Two-weapon fighting clarifications

[Xhosant]

So, I just can't wrap my head around the right attack count for a dual-wielding, TWFing character.

Let's assume a rogue with TWF, a BAB of 3, and 2 daggers in his hands. Assuming I'm reading stuff correctly:

As a standard action, he gets 1 dagger attack

As a full round action, he gets 1 dagger attack, plus 1 off-hand attack for having an extra weapon, plus 1 off-hand attack from TWF, for a total of 3 (1 main hand, two off-hand).

On a sneak attack full-round action, he'd get his sneak attack damage once per attack (3 times if the above is correct).

When he hits 6 BAB, he gets an extra main-hand attack, but not an extra off-hand attack.

Are all of the above correct?

[Urpriest]

As a full round action, he gets 1 dagger attack, plus 1 off-hand attack for having an extra weapon, plus 1 off-hand attack from TWF, for a total of 3 (1 main hand, two off-hand).

Nope! The only sort of "off-hand attack for having an extra weapon" that exists in the game is the one you get from TWF. They're the same thing. You only get two attacks total with BAB +3.

[eggynack]

TWF doesn't grant an extra attack. It just makes the extra attack you already get from your off-hand weapon less craptacular. Thus, you'd get two hits, one with each weapon, and each would get a sneak attack if you qualify. At 6 BAB, you get one extra iterative with your main weapon, which gets you to three attacks, and if you take improved two weapon fighting, you pump that to four attacks.

[Xhosant]

TWF doesn't grant an extra attack.

It actually does, read its bottom. But at the same time, read bellow.


Nope! The only sort of "off-hand attack for having an extra weapon" that exists in the game is the one you get from TWF.

So the main advantage from having a second weapon in hand without TWF is... options. That's underwhelming.

Thanks, however. This simplifies things a lot!

[Urpriest]

So the main advantage from having a second weapon in hand without TWF is... options. That's underwhelming.


No, you're misunderstanding.

Unfortunately, the game has a few redundant terms. In particular, two-weapon fighting is something everyone can do in combat. When making a full attack with two weapons, you get an extra attack with your off-hand weapon, but both weapons take (large) penalties. Two-Weapon Fighting is also the name of a feat. If you have that feat, the penalties from using two-weapon fighting (the thing anyone can do) are lessened.

Does that make sense? You can fight with two weapons normally, and if you have the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, the penalties for doing so are low enough that it's worthwhile.

[EugeneVoid]

Where in the text does it say you get an extra attack?
It says:
Normal
If you wield a second weapon in your off hand, you can get one extra attack per round with that weapon.

Which means that anyone wielding a second weapon in your offhand gets an extra attack with it.

[eggynack]

It actually does, read its bottom. But at the same time, read bellow.



So the main advantage from having a second weapon in hand without TWF is... options. That's underwhelming.

Thanks, however. This simplifies things a lot!
No, my statement was accurate. You can fight with two weapons (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#twoWeaponFighting), and gain a resulting second attack, with or without the feat. TWF (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#twoWeaponFighting) only reduces the penalty associated with doing that. So, your mistake wasn't the extra attack from the off-hand weapon, but rather the extra attack from the feat. Urpriest's comment is also accurate, as the extra attack he cited could be referring to TWF, as in the combat style, rather than the feat. The terminology is rather confusing, but it seemed that you were referring to TWF in terms of the feat, so I used terms consistent with that.

[Karnith]

Or, it's the difference is between two-weapon fighting (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#twoWeaponFighting) and Two-Weapon Fighting (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#twoWeaponFighting). It's totally clear.

[TuggyNE]

Or, it's the difference is between two-weapon fighting (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#twoWeaponFighting) and Two-Weapon Fighting (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#twoWeaponFighting). It's totally clear.

Disambiguation is for plebes and squares, dudes. :smallyuk:

[Xhosant]

Ok, so i misread the "normal" bit for a feat function or somesuch. In any case, that's 1 bonus attack for the second weapon unless you go greater/improved etc. That's good to know!