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OK, this came up today and I'm interested in thoughts ...
A fighter is using the two weapon warrior archetype from the APG
At 9th level, he gets the following ability:
Doublestrike (Ex): At 9th level, a two-weapon warrior may, as a standard action, make one attack with both his primary and secondary weapons. The penalties for attacking with two weapons apply normally. This ability replaces weapon training 2
Obviously, the one cool aspect of this is two attacks as a standard action. The question is, does the fighter make a single attack role for both weapons OR two attack roles (one for each weapon).
This seems important because the follow up question was will vital strike work with both attacks:
Vital Strike (Combat)
You make a single attack that deals significantly more damage than normal.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: When you use the attack action, you can make one attack at your highest base attack bonus that deals additional damage. Roll the weapon's damage dice for the attack twice and add the results together before adding bonuses from Strength, weapon abilities (such as flaming), precision based damage, and other damage bonuses. These extra weapon damage dice are not multiplied on a critical hit, but are added to the total.
BOTH the vital strike feat and the 9th level archetype ability say "When you use the attack action, you can make one attack ..." so it certainly seems like vital strike should work on both attacks ...
Thoughts?
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no, it doesn't, because you're choosing to read it that way.
"When you use the attack action, you can make one attack at your highest base attack bonus that deals additional damage"
vital strike only ever works once a round.
vital strike works at highest BAB, while double strike incurs two weapon fighting penalties.
why anyone would play a two weapon warrior fighter archetype is beyond me anyway. its not worth giving up armor and weapon training...at all.
An attack action is standard action, but double strike is also a standard action.
That means you have to choose one or the other.
You are welcome Marc. I was not aware Nicos had gotten here first though. :)
Vital Strike is a horrible feat choice for a two-weapon fighting PC.
Not always. A half-orc ranger with the two-weapon Combat Style (to focus on Str instead of Dex) and an orc double axe (a martial weapon for half-orcs) could get good use out of it (i.e., when moving or otherwise unable to full-attack). Especially with lead blades taking the weapon damage from 1d8 to 2d6.
Two-Weapon Fighting using both ends with full-attack actions, Vital Strike using one end as a two-handed weapon (1.5 x Str mod to damage, increased Power Attack damage) with standard actions. Include the Toothy alternate racial trait for a bite attack to add a natural attack with Two-Weapon Fighting and the ability to hold the double axe in one hand to cast spells or use thrown weapons and you're doing pretty well in switching between roles without impacting action economy.
Double weapons in general are fairly good choices for two-weapon fighting. The only drawback is that they are not as good as some single weapons for critical hits (i.e., two kukris, two wakizashis, two light picks, falcata/kukri, etc.). The gnome hooked hammer comes closest with one end having a x4 critical multiple. If you're not chasing the highest possible DPR, they can be attractive options.
For a two-weapon warrior, you could always use your bonus feat at 1st level to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Meteor Hammer), with two kukris as a backup (primary damage option at higher levels). A main combatant two-weapon fighting with a trip weapon or using it as a single reach trip weapon? Nice.