So at what times would you want to use a double weapon? I'm having a hard time seeing the advantage in using one.
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Pretty much this.
Darth Maul.
They look cool.
Thats what I was gonna say, or perhaps simply to introduce a particular vision for a character or fighting style. Granted, they are no different than two-weapons rules wise but they present an interesting variation.
Darth Maul.
They look cool.
When I first played DnD it was just after that movie came out and I was totally going to do that...(I've since upgraded to bifurcated when I want to kick butt)
Thats what I was gonna say, or perhaps simply to introduce a particular vision for a character or fighting style. Granted, they are no different than two-weapons rules wise but they present an interesting variation.
They are different actually, most of them take a feat tax. Only quarter staff doesn't require a feat to use. If your using splat books they're all weaker than the sawtooth sabres.
Pretty much this.
Hmmm... Closer to this one. The actual page for double weapons on tv tropes actually has a link to this one(and you know, 100s of other pages.)
Lets compare it to other situations to see the pros and cons.
2 short swords vs. two-bladed sword
*The two-bladed sword has higher base damage (1d6 vs 1d8)
*Both treated as light off hand for TWF
*Two-bladed sword more versatile (can fight as one two-handed weapon for Power Attack and to increase to hit chance)
*Both allow you to take one feat that affects both hands
*Both considered two weapons for enchanting
So, is the feat worth the higher base damage and versatility to you?
2 Longswords vs. two-bladed sword
*Same base damage
*Off hand is light for two-bladed sword
*Two-bladed sword still slightly more versatile since its easier to switch between two-handed and double weapon
*still one feat affects both hands
*Two weapons each for enchanting
So better TWF, and easier to switch to two-handed (don't have to drop or sheath off-hand weapon). Worth a feat to you?
Longsword/short sword vs. two-bladed sword
*Better base off hand damage
*Both have light off hand penalty for TWF
*Must drop or sheath short sword to fight two-handed
*Must double up on weapon feats for using different weapons
*two weapons for enchanting
So off hand damage is slightly better, still a little easier to switch to two-handed, but can save you feats. Worth it?
There can also be small advantages, like using a gnome hook hammer so you always have two damage types available for DR. In 3.5 it was harder to Disarm a two handed weapon, but it doesn't seem that carried over.
So, two handed weapons have some advantages, but are they worth the feat to use them. Kinda up to you to weigh that.
They are different actually, most of them take a feat tax. Only quarter staff doesn't require a feat to use. If your using splat books they're all weaker than the sawtooth sabres.
But sawtooth sabres also have a feat "tax" to use them. And mechanically they are the exact same as a two-bladed sword.
Mechanically, you get the advantages of using a one-handed weapon and a light weapon for the penalties incurred when two-weapon fighting while still only having to take one set of weapon-specific feats. To get minimum penalties and only having to take weapon focus once, you have to go with two light weapons, which give diminished returns on damage dice, power attack, and strength bonus to damage. Alternately, you take two one-handed weapons, but you take larger attack penalties when two-weapon fighting.
Additionally, if you want, you can swing the double weapon with two hands to gain the extra damage without needing to drop the light weapon in your other hand. Normally, you'd have to drop your short sword (or whatever) to swing your longsword with two hands to get the added strength and power attack damage (maybe the TWF attack penalties are too much to get past the AC or you need a little extra damage to punch DR). But with a double weapon, you don't need to drop the "short sword" to swing hard with your "longsword", so you can go back to using TWF without having to draw another weapon.
Finally, and most importantly, Rule of Cool.
EDIT: Ninja'd by Samasboy1 with basically the same info.
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One more advantage, you only have to draw one weapon. And not everything has to be mechanically advantageous, it can just be cool fluff
One more advantage, you only have to draw one weapon. And not everything has to be mechanically advantageous, it can just be cool fluff
If you have two weapon fighting you draw both weapons with the same action.
But sawtooth sabres also have a feat "tax" to use them. And mechanically they are the exact same as a two-bladed sword.
Sort of. Sawtooth sabres are treated as two one handed weapons for all purposes except two weapon fighting, and all that entails. In 3.5 that would mean you would get your full power attack on both weapons, though pathfinder changed the wording to off hand(because you can't have nice things in pathfinder). I'm sure there's another case where that would be advantageous.
But as you say, half Str bonus to damage and Power Attack only depend on the weapon being "off hand" not one handed or light. So they are still equal on those areas.
I don't know what advantage the "one handed for everything else" is supposed to affect.
But I concede the point in theory, the off hand for the double weapon is considered light, the off hand of dual saw toothed sabres is one-handed (but still off hand). For whatever good it does you, there is a small difference.
One of the best things about double weapons is that Half-Orcs get Orc Double Axe proficiency for free. So you can do all the cool things the above posters have talked about without having to blow a feat. Slightly edges out going human and using your bonus feat to grab proficiecny in Sawtooth sabres, IMHO.
The only double weapons I pathfinder that seem somewhat practical in real life are the quarter staff, gnome hook led hammer, and dwarven urgosh.
With a double weapon, it's easier to do things like cast spells and drink potions. You don't have to drop/sheathe one of your weapons first.
Mechanically the advantage of double weapons is that they're two handed weapons. That means that any time you're not making a full attack (including AoOs -- you do have combat reflexes to go with that 19 dex, right?) you're doing 3:1 power attack and 1.5x strength.
This, basically. This solves one of the major problems for TWF-what to do when you can't get full attacks. This solves that without any of that silliness like dropping weapons or expensive gloves to store weapons.
Obviously, the weapon favors a STR heavy build (due to mechanical benefits, and because most are loath to have a high DEX without going weapon finesse), so it is typically a ranger's weapon.