Difference between revisions of "Attacks with Two Weapons"

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[[File:Attacks with Two Weapons b.jpg|right|560px|thumb]]
 
[[File:Attacks with Two Weapons b.jpg|right|560px|thumb]]
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'''[[Attacking in Combat|Attacking]] with two [[Weapons List|weapons]]''' is an available [[Combat|combat]] strategy for characters with a [[Dexterity (ability stat)|dexterity]] greater than 12.  The combatant must be able to use both weapons one handedly; the secondary weapon may not weigh more than 3½ lbs. The penalty that is incurred by using two weapons is indicated on the chart shown.  Each attack will expend 2 [[Action Points|action points]] (AP) as usual, so the combatant who wishes to use two weapons in this manner should be lightly [[Encumbrance|encumbered]].
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'''Attacking with two weapons''' is an option for characters with a [[Dexterity (ability stat)|dexterity]] exceeding 12.  Both [[Weapons List|weapons]] must be light enough to wield with one hand, with the off-hand weapon not exceeding 3½ lbs. in weight.  [[Attacking in Combat|Attacks]] made with the weapons each require 2 [[Action Points|action points]] (AP) — so that striking twice in one [[Combat Round|round]] requires a total of 4 AP.
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Naturally this means that combatants wishing to "dual-wield" must be lightly [[Encumbrance|encumbered]].  One option is to use the [[Pummelling|fist]] as a secondary weapon, as striking with the fist requires only 1 AP.  Better still, the fist need not be drawn or sheathed, so that it can be used spontaneously one round and then not the next.  The drawback is that a character with little [[Strength (ability stat)|strength]] is unlikely to cause much [[Damage (hit points)|damage]] with it.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin-right: 25px; text-align: center; background-color:#d4f2f2;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin-right: 25px; text-align: center; background-color:#d4f2f2;"
 
|-
 
|-
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! rowspan="2"|Dexterity !! colspan="2"|Penalty to Weapon
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! rowspan="2"; style="width: 60px|Dexterity !! colspan="2"|Penalty to Weapon
 
|-
 
|-
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!Primary !! Secondary
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! style="width: 60px|Primary !! style="width: 60px|Secondary
 
|-
 
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| 12 or less || colspan="2"|ineligible
 
| 12 or less || colspan="2"|ineligible
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| 19 || 0 || -1
 
| 19 || 0 || -1
 
|}
 
|}
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__TOC__
 
  
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A [[Pummelling|fist]] can be used as a secondary weapon; the benefit of this is that it does not need to be drawn or sheathed, meaning that it can be used spontaneously one round and then not another.  The drawback is that a character with little strength is unlikely to cause much damage with it.
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== Penalties ==
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When describing the two weapons, the "primary" weapon is the heavier, main weapon of the character, while the off-hand weapon is called the "secondary."  With most combatants, both weapons are assigned certain penalties.
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As the table shown indicates, the penalties against characters with a less than 16 dexterity greatly reduces the practicality of this approach.  However, with characters who obtain a [[THAC0]] of 16 or better, the penalties when fighting a number of lesser enemies become immaterial compared to the potential of damage done and [[Death|kills]] made.
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Characters with a 17 or 18 dexterity should consider the practicality of two weapons from the start, however.  With little or no penalty accruing to the main weapon, the secondary attack is far more beneficial than no attack at all.  Additionally, there are numerous benefits from the [[Puissance (sage study)|study of puissance]] that contribute to this attack strategy.
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== Benefits from Multiple Attacks ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 25px; text-align: center; background-color:#d4f2f2;"
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|-
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! rowspan=2; style="width: 60px|# Attacks/ Round !! colspan=4|Order of attack routine
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|-
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! style="width: 130px|1st round !! style="width: 130px|2nd round !! style="width: 130px|3rd round !! style="width: 130px|4th round
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|-
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| 5/4 || primary/secondary || primary/secondary || primary/2x secondary || 2x primary/secondary
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|-
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| 4/3 || primary/secondary || primary/2x secondary || 2x primary/secondary ||
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|-
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| 3/2 || primary/2x secondary || 2x primary/secondary || colspan=2|
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|-
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| 5/3 || primary/2x secondary || 2x primary/secondary || 2x primary/2x secondary ||
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|}
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Characters who receive [[Multiple Attacks|multiple attacks]] per round due to their [[Experience Level|experience]] can benefit considerably from attacks with two weapons.  As fighter-types increase from one normal attack per round, extra attacks are received for both primary and secondary weapons.  The order of benefit is given on the table shown.
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The character must keep track of which point in the routine comes the next attack.  So long as an attack was made in the preceding round, the next combination is applied, regardless of how many attacks were previously made.
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: '''For example''', Thomas is dual-wielding with three attacks every two rounds.  In the 2nd round, he succeeded in killing his only opponent with the sword hit, and didn't need to use his secondary weapon twice; instead, he moved across the field of combat and engaged a new enemy.  Now in the 3rd round, he's still entitled to his double primary weapon attack and his secondary attack.
  
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== Coupled with Multiple Attacks ==
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: Contrariwise, in the battle, if he hadn't made his 2nd round routine attack at all, he'd still receive that 2nd round with his next attack, wherever that might happen.
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If the character has sufficient [[Experience Level|levels]] or skill to have [[Multiple Attacks|multiple attacks]] per [[Combat Round|round]], that will not only adjust the AP spent to only 1 point per weapon, but it also counteract the penalty for use.  For example, Petra has a 16 dexterity and normally attacks with two weapons, accepting the penalty.  However, upon becoming a 4th level fighter, she increases the number of attacks she makes to five every four rounds.  For three rounds, she still attacks as she did at 3rd level; on the fourth round, however she gets ''two'' attacks; these are both made with 1 AP each and neither has any penalty at all.  Additionally, if she wishes, she may choose to attack twice with her primary weapon, with the same AP cost, as this is what she'd be able to do if she were only attacking with one weapon and had the benefit of multiple attacks (if only for one round out of every four).
 
  
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Petra could not, however, option to continue accepting her usual penalties in order to gain ''four attacks'' from using two weapons.  The choice of taking advantage of this style of fighting does not award her more than two attacks.  The benefit of multiple attacks is that her two normally penalized attacks become stronger.  
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As with all multiple attacks, whenever a given weapon attack is done twice, those attacks require 1 action point to resolve.  In the example above, if Thomas were to attack in the second round with his primary weapon and only one secondary weapon, this would cost 2 AP for the primary attack and 1 AP for the secondary.
  
  
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See Also,<br>
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See also,<br>
 
[[Attacking in Combat]]<br>
 
[[Attacking in Combat]]<br>
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[[Grazioso (spell)|Grazioso]]
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[[Grazioso (spell)|Grazioso]]<br>
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[[Haste (spell)]]
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[[Category: Reviewed]]

Latest revision as of 21:03, 29 October 2023

Attacks with Two Weapons b.jpg

Attacking with two weapons is an option for characters with a dexterity exceeding 12. Both weapons must be light enough to wield with one hand, with the off-hand weapon not exceeding 3½ lbs. in weight. Attacks made with the weapons each require 2 action points (AP) — so that striking twice in one round requires a total of 4 AP.

Naturally this means that combatants wishing to "dual-wield" must be lightly encumbered. One option is to use the fist as a secondary weapon, as striking with the fist requires only 1 AP. Better still, the fist need not be drawn or sheathed, so that it can be used spontaneously one round and then not the next. The drawback is that a character with little strength is unlikely to cause much damage with it.

Dexterity Penalty to Weapon
Primary Secondary
12 or less ineligible
13-15 -2 -4
16 -1 -3
17 -1 -2
18 0 -2
19 0 -1

Penalties

When describing the two weapons, the "primary" weapon is the heavier, main weapon of the character, while the off-hand weapon is called the "secondary." With most combatants, both weapons are assigned certain penalties.

As the table shown indicates, the penalties against characters with a less than 16 dexterity greatly reduces the practicality of this approach. However, with characters who obtain a THAC0 of 16 or better, the penalties when fighting a number of lesser enemies become immaterial compared to the potential of damage done and kills made.

Characters with a 17 or 18 dexterity should consider the practicality of two weapons from the start, however. With little or no penalty accruing to the main weapon, the secondary attack is far more beneficial than no attack at all. Additionally, there are numerous benefits from the study of puissance that contribute to this attack strategy.

Benefits from Multiple Attacks

# Attacks/ Round Order of attack routine
1st round 2nd round 3rd round 4th round
5/4 primary/secondary primary/secondary primary/2x secondary 2x primary/secondary
4/3 primary/secondary primary/2x secondary 2x primary/secondary
3/2 primary/2x secondary 2x primary/secondary
5/3 primary/2x secondary 2x primary/secondary 2x primary/2x secondary

Characters who receive multiple attacks per round due to their experience can benefit considerably from attacks with two weapons. As fighter-types increase from one normal attack per round, extra attacks are received for both primary and secondary weapons. The order of benefit is given on the table shown.

The character must keep track of which point in the routine comes the next attack. So long as an attack was made in the preceding round, the next combination is applied, regardless of how many attacks were previously made.

For example, Thomas is dual-wielding with three attacks every two rounds. In the 2nd round, he succeeded in killing his only opponent with the sword hit, and didn't need to use his secondary weapon twice; instead, he moved across the field of combat and engaged a new enemy. Now in the 3rd round, he's still entitled to his double primary weapon attack and his secondary attack.
Contrariwise, in the battle, if he hadn't made his 2nd round routine attack at all, he'd still receive that 2nd round with his next attack, wherever that might happen.

As with all multiple attacks, whenever a given weapon attack is done twice, those attacks require 1 action point to resolve. In the example above, if Thomas were to attack in the second round with his primary weapon and only one secondary weapon, this would cost 2 AP for the primary attack and 1 AP for the secondary.


See also,
Attacking in Combat
Grazioso
Haste (spell)

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