How does the Dancing magical enhancement work?

[BlingerBunny]

I was looking into something for self-defense with a caster I have, and I looked at Dancing.

It uses the caster's bab, but it doesn't explain anything further as to, what if my caster wanted to utilize it like an emergency chain of perdition when an enemy is right next to him. It doesn't get an AoO, but maneuvers are allowed.

My question is, do the magical weapon's maneuvers run off the caster's CMB, or is there a replacement stat for strength, in this case?

Example, Chain of Perdition uses the caster's level for bab and favored mental stat for strength.

[Claxon]

Strictly speaking, it looks like it only uses BAB to attack. No strength bonus, no dex bonus. Nothing. Certainly no chance of a caster getting to add their mental casting stat to it.

It's a terrible enhancement at that rate. Even if it allowed you to add your strength or dex, I don't think there would be any chance at using a mental stat though.

So that means your CMB would just be your BAB in this case.

[BlingerBunny]

Do you think, maybe it would be BAB plus the enhancement bonus?

It'd give this +4 enhancement a better chance.

[LazarX]

It's not really a weapon enchantment aimed for caster use. More for the martial who wants another weapon attack.

[BlingerBunny]

Even so, straight BAB, a 17th level fighter would only grant a +17 to hit, no Str or Dex to it's dancing quality. It'd make the dancing weapon equivalent to a save-or-suck enchantment.

It'd only get bab to attack while the fighter himself would have bab + str/dex + weapon training + weapon focuses. He's looking at roughly, (avg 4 str/dex mod) +10 ontop of his already 17 bab, when maxing bonuses. That's a 27 to hit estimation. It'd be much more beneficial if they fleshed out this enhancement, stating that the weapon gains the effects of the wielders BAB + a stat chosen on creation.

[boring7]

I believe it's one of the many enchantments that has been repeatedly thwacked with a nerf bat over many years and editions until it's practically useless. To be fair, a weapon that you don't have to touch or even pay attention to is a weapon begging for ways to abuse it.

A simpler solution is thus: the level at which your CASTER can blow 50k on a dancing sword is the level at which you can afford a pet construct or 4 which can stand next to you and make those kinds of moves. 2 animated steel tower shields would provide decent cover and blocking, and with hardness 10 they'd soak anything short of the Big Melee Monster standing right next to you and wailing away. A shield guardian golem would cost more, (45k gold on top of whatever golem you picked) but would heal itself and give you shield other.

Obviously this is subject to DM discretion, since it goes a bit beyond buying a magic sword, but I am pretty sure it is a better use of your money.

[Claxon]

Nope, this is just a really bad enchantment