Two Weapon Fighting and Movement

[Neal Litherland]

Had an issue with my DM the other night, and it's actually on behalf of another player. What's the community ruling?

We have a Fighter with Two Weapon Fighting at level 1. Does it require a Full Attack Action to use both attacks, or can she move and then take a Standard to make a single attack with each weapon?

The ruling seems to be that any time someone has multiple attacks they have to take a full attack action. However, I don't see where in the book it says that. All it says for two weapon fighting is that once per round when someone makes an attack with a main weapon they get an attack with the off-hand weapon. To me this says that someone could move and attack with both weapons (though obviously only once each, as there was movement). What I'm looking for is page numbers, or at least sections of a rule book, where this is addressed. Does anyone know?

[Michael Sayre]

They do have to utilize a Full Attack Action to make more than one attack, unless they have an ability stating otherwise.

"Multiple Attacks: A character who can make more than one attack per round must use the full-attack action (see Full-Round Actions) in order to get more than one attack / If you get more than one attack per round because your base attack bonus is high enough (see Base Attack Bonus in Classes), because you fight with two weapons or a double weapon, or for some special reason, you must use a full-round action to get your additional attacks."

The Two Weapon Warrior archetype allows you to make one attack with each weapon as a standard action, but that abiity doesn't kick in til 9th level.

[Nefreet]

There's a Fighter archetype that allows you to use a standard action to make a single attack with each weapon, although I don't think it's until like level 8 or 9.

[blackbloodtroll]

If you want to make more than one attack, then you need to Full attack.

Rare special abilities can change that, but the general rule is that unless you full attack, you are getting one attack, no matter what.

Please note, I am not including attacks of opportunity, but that's a different thing.

So, to repeat, it's full attack, or one attack.

[Weirdo]

It's in the combat rules, under Full-Round Actions, p187 CRB.

Multiple Attacks wrote:

A character who can make more than one attack per round must use the full-attack action (see Full-Round Actions) in order to get more than one attack.

Full Attack wrote:

If you get more than one attack per round because your base attack bonus is high enough (see Base Attack Bonus in Classes), because you fight with two weapons or a double weapon, or for some special reason, you must use a full-round action to get your additional attacks. You do not need to specify the targets of your attacks ahead of time. You can see how the earlier attacks turn out before assigning the later ones.

[Cheapy]

Ssalarn is correct. The page number is 187 of the 6th printing.

[Neal Litherland]

Thanks for the page number, that was what I needed. Gives me a headache, but when I'm wrong I like to know where and why. Follow-up question... anyone know how to get pounce?

[DesolateHarmony]

Pounce is a rage power for barbarians. There are other ways, but some are limited, such as the Rapid Attack ability for the Mobile Fighter archetype.

[fretgod99]

That rage power is one. Catfolk can get a pounce feat to use with their claws. I'm sure there are a few others floating about, but it's not a common ability and probably not available until relatively high level. Catfolk's pounce requires +10 BAB. Greater Beast Totem rage power (which grants pounce) requires 10th level. Rapid Attack, as mentioned, is another one that basically gives you pounce, though you forego your highest BAB attack and you don't get it until 11th level. So, I'd expect most methods of granting pounce to PCs would probably be somewhere in that level range.

[Malachi Silverclaw]

If your DM allows 3.5 feats there is one called Dual Strike from Complete Adventurer p.108.

Dual Strike wrote:

Prerequisites: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Fighting.

Benefit: As a standard action, you can make a melee attack with your primary weapon and your off-hand weapon. Both attacks use the same attack roll to determine success, using the worse of the two weapons' attack modifiers. If you are using a one-handed or light weapon in your primary hand and a light weapon in your off-hand, you take a -4 penalty on this attack roll; otherwise you take a -10 penalty.

Each weapon deals its normal damage. Damage reduction and other resistances apply separately against each weapon attack.

Special: When you make this attack, you apply precision-based damage (such as from sneak attack) only once. If you score a critical hit, only the weapon in your primary hand deals extra critical hit damage; your off-hand weapon deals regular damage.

A fighter may select Dual Strike as one of his fighter bonus feats.

I had a dual rapier wielding swashbuckler who combined this feat with Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting (p.111), true strike and Power Attack!

Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting wrote:

Prerequisites: Str 13, Two-Weapon Fighting.

Benefit: When wielding a one-handed weapon in your off-hand, you take penalties for fighting with two weapons as if you were wielding a light weapon in your off hand.

Special: A fighter may select Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting as one of his fighter bonus feats.