there wasn't much to be done about it.
SheepishEidolon |
The Sentinel's Symbolic Weapon ability says: When wielding his deity's favored weapon, the sentinel gains a +1 sacred or profane bonus on attack and damage rolls.
I can't help but notice that the wording is different than the Figher's Weapon Training feature: Whenever he attacks with a weapon from this group, he gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Actually you could interpret both abilities as a boost to all weapons' attack and damage. Both use the wording 'bonus on attack and damage rolls', there is no explicit restriction to the weapon / weapons in question.
But, to advance to the next level of fussiness: There is no statement about the duration either. So you wield / attack with a certain question once and get the bonuses forever?
So I'd say: In both cases you have to consider the intent. From my point of view, the bonuses only apply to the favored weapon respective the weapon group.
James Risner Owner - D20 Hobbies |
Both use the wording 'bonus on attack and damage rolls', there is no explicit restriction to the weapon / weapons in question.
Another example of why "this is limited to the weapon you are using to make the attack" is that some thought that if you were in flanking position, you could ignore the "when making a melee attack" part of Flanking and make ranged attacks in flanking position for Sneak Attack.
This was answered. People continued. It was explicitly answered directly a second time.
If this gets to an answer stage, it will be answered that is only the weapon you are using to make the attack.