I've tried searching for an answer but can't find one. Looking at various places in the core rulebook here's what I've found regarding multiple attacks and TWF:
From page 187:
1. If you get multiple attacks due to wielding two weapons or high BAB you must use the full attack action to get those extra attacks.
2. Multiple attacks granted from high BAB must be taken in order of highest bonus to lowest bonus.
3. If you're wielding two weapons you can strike with either weapon first.
From page 202:
1. If you're wielding a weapon in your offhand you get a single (barring feats) additional attack with that weapon per round with penalties to hit.
Given this, it does not seem that I'm prohibited from making my offhand attack first (using offhand attack penalties), then taking my mainhand attacks (using mainhand attack penalties) afterward.
Is this correct?
Right if you have a 6 BAB and only TWF you can go main off main or off main main.
Right if you have a 6 BAB and only TWF you can go main off main or off main main.
Technically, you must make the main (iterative) attacks in order.
So Off then main/main, or main/main then off.
This generally doesn't matter, at all, so go with whatever works best for you. Usually you'll have different damage on different hands, so clumping all of one hand together makes it easier, but go with whatever works.
Just be sure you're applying all the correct penalties. If you choose to use TWF style, those penalties apply to all the attacks, even if something happens and you don't make those attacks later.
This is good to hear, because the build I'm doing doesn't work if I have to make my mainhand attacks first.
Okay, you got me. What kind of build are you cooking up that requires you to make your mainhand attacks last?
Okay, you got me. What kind of build are you cooking up that requires you to make your mainhand attacks last?
The best build I could think of to make the Stalwart Defender worthwhile. The basic idea is taking 3 levels of Phalanx Fighter so I could use a reach weapon in my main hand, then take the shield feats up to shield mastery. This allows me to threaten 10' and adjacent squares to somewhat compensate for not being able to move while in defensive stance. Where the offhand/mainhand attack order comes in is if someone gets right next to me. Being able to make my offhand attack first allows me to shield slam my target back into the range of my glaive so I can then make my mainhand iterative attacks.
My interpretation is that you have to choose main hand or off-hand first and then you do all of the attacks for the hand you chose before being able to use the other hand.
I would have an exception for attacks made from non-BAB sources. Meaning if you have Haste, you can make your haste attack (with either hand) at the beginning or end of your turn, or anywhere in between except for in between your iterative attacks.
Main/Main/Haste/Off or Off/Main/Main/Haste or Haste/Off/Main/Main etc. As long as Main/Main are back to back in descending order, it's legal.
Maybe I missed it, but why do the main-hand attacks have to be back-to-back? I know they have to be in BAB order, but why can't there be anything in between?
"If you get multiple attacks because your base attack bonus is high enough, you must make the attacks in order from highest bonus to lowest."
It doesn't explicitly say. So I guess you could do Main+6, whateverstuff, Main+1, since they're still in order from highest to lowest.
Weird.
This discussion is really helpful for a rogue using two weapon fighting and two-weapon feint.
Getting to use your primary off-hand attack as the feint would give you a few extra points on damage off your primary hand's damage.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Maybe I missed it, but why do the main-hand attacks have to be back-to-back? I know they have to be in BAB order, but why can't there be anything in between?"If you get multiple attacks because your base attack bonus is high enough, you must make the attacks in order from highest bonus to lowest."
It doesn't explicitly say. So I guess you could do Main+6, whateverstuff, Main+1, since they're still in order from highest to lowest.
Weird.
Okay, that's what I thought, I just didn't know if there was an additional restriction listed elsewhere in the book but not there (like with that stupid potion thing).
Also, it would seem more weird to me for someone to use all their main-hand attacks and then their off-hand attacks than it would for them to alternate back and forth. Ye Olde One-Two Punch is always one hand and then the other. ;)
Since True Strike works on the next attack made, the order is important.
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"Main hand" is just parlance for "my first attack" -- it does not have to better your better/better/nastier weapon, the one in your right hand, or the hand holding a manufactured weapon, or even a hand at all.
-- If you want to shield bash first, or trip, or Quick Draw/throw javelin, go for it.
(Main-hand/off-hand is a legacy artifact from 3rd-edition ranger TWF text.)
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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"Main hand" is just parlance for "my first attack" -- it does not have to better your better/better/nastier weapon, the one in your right hand, or the hand holding a manufactured weapon, or even a hand at all.
-- If you want to shield bash first, or trip, or Quick Draw/throw javelin, go for it.
(Main-hand/off-hand is a legacy artifact from 3rd-edition ranger TWF text.)
Not quite true. When you employ the TWF mechanic to gain one or more extra attacks, those extra attacks become your "off-hand" attacks, and your other attacks become your "main hand" attacks. (In any other situation, though, main/off-hand attacks do not exist.)
See also this FAQ on the subject.