I haven't played D&D for several years now and I'm playing an old character, therefore I am rusty on the rules.I'm having a hard time calculating some modifiers for Two-Weapon Fighting and I'm looking for some guidance.
I have a Cleric who uses a quarter staff which is a double weapon. As a 11th level cleric I get two attacks.
Base Attack bonuses: +8/+3
Strength 8: applies a -1 penalty to attacks and damage
Normal Two-Handed Penalties: -6 primary hand and -10 secondary hand
Page 113 under Double Weapons States: The character can also choose to use a double weapon two-handed attacking with only one end of it, most wizards who wield quarterstaffs use them this way.
Does this mean I strike with one end of the weapon twice in one round since I receive two attacks because of my level?
Am I missing any modifiers?
What are my attack bonuses when using the quarter staff as a two-handed weapon?
On my old character sheet I had attack bonuses of +1, -3, and +0 written down. How in the world did I get these modifiers and why would I have listed 3 attacks?
Confused!
Page 113 under Double Weapons States: The character can also choose to use a double weapon two-handed attacking with only one end of it, most wizards who wield quarterstaffs use them this way.
Does this mean I strike with one end of the weapon twice in one round since I receive two attacks because of my level?
Yes.
Am I missing any modifiers?
Yes; when two-weapon fighting with a double weapon, one end counts as a light weapon. So, instead of -6/-10, the penalties would be -4/-8 (or -2/-2 if you have the Two-Weapon Fighting feat).
What are my attack bonuses when using the quarter staff as a two-handed weapon?
+7/+2.
On my old character sheet I had attack bonuses of +1, -3, and +0 written down. How in the world did I get these modifiers and why would I have listed 3 attacks?
If you use the two-weapon fighting method, you would get an extra third attack in addition to the two attacks you get due to a high BAB.
The attack bonuses should be +3/-1/-2 (with the "+3" and "-2" being the main hand, and the "-1" being the additional attack from two-weapon fighting).
If you have the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, the attack bonuses would instead be +5/+5/+0.
Thank you very much Are, your words of wisdom are appreciated!
I am still majorly confused here. Can someone explain this once again please?
Can you be a little bit more specific? Are laid it out pretty well, I would say. What exactly are you confused about?
Ok, I understand my base attack bonus for 11th level...its +8/+3. No problem there.
I subtract a -1 penalty from each attack due to my low strength...I now have a +7/+2 for my two attacks. No problem there.
The staff is considered a light weapon with my off hand...which should be a +7/primary hand and -2 for my secondary hand...correct?
Where does the third attack come in and how are the modifiers calculated for it?
BAB is +8. A full attack, counting Str penalty, is +7/+2; this is the default when using any weapon, including one end of the staff or "fighting with two weapons" (or with both ends of a double weapon) where you don't gain an extra attack. Fighting with two weapons (or both ends of a double weapon) to gain an extra attack imposes additional penalties: -6 to all attacks with the "primary" weapon (the normal +7/+2) and -10 to the extra attack with the "off-hand" weapon (at the normal BAB plus Str mod; +7), or +1/-4 primary and -3 off-hand; if using a light weapon in the "off-hand" (the "off-hand" end of a double weapon is automatically counted as light for this purpose), the penalties are reduced to -4 with the "primary" and -8 with the "off-hand" (+3/-2 primary and -1 off-hand).
If the character has the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, the penalties are reduced to -4 with the "primary" and -4 with the "off-hand;" if the "off-hand" is light, then the penalties are reduced again to -2 "primary" and -2 "off-hand."