Most Likely to Power Attack

[Thrawn183]

Alright, so everyone knows that for each source of extra damage a character has, the less benefit there is to their power attacking. Presumably, power attacking would be most useful to a character with a very high attack bonus, but a low strength score, no precision damage or anything else like that.

So what do we need?
- 2 handed weapon, finessable, that can be used with power attack.
- small size (attack bonus but decrease in base weapon damage)
- bonii to attack from something other than strength like weapon finesse, or any other stat that can be applied to the character's attack bonus.
- possibly methods to get melee attacks as touch attacks.

Right now the only thing that I can really think of is a Whirling Frenzy barbarian wielding an elven courtblade. Any suggestions that would fit into a 15th level character with 200k gp of wealth?

[FMArthur]

Shock Trooper or Ronin: Power Attack out of AC.

[Doc Roc]

I... goodness. You do realize that power attack is responsible for a number of damage records? Or was, before the hurler.

[Draz74]

There's another weapon besides the Courtblade that qualifies for two-handed finesse. An infamous one (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/weapons.htm#chainSpiked).

[Runestar]

Frenzied Berserker? :smalltongue:

[Hiro Protagonest]

Frenzied Berserker? :smalltongue:

That or leap attack. 1:3 PA returns. Combine with shock trooper for extreme awesomeness.

[Seerow]

That or leap attack. 1:3 PA returns. Combine with shock trooper for extreme awesomeness.

Combine with Frenzied Berserker for 1:4 PA returns. Combine with Headlong Charge for 1:8, and battle jump for 1:12.

[Hiro Protagonest]

Combine with Frenzied Berserker for 1:4 PA returns. Combine with Headlong Charge for 1:8, and battle jump for 1:12.

Those stack?

[Seerow]

Those stack?

Yeah, but they follow the rule that two doublings is a tripling. So Leap Attack + FB is +100% each, resulting in +200%. Holding a weapon in two hands is another +100%, so you end up with +300%, for 4:1.

Then Battlejump and Headlong charge both increase damage on a charge 100%, so you multiply your end damage on a charge by 200%. Since it applies to the total damage, and not just PA damage (like Leap Attack and Supreme Power Attack), it multiplies your end PA multiplier, getting you up to 4x 3 = 12.

You can get that up to x4 with a Valorous weapon, and maybe up to x6 by making it a Lance while mounted on a spirited charge (but I'm not sure about Headlong Rush/Battle Jump on a mount).

[Elric VIII]

There's another weapon besides the Courtblade that qualifies for two-handed finesse. An infamous one (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/weapons.htm#chainSpiked).

There are also some variations of the Spiked Chain (all finessable) found in oriental adventures.

Kusari-Gama: Reach, less base damage, can deal slashing or bludgeoning damage, can be wielded as a double weapon.

Chain: Spiked Chain but deals bludgeoning damage.

Kawanaga: As Kusari-Gama, less damage but can be used to climb.

[ffone]

Shock Trooper: because you can, in fact, make your AC lower than that of an immobile statue or sparring dummy (from any angle, not just vs the thing you're charging towards).

[Doc Roc]

Yeah, but they follow the rule that two doublings is a tripling. So Leap Attack + FB is +100% each, resulting in +200%. Holding a weapon in two hands is another +100%, so you end up with +300%, for 4:1.

Then Battlejump and Headlong charge both increase damage on a charge 100%, so you multiply your end damage on a charge by 200%. Since it applies to the total damage, and not just PA damage (like Leap Attack and Supreme Power Attack), it multiplies your end PA multiplier, getting you up to 4x 3 = 12.

You can get that up to x4 with a Valorous weapon, and maybe up to x6 by making it a Lance while mounted on a spirited charge (but I'm not sure about Headlong Rush/Battle Jump on a mount).

It can be done, you just need to leap during the charge... so you can have your intelligent mount catch you in a square\space that threatens... It... gets horrible. You did charge, while mounted, because battle jumps are always charges, and you both began and ended the charge while mounted.

[Seerow]

Shock Trooper: because you can, in fact, make your AC lower than that of an immobile statue or sparring dummy (from any angle, not just vs the thing you're charging towards).

And that is so fun to take advantage of. Just laugh when they charge into a straight fighter with Elusive Target, Combat Reflexes, Sidestep Charge, Robilar's Gambit, a reach weapon that can be set against a charge, and a high AC/big str/power attack boost of his own. It's always funny to watch PCs put themselves into a situation where they basically one shot themselves. Even funnier when it happens versus a straight fighter.


Not that I've ever done this to a player before.....

[Hirax]

That's where a 4 level dip into bloodstorm blade comes in handy.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Or +1 smoking armor spikes :smallcool: Or simply making sure you won't suffer a counter full attack.

[Curious]

If you can fit the levels in, combine that with Two-handed fighter archetype for 1-5 returns, leading to 1-15. Madness.

[Seerow]

If you can fit the levels in, combine that with Two-handed fighter archetype for 1-5 returns, leading to 1-15. Madness.

Or 1:30 with the mounted charge shenanigans.


Yeah, +600 damage on a charge from power attack alone, on every attack (cause if you're doing this you have pounce).

Nevermind that you have a x6 damage multiplier for everything else as well (so str mod x 9 damage, weapon damage x 6, +30 damage from enchantment, etc), and god forbid you crit.

[Lyndworm]

Yeah, but they follow the rule that two doublings is a tripling. So Leap Attack + FB is +100% each, resulting in +200%. Holding a weapon in two hands is another +100%, so you end up with +300%, for 4:1.
I could be wrong on this, but isn't that 6:1? Two-handed weapons don't add +100%, they deal x2. x2 +200% is 6:1.

[kardar233]

It can be done, you just need to leap during the charge... so you can have your intelligent mount catch you in a square\space that threatens... It... gets horrible. You did charge, while mounted, because battle jumps are always charges, and you both began and ended the charge while mounted.

Or, as my DM ruled at one point while I was riding a Megaraptor, you can train the animal to make a Pounce attack with a Jump check involved, and that check was what counted for Leap Attack.