1h vs 2h Weapon Focus Groups.

[definatelynothealbold]

So, this is just my personal feedback in regards to the weapon groups.

The Two-handed Weapon Focus group gives you access to a rather large variety of weapons. Which include Both Bludgeoning and Slashing damage, which lets you swap weapons as you venture without feeling like you're giving up feat benefits.

But for One handed weapons, you have to choose between either getting Slashing or Concussion weapons. Which means if your trying to either Dual Wield or Use a shield, you basically have to commit to one damage type, unlike Two-handed weapons.

I'm just not sure why there's a distinction for one handed weapons, but there is not a distinction for Two-handed weapons. Especially with Large Races, and Monkey's grip being in play now that means you can get all the benefits of a two-handed weapon with the benefits of a shield as well.

Mind you the entire system is better than the base game where you only got to focus on one specific weapon. That's not to dig at that, it's certainly a better system than the Vanilla game, I just don't quite understand why there is this split for One-handed weapons against the combined state of Two-handed weapons.

[AstralUniverse]

So there might be reasons I'm not aware of, but as far as I understand it, 2handed fighting is at a significant disadvantage from the headstart simply due to the fact the higher AC from having a shield is superior to the 2handed extra damage in most scenarios. We tried giving 2handed +2 ab but it was a bit too much so we're down to +1 ab and it feels like not quite enough on it's own. So we also gave 2handed weapons some better synergies within the weapon focus category (2handed focus allows you to also use 1handed weapons with exotic prof, such as Bastardsword), as well as split the 1handed weapons to 2 categories in order to make 2handed a bit more appealing in comparison. There are some 2handed weapons within 1handed concussion, but there arent any 2handed weapons within 1handed edge because that one has rapiers/scimitars. There was long trial and error and changes to what weapon goes to which group, or order to make as many weapon types as possible appealing to use, even tho they are clearly not all the same power. It's kind of power vs convenience and versatility, is how I see it. Also, using a large weapon + shield with monkey grip has a -2 ab penalty so that one also comes at significant cost.

[Svrtr]

So there might be reasons I'm not aware of, but as far as I understand it, 2handed fighting is at a significant disadvantage from the headstart simply due to the fact the higher AC from having a shield is superior to the 2handed extra damage in most scenarios. We tried giving 2handed +2 ab but it was a bit too much so we're down to +1 ab and it feels like not quite enough on it's own. So we also gave 2handed weapons some better synergies within the weapon focus category (2handed focus allows you to also use 1handed weapons with exotic prof, such as Bastardsword), as well as split the 1handed weapons to 2 categories in order to make 2handed a bit more appealing in comparison. There are some 2handed weapons within 1handed concussion, but there arent any 2handed weapons within 1handed edge because that one has rapiers/scimitars. There was long trial and error and changes to what weapon goes to which group, or order to make as many weapon types as possible appealing to use, even tho they are clearly not all the same power. It's kind of power vs convenience and versatility, is how I see it. Also, using a large weapon + shield with monkey grip has a -2 ab penalty so that one also comes at significant cost.

Just to add onto this, 1h edged also covers scimitar and rapier, the only 18-20 x2 weapons that don't require exotic, where as 2h has to also spend a feat on exotic to use the falchion or two bladed sword and likewise can't use any of the 18-20 weapons in one hand without either

A) Losing the AB from WF/EWF
B) Going for monkey grip, aka another feat tax and losing -2 AB

[Shadowy Reality]

But there is a distinction between 2h weapons. Some of them fall under Polearm, which is super strange. Polearm itself is strange as it's the one focus that has both 1h and 2h weapons in one focus.

Say I pick 2h, I can use a greataxe, but I cannot use a halberd for some reason? Mechanically the weapons are pretty much the same so it just feels needlessly restrictive.

This also benefits small races, as with 1h focus they also have access to both 1h and 2h weapons.