And all this time I thought "switch hitting" was something Inigo Montoya and the Man in Black excelled at...
"Why are you smiling?" [clang, clink, parry]
"Because I know something you don't." [parry, thrust, clang]
"What's that?" [dodge, clink, clink]
"I'm not left handed!" [switch-hit, thrust, thrust, thrust!!]
I would never considered being proficient in more than one weapon "switch-hitting." Seriously...if you're going to use a baseball term--it means batting from either side of the plate--then wouldn't it make more sense to incorporate this meaning as well?
Now that inquisitor uses the game mechanics of the cleric however, the weapon choices become much more frustrating.
and its really hard to search for why I would be an inquisitor of Gozreh!
its a class that seems best for good aligned characters.
but anyway, variety variety variety....if you make a class feature it shouldnt give you something you already have (as in simple weapons)
And all this time I thought "switch hitting" was something Inigo Montoya and the Man in Black excelled at...
"Why are you smiling?" [clang, clink, parry]
"Because I know something you don't." [parry, thrust, clang]
"What's that?" [dodge, clink, clink]
"I'm not left handed!" [switch-hit, thrust, thrust, thrust!!]I would never considered being proficient in more than one weapon "switch-hitting." Seriously...if you're going to use a baseball term--it means batting from either side of the plate--then wouldn't it make more sense to incorporate this meaning as well?
Because that's exactly what's happening. The fighter is sitting there unloading arrows into the flying thing that closes and shoots "HAHAHA Now your bow is unless you are un... why are you smiling?"
The fighter drops the bow pulls out his great sword with quick draw and replies, "Because I'm not a dedicated archer."
He switches from hitting with a bow to hitting with a melee weapon -- a switch hitter.
That and heavy armor going out of use made the big clumsy blades no longer necessary.Further nerdity: The rapier originated in Italy, and its popularity flowed from there. Kyrt is correct, however based on what I understand, in that the rapier was never used as a battlefield weapon. It was a dueling blade, primarily, and a plain-clothes self-defense weapon gentlemen would wear in public. Fashion was part of the reason it began to replace the longsword as a weapon worn in plainclothes for self-defense over the years.
Have to jump on this one; but the truth of the matter is that the larger blades that preceded the rapier were the antithesis of clumsy. The typical two handed longsword of the late medieval period was very, very fast, balanced, and light. The average weight for such a weapon is between 2 and 3 pounds, balanced evenly across the weapons length. The slightly heavier hacking two handed blades of the earlier medieval period rarely weighed more then 4 pounds, at most. OCCASIONALLY they came in as high as 5. These weapons were neither excessively heavy, nor clumsy, and the methods used to fight with them were as technically advanced as any eastern martial art. The reason? Generally, when you have people who spend hundreds of years killing each-other, they get fairly good at it, and keep what works and ditch what doesn't work.
Now it is true that the preponderance of plate armor made cutting blades less useful, but they still continued to be used well into the renaissance, because frankly, your average foot soldier did not wear plate.
Additionally, again, the rapier was never a battlefield weapon. It was a dueling weapon, and a weapon for civilian self defense in the street.
That and heavy armor going out of use made the big clumsy blades no longer necessary.Further nerdity: The rapier originated in Italy, and its popularity flowed from there. Kyrt is correct, however based on what I understand, in that the rapier was never used as a battlefield weapon. It was a dueling blade, primarily, and a plain-clothes self-defense weapon gentlemen would wear in public. Fashion was part of the reason it began to replace the longsword as a weapon worn in plainclothes for self-defense over the years.
Have to jump on this one; but the truth of the matter is that the larger blades that preceded the rapier were the antithesis of clumsy. The typical two handed longsword of the late medieval period was very, very fast, balanced, and light. The average weight for such a weapon is between 2 and 3 pounds, balanced evenly across the weapons length. The slightly heavier hacking two handed blades of the earlier medieval period rarely weighed more then 4 pounds, at most. OCCASIONALLY they came in as high as 5. These weapons were neither excessively heavy, nor clumsy, and the methods used to fight with them were as technically advanced as any eastern martial art. The reason? Generally, when you have people who spend hundreds of years killing each-other, they get fairly good at it, and keep what works and ditch what doesn't work.
Now it is true that the preponderance of plate armor made cutting blades less useful, but they still continued to be used well into the renaissance, because frankly, your average foot soldier did not wear plate.
Additionally, again, the rapier was never a battlefield weapon. It was a dueling weapon, and a weapon for civilian self defense in the street.
Of course, by the time that the rapier was in use, the arming sword wasn't as common as it was. The swiss mercenaries used pike formations by the large, zweihanders (massive greatswords- some were over five feet long) were used to counter pikes, warhammers were used against heavily armored foes, and halberds were used against mounted foes.
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Anyway, switch hitters can be very satisfying- but hard to pull off. It is always a good idea to involve a class with bonus feats, like fighters and rangers. Switch-hitters are feat sinks.
Paladins do fine in this regard.
Smite bonus works with any weapon you use, so pull out your longbow and stick the creature with smiting arrows until is get close enough to start smiting with your sword.
Also, the weapon bond may be applied to a different weapon each time it is used, so you can shoot flaming arrows one battle and wield a flaming sword the next.
I would never considered being proficient in more than one weapon "switch-hitting." Seriously...if you're going to use a baseball term--it means batting from either side of the plate--then wouldn't it make more sense to incorporate this meaning as well?Because that's exactly what's happening ... He switches from hitting with a bow to hitting with a melee weapon -- a switch hitter.
However, in order for the analogy to work, you would need a baseball player who batted with an ordinary Louisville Slugger until he ran the count to 3-and-2, and then as the pitcher prepares to put him away with the cut fastball, he walks back to the dugout and returns to the plate with a boat paddle. That's "switch hitting" as y'all are using the term.
I understand how you're using the term; perhaps you can understand how I was confused by it.
I would never considered being proficient in more than one weapon "switch-hitting." Seriously...if you're going to use a baseball term--it means batting from either side of the plate--then wouldn't it make more sense to incorporate this meaning as well?Because that's exactly what's happening ... He switches from hitting with a bow to hitting with a melee weapon -- a switch hitter.However, in order for the analogy to work, you would need a baseball player who batted with an ordinary Louisville Slugger until he ran the count to 3-and-2, and then as the pitcher prepares to put him away with the cut fastball, he walks back to the dugout and returns to the plate with a boat paddle. That's "switch hitting" as y'all are using the term.
I understand how you're using the term; perhaps you can understand how I was confused by it.
Ok I see what you are saying... though instead of boat paddle I would suggest he pulls a rocket launcher off his back and blows the ball out of the park with the rocket...
I'm playing a switch-hitting paladin (lv5). Got Power Attack, Furious Focus, Deadly Aim and Quick Draw so far. Gonna get Vital Strike which can be used for both melee and ranged.
I am consistently out-damaged by the archer spec ranger at range, and the dual-wielding rogue in melee (when she hits with sneak attacks) but I am far better than the ranger in melee and the rogue at range :P
But more relevant, I can start at any encounter distance, and I have never been in the situation where I have been stumped for a way to hurt the enemy, and as a paladin, I hurt them pretty well when it counts.
winter (or certain aspects) is perfectly within Zon-Kuthon's territory.
surviving through the winter is a form of torture, is it not?
there is also a lack of survival resources up north and supplies are harder to aqcuire during the winter. death can come from the cold itself, from disease or even from starvation. death is form of loss, one that brings great suffering and suffering is a form of pain, is it not?
I see many creative backdoors within Zon-Kuthon's portfolio. most of which can be discovered with basic assessment. i will concede part way that he is not the best fit, but not without further explaining my reasons for seeing him as a good fit. look a paragraph higher in this post.
Zon-Kuthon is more than just Torture, Self Mutilation and BDSM. there's also envy, pain, darkness and loss. i just happen to have seen these other things with basic contemplation. i see Ulfen respecting him out of fear and a few members of thier villages forced to work as "diplomatic bridges" with him (clerics, inquisitors, oracles, etc) these "Diplomatic Bridges" work (at least initially) not out of thier desire to do so, but because it helps thier people. they beleive that getting on his good side will help thier community survive the winter.
First, I want to say that I don't see ZK as a particularly viking deity, but I don't think there is anything about ZK's portfolio that is at all un-viking, except some of the flavor.
I am reminded of a god who hung himself from a tree with his own spear for nine days to learn the alphabet and plucked out his own eye to get a drink of water. Self mutilation is there, and pain, darkness and loss aren't at all foreign to him. Certainly, Odin probably wasn't the god most vikings would pick to have a beer with, but they respected his power.
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When I think of switch hitter characters, I can't help but think of the Halfling Sling Staff. Seriously, it's a melee weapon that's also a ranged weapon. I always wondered if a halfling fighter with a sling staff could be a viable switch hitter if he just grabbed every "choose a weapon" feat in the book. Weapon Focus, Weapon Spec, Greater Weapon Spec, Improved Crit, you name it.
The starknife too, I guess, though to be really awesome there you need one with Returning. The upside is that you no longer need to be a halfling.
IT works, but only with some classes. For example, Ranger, Fighter, even rogues sometimes...
Inquisitor, I don't think so. They just haven't got enough feats or access to feats.
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The big reason why archery rangers work so well is they don't require prereqs for feats with helps MAD.IT works, but only with some classes. For example, Ranger, Fighter, even rogues sometimes...
Inquisitor, I don't think so. They just haven't got enough feats or access to feats.
Are you sure you don't mean TWF rangers? Archery feats don't really have harsh prereqs, except for being all stacked in the same tree. It's the dual-wielders that get to circumvent their DEX requirement to put more into STR.
He means archery. Because they ignore prereqs, they can cherry pick the archery feats they want without worrying about the whole tree. The ranger doesn't need point blank and precise shot if he just wants improved precise shot from that tree, for instance.
In my opinion switch hitters works well, by that meaning they are fun to play (and playing a game, fun is probably what you are looking for).
Low level inquisitors may feel feat starved though. I'd consider one or two levels in fighter. Even a single level let you get a +1 BAB (in reality 1/4 of BAB, so not that good), give you a feat and let you save a feat for proficiency (or a feat).
Being human for the extra feat is almost mandatory, of course.