Mobile Fighters and Whirlwind Attack

[Volkspanzer]

There was a thread posted a week or so ago (can't remember its name) that had a suggestion of using a Mobile Fighter's Rapid Attack in conjunction with the Whirlwind Attack feat. For some clarification, here's the rules on each:

PRD wrote:

Rapid Attack (Ex): At 11th level, a mobile fighter can combine a full attack action with a single move. He must forgo the attack at his highest bonus but may take the remaining attacks at any point during his movement. This movement provokes attacks of opportunity as normal. This ability replaces armor training 3.

PRD wrote:

Whirlwind Attack (Combat)

You can strike out at every foe within reach.

Prerequisites: Dex 13, Int 13, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, base attack bonus +4.

Benefit: When you use the full-attack action, you can give up your regular attacks and instead make one melee attack at your highest base attack bonus against each opponent within reach. You must make a separate attack roll against each opponent.

When you use the Whirlwind Attack feat, you also forfeit any bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells, or abilities.

Now, according to RAW, you should be able to use a WWA with Rapid attack (as a WWA can replace a full-attack action). However, this leaves so many questions as to how this truly acts. I can think of a few possibilities:

1. Since it requires that an attack at the highest bonus be given up, every enemy except one within reach is struck by your attack as you make your Rapid Attack (every enemy in reach as you make your movement except for one target).

2. Since it requires that the attack at the highest bonus be given up, AND you only make a single melee attack, according to WWA, no enemy gets struck by WWA.

3. You make a single melee attack at everything within range of a given position within your movement, yet the WWA doesn't 'persist' through the rest of the movement. In other words, WWA behaves as if you haven't moved at all.

I want to say that #2 is the most likely according to RAW, as WWA is only a single attack, regardless of making multiple attack rolls, and Rapid Attack makes you give up your highest bonus melee attack (the only one you had left), leaving you with no attacks.

Thoughts on the matter?

[Grick]

Volkspanzer wrote:

WWA is only a single attack

It's "one melee attack at your highest base attack bonus against each opponent within reach" which is one attack per opponent, not one attack total. Each opponent gets one melee attack.

[Volkspanzer]

Well, that was silly of me, so #2 is ousted from the possibilities.

[Redwidow]

Question: it says you can't use additional bonues with WWA; does that mean no weapon focus and no power attack?

[Grick]

Redwidow wrote:

Question: it says you can't use additional bonues with WWA; does that mean no weapon focus and no power attack?

I think "any bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells, or abilities." means "any bonus attacks or extra attacks granted by ....."

Bonuses to your attack roll should still apply. Bonus attacks from Haste or Improved Two-Weapon Fighting do not.

[Volkspanzer]

Redwidow wrote:

Question: it says you can't use additional bonues with WWA; does that mean no weapon focus and no power attack?

Not sure what this has to do with the topic, but what WWA states is that any bonus or extra ATTACKS granted by other feats, spells, and abilities are dropped. So you don't get an extra attack by Haste, expending a Ki point, TWF, Imp. TWF, Gtr. TWF, Cleave, Great Cleave, Cleaving Finish, Imp. Cleaving Finish, etc.

EDIT: Bah, ninja'd

[Khodaka]

Okay here is what you are missing (or those who searched in google some time in the future and are looking for the answer, this is what you need to know)

Lvl 20 as a mobile fighter, you don't learn Whirlwind Attack, you learn Whirlwind Blitz. It allows you to use Whirlwind attack as a standard action instead of a full attack action.

So when most people want to combine rapid attack adn whirlwind attack, they just want to be able to run and hit every enemy. Those two attacks do not mix but instead you get the ability to run your movement speed and attack any opponents in reach.

So to break it down.
Whirlwind blitz
Whirlwind attack(now is standard action)
You area allowed to make a standard action and a move action per turn.
Run and attack everyone.
Have fun, but make sure you have high AC as to not take to much damage from attacks of opportunity.