Which weapon group is the most versatile

[miscdebris]

What fighter weapon group is the most versatile in terms of damage, damage type, maneuvers, reach, exotic access, and ranged?

[derpdidruid]

I would say pole arm. All of them have reach, different DMG die, different crit ranges, and different special quality's (trip being very common).

[Risen Demon]

In my book, a bow/arrow with the Empty Quiver Style feat line is absolutely in the running for the sheer fact that you can make melee attacks with your ranged weapon, threaten adjacent squares, and you can take feats to allow you to threaten with the actual ranged aspect of the bow (Snap Shot and Improved Snap Shot)

[Deighton Thrane]

The most versatile is probably the monk group. The only thing missing is a really good ranged weapon, as all the ranged weapons are thrown, and fairly low damage die. And as Risen Demon has mentioned, there's a lot that you can do just with a bow, though it usually takes you about 12 or so levels to actually be able to do all that and still be putting out good damage.

[Cavall]

Pirate

[Abraham spalding]

Deighton Thrane wrote:

The most versatile is probably the monk group. The only thing missing is a really good ranged weapon, as all the ranged weapons are thrown, and fairly low damage die. And as Risen Demon has mentioned, there's a lot that you can do just with a bow, though it usually takes you about 12 or so levels to actually be able to do all that and still be putting out good damage.

Also with spear dancing style you can turn the entire polearm group into the monk weapon group.

The second feat in the spear dancing style (called spear dancing spiral) lets you use a polearm or spear (of choice unless you have weapon training(polearm or spear)) with any feat or ability that you can use with a quarter staff.

[Kegdrainer]

I would second the pole arm group. In addition to what derpdidruid said, they can also do the various damage types (Blunt, slash, piercing) with some of them doing two types. If you do, I would also highly recommend that you take the Transformative ability on an Adamantine weapon so that you do not need to carry a golf bag of weapons into battle.

[Cavall]

The Pirate Weapons group consists of the crossbow, cutlass, dagger, hook hand, rapier, and short sword.

That's ranged close finesse and a two hander of you like. Plus short sword for two weapon fighting.

[pipedreamsam]

Axes are actually fairly decent as well. Good mix of one handed, two handed, exotic and reach. While the throwing axe isn't exactly the best ranged weapon, at least it gives you an option to fallback on.

[miscdebris]

Pirate looks light it might be the best all a rounder. You are missing the trip maneuver option and reach, and need to be a Corsair.

Polearm and Monk (with spear dancing style) seems to be next. Great at maneuvers and damage, all the damage types, and reach. It is just missing a good ranged option. I don't consider shuriken a good ranged option (not bad though).

Bow (with empty quiver style) seems like it is third. Arrows give damage types, and some are nifty as well, though no maneuver features. With the snapshot feats, you can get reach.

How does that line up with everything?