Hello.
I was trying to make a double weapon user as I've never played one before. Reading up on double weapons I've learned that they interact with different feats and abilities in odd ways.
As a result, I've run into an odd situation and am looking for guidance.
So here is the situation:
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Swashbuckler Finesse (Ex)
At 1st level, a swashbuckler gains the benefits of the Weapon Finesse feat with light or one-handed piercing melee weapons, and she can use her Charisma score in place of Intelligence as a prerequisite for combat feats. This ability counts as having the Weapon Finesse feat for purposes of meeting feat prerequisites.
Spear Dancing Style
Benefit(s): Choose one weapon from the polearm or spear fighter weapon groups. While using this style, you grant the chosen weapon the double special weapon feature, using the weapon's normal statistics for its main-hand end and the statistics of a light mace for its off-hand end.
A weapon wielded in this way loses the brace and reach special weapon features.
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So if I take a shortspear, it qualifies for the swashbuckler finesse (one handed piercing) and it qualifies for the dancing style (in the fighter spear group)
Can I finesse this while using it as a double weapon?
The general argument against allowing finesse with normal double weapons is that the weapon itself is a two handed weapon despite one end being treated as light for TWF purposes.
But in this case, the weapon itself does qualify for the finesse, so would the other end still be finessable using swashbuckler finesse despite being treated as a light mace for purposes of TWF using the same argument?
One a related note, would it qualify for recovering panache for the same reason (base weapon qualifies for recovering panache)?
Thanks in advance for your input!
As a GM I would allow my players to do this since the base weapon hasn't changed. It could be interpreted either way though; let me walk you through my train of thought. if you look at weapons as the way that they are currently being wielded (with you holding it in two hands) then it would not qualify for the "one-handed" prerequisite of the class feature. But! Personally I would say that it is a free action to let go of the spear with one hand; making the weapon "one-handed," and if it is as simple as that (just letting go as a free action) then I wouldn't even care.
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So if I take a shortspear, it qualifies for the swashbuckler finesse (one handed piercing) and it qualifies for the dancing style (in the fighter spear group)
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As a side note, you are better off using the weighted spear called a doru rather than a shortspear. It qualifies for Swashbuckler's Finesse since it is one-handed piercing weapon, and it is in the Spears Fighter Weapon Group (as well as the Thrown group).
Since you will have proficiency with all martial weapons, you can wield it one-handed with the following stats: Damage 1d6 (small), 1d8 (medium); Critical x2; Range 20 ft.; Type P; Special brace. It's equal to or better than a shortspear in every respect. If you decide to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency (doru) then the critical multiplier increases to x3.
You can take 3 levels of Phalanx Soldier to make your spear a one-handed weapon when wielding a buckler.
nice!
will Phalanx Soldier allow a swashbuckler X \ Phalanx Soldier 3
use a polearm with precise strike and slashing grace?a buckler & Glaive build is a nice one.
Spears are now one one-handed weapons, so why wouldn't it be allowed?
Phalanx Fighter allows spears to be treated as one-handed weapons, Shield Brace only allows you to wield a two-handed weapon in one hand, which wouldn't allow the spear to act as a one-handed piercing weapon for swashbuckler features.
Also required would be Upsetting Shield Style to use with a buckler, which is the only shield the Swashbuckler could use.
So if I take a shortspear, it qualifies for the swashbuckler finesse (one handed piercing) and it qualifies for the dancing style (in the fighter spear group)
Can I finesse this while using it as a double weapon?
The general argument against allowing finesse with normal double weapons is that the weapon itself is a two handed weapon despite one end being treated as light for TWF purposes.
But in this case, the weapon itself does qualify for the finesse, so would the other end still be finessable using swashbuckler finesse despite being treated as a light mace for purposes of TWF using the same argument?
One a related note, would it qualify for recovering panache for the same reason (base weapon qualifies for recovering panache)?
Thanks in advance for your input!
Yes, but only the spear mainhand. The offhand is a Bludgeoning weapon so it doesn't fall under swashbuckler finesse which requires piercing.
Spear dancing style doesn't change the handedness of the spear, so it still is a one-handed weapon.
If you had the actual weapon finesse feat, that would cover the light mace in the offhand.
I also would not allow the offhand to recover panache, as it isn't piercing.
I do read "light or one-handed piercing melee weapons" as meaning light piercing melee weapons or one-handed piercing melee weapons, not all light melee weapons or one-handed piercing melee weapons.