Fighting with Two Weapons and Penalties

[Richard Russom]

Q: I have a samurai character who has the Two Weapon fighting Feat and he uses a Wakisashi, light weapon, in his off hand. This makes the penalties -2 and -2. Does his strength modifier and BAB still factor in or will his attack rolls always be at -2 no matter his level and Feats?

[Deadmanwalking]

Richard Russom wrote:

Q: I have a samurai character who has the Two Weapon fighting Feat and he uses a Wakisashi, light weapon, in his off hand. This makes the penalties -2 and -2. Does his strength modifier and BAB still factor in or will his attack rolls always be at -2 no matter his level and Feats?

The -2s are on top of all other modifiers. So, with Str 18, masterwork weapons, and BAB +1, you'd get one attack at +6 or two at +4/+4.

[HangarFlying]

You always include BAB, STR, and anything else you would normally include, plus the -2 penalty.

[Torbyne]

He gets full strength benefit for hit roll but only half that value for damage. There is a feat to add full strength modifier to both hands however. So long as you only have two weapon fighting you will only get one extra attack and all attacks are at -2 on your attack rolls. There are improved feats for two weapon fighting that Grant more attacks when you have a higher BAB. Oh, also remember that power attack applies the full penalty to both hands in your attack but only half the benefit to the off hand.

[Richard Russom]

HangarFlying wrote:

You always include BAB, STR, and anything else you would normally include, plus the -2 penalty.

Cool, I was kind of worried. lol, I have a friend who has always told me the penalties to two weapon fighting cannot be canceled out even with feats and this always struck me as nonsense. What I mean is he was saying the modifier to the roll would always be at a minus.

[Kazumetsa Raijin]

Richard Russom wrote:

Q: I have a samurai character who has the Two Weapon fighting Feat and he uses a Wakisashi, light weapon, in his off hand. This makes the penalties -2 and -2. Does his strength modifier and BAB still factor in or will his attack rolls always be at -2 no matter his level and Feats?

There's a table for what you're asking right here:

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/combat.html#_two-weapon-fighting

You always include Str Mod + BAB + Detriments of TWF on every swing.

[Cyrad]

You're getting an extra attack at the cost of accuracy for ALL of your attacks.

[Claxon]

Richard Russom wrote:

HangarFlying wrote:

You always include BAB, STR, and anything else you would normally include, plus the -2 penalty.

Cool, I was kind of worried. lol, I have a friend who has always told me the penalties to two weapon fighting cannot be canceled out even with feats and this always struck me as nonsense. What I mean is he was saying the modifier to the roll would always be at a minus.

Your friend is right, I think you just misunderstood. The penalties will forever and always apply, and nothing "cancels" them out. There is no way to remove the -2 penalty for two weapon fighting, and in fact if you were using two one handed weapons instead of a one handed and a light you would take a -4. However, your BAB and strength bonus still get added no matter what.

The only option that ever eliminates the penalties for two weapon fighting (kinda) is the two weapon warrior with Improved Balance and Perfect Balance.