One thing about great weapons is that you pick them because you want to do a lot of damage. Let someone else try to hit more often, or be more defensive, when you hit, you aim to put the target down hard and FAST.
Not to mention that all weapon styles (even 'duellist', man I HATE one weapon, floppy hand. Modern Fencing is a SPORT, designed for one on one competition, not actual combat, because you rarely face a single foe...) should have their own feat trees, not just Two Weapon Fighting, so without further ado.
(For the record, this is not designed to fix anything, just add options. This is also free to use by anyone, should they wish to. And yes, I'm copying this from the D&DN playtest, just changing it to a feat.)
You swing your great weapon so hard, so fast that even a miss does something.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +1, Power Attack, using a two handed weapon
Benefit: If you miss your target, you still do your strength bonus in damage.
Special: It still qualifies as a miss for the purpose of feats that trigger on hits or damage.
Your mastery of your own body and skill with two handed weaponry allows you do more, even when everyone else thinks you missed.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6, Power Attack, using a two handed weapon
Benefit: If you miss your target, you now do double your strength bonus in damage.
Special: It still qualifies as a miss for the purpose of feats that trigger on hits or damage.
Reaper's Kiss: Using a two-handed weapon isn't a feat prerequisite, it should say in the benefit line: If you miss while wielding a weapon with two hands (or something like that).
I'd increase the prereqs on that to BAB +3, or else you're killing goblins hit or miss at level 1. Otherwise seems fine. Maybe require it to at least hit their touch AC though, since automatic damage is fairly rare in Pathfinder.
|
Honestly, miss damage is one of the best mechanics I've head about from my friends who play other systems. I have one buddy who has Chronic Low Rolls Syndrome (he went eight rounds whiffing at a goblin when I ran the first combat of RotRL because he literally could not roll more than an eight) and it's what allowed him to actually really enjoy combat in 13th Age.
That said, looks good to me. If you change the wording to Petty Alchemy's suggestion, it'd look great (though I personally think you should be able to do it with any weapon, but obviously a lesser amount of your Str bonus for 1h or TWF).
Reaper's Kiss: Using a two-handed weapon isn't a feat prerequisite, it should say in the benefit line: If you miss while wielding a weapon with two hands (or something like that).
Fair enough, I'll change it to reflect that.
I'd increase the prereqs on that to BAB +3, or else you're killing goblins hit or miss at level 1. Otherwise seems fine. Maybe require it to at least hit their touch AC though, since automatic damage is fairly rare in Pathfinder.
Why? Since when are Goblins supposed to be a threat one on one?
For the record, I believe that Fighters (and Paladins and Barbarians, maybe Rangers too) should be consistent damage dealers. You go to Rogue for burst/alpha strikes, and Wizards for AoE control. And Clerics are there for support (whether that means healing, buffing or doing some damage on their own, they're there to help the party in some way.)
miss damage seems like it might work if you implemented a different AC system based on either DR or armor hp. Regardless, I think you probably want this feat line to require weapon focus, or probably weapon training -- otherwise it's a little strong.
How so? I mean, at medium to high levels magic allows you to stop time, summon massive storms of lightning or fire, and this is not including the instant fight enders, like Sleep.
Heck, rather than a feat option you could work this into an archetype pretty easily, and that would lay to rest some of the other concerns about how strong this is early game.
I'm more worried about late game. How useful this would be at that point. Look low levels are enough of a challenge for all the classes, anything that gives them an edge (Sneak Attack, spells and maybe weapon damage) is a plus.
I'd also include something in the description which says you have to actually be using power attack for the ability to work. Perhaps a "power attack damage on miss" ability instead of str damage.
No. That's not the point. The point is consistent damage at all times for the Great Weapon warrior (Barby, Pally and Fight -Rangers tend to go Bow or Two Weapons-) Two Weapon users have and gain a boatload of extra attacks, that's how they do their consistent damage. A shield wielder is there for defence, not damage.
Since I can't seem to edit my main post, here they are with the changes:
You swing your great weapon so hard, so fast that even a miss does something.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +1, Power Attack
Benefit: If you miss your target while wielding a two handed weapon, you still do your strength bonus in damage.
Special: It still qualifies as a miss for the purpose of feats that trigger on hits or damage.
Your mastery of your own body and skill with two handed weaponry allows you do more, even when everyone else thinks you missed.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6, Power Attack
Benefit: If you miss your target while wielding a two handed weapon, you now do double your strength bonus in damage.
Special: It still qualifies as a miss for the purpose of feats that trigger on hits or damage.
I do not understand why the feats need to be specific to two-handed weapons. My only recommendation is to let it happen with one handed weapons as well.
I like the idea of the feat, but the thing I dislike is being able to theoretically kill things without ever actually hitting them. That just seems nonsensical. What kills them? Shock? High pressure air?
I think I'd have to agree with Petty Alchemy in that damage needs to hit at least Touch AC to do the damage.
Perhaps a penalty to AC for a short period with the shock of a near miss might be better, but of course that branches off from your actual idea. Maybe a side effect or additional feat?
Come to think of it, I was imagining greatswords or greataxes for the feat, but technically spears and the like are two-handed, too. Somehow I don't think it really makes sense for it to work with piercing damage, but maybe that's just me not quite getting at your thoughts (or being a complete newbie)
