Exotic Weapons Master, Uncanny Blow, and Power Attack

[el minster]

While looking at the Exotic Weapons Master (Complete Champion) I noticed that the ability Uncanny Blow alows you to wield your one-handed-exotic weapon in two hands and power attack with it as if it were a two-handed-weapon, but you can already do that. Can anyone clarify?

[Blackhawk748]

It lets you do it with Light Weapons which otherwise can't be Power Attacked

[Rebel7284]

It lets you do it with Light Weapons which otherwise can't be Power Attacked

It does not do this... one handed is not the same as light



Uncanny Blow: When wielding a one-handed exotic melee weapon in two hands, the character can focus the power of his attack so that he deals extra damage equal to his Strength bonus x2 instead of his Strength bonus x1-1/2. If he has the Power Attack feat, he treats the weapon as two-handed for purposes of determining his bonus on damage rolls.

While it is true that the power attack text is redundant since power attack already says:


If you attack with a two-handed weapon, or with a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands, instead add twice the number subtracted from your attack rolls.

The change of damage from 1.5x Str to 2x Str is very relevant for high strength builds.

[bean illus]

The change of damage from 1.5x Str to 2x Str is very relevant for high strength builds.

And TWF builds with the feat that allows larger weapons.
Monkeys Grip and Strongarm Bracers?

[Saintheart]

Uncanny Blow: When wielding a one-handed exotic melee weapon in two hands, the character can focus the power of his attack so that he deals extra damage equal to his Strength bonus x2 instead of his Strength bonus x1-1/2. If he has the Power Attack feat, he treats the weapon as two-handed for purposes of determining his bonus on damage rolls.

Now, what's really going to bake your DM's noodle is that the last line by RAW says that if you have Power Attack, you always treat the weapon as two-handed ... even if you're wielding it in one hand, i.e. always add double your Power Attack damage, and possibly x2 STR as well.

The likely intent of the last sentence was just to clarify that even if it's a one-handed weapon you still pull x2 PA bonus when wielding it with two hands (and when using Power Attack in an attack). The problem was that they muffed it, the line was redundant: one-handed weapons used with Power Attack two-handed always get x2 PA bonus without Uncanny Blow. So the legalists out there might argue that since you can't presume redundant words, the last line of Uncanny Blow is doing something else ... i.e., allowing you to pull 2xPA bonus even if using the weapon in one hand.

And as said, the problem with that last sentence is that it doesn't say "he treats the weapon as two-handed for purposes of determining his Power Attack bonus on damage rolls." By RAW, it's saying you always add 2xSTR even when not using Power Attack, and even when the weapon is being used one-handed. And to be honest, for sword-and-board types who want to use bastard swords, I don't think this is at all gamebreaking or unreasonable given the entry price involves EWP and Power Attack and a class level in Exotic Weapon Master.

[the_tick_rules]

And TWF builds with the feat that allows larger weapons.
Monkeys Grip and Strongarm Bracers?

Those stack?

[bean illus]

Those stack?

Pretty sure.
I read a thread about how monkey grip doesn't stack with powerful build, but does with the bracers.

The off hand still needs to be a light weapon, but now it's a light weapon two sizes bigger, with Power Attack 2X str.

[the_tick_rules]

so then with them both you could wield a weapon 2 sizes bigger at -2 to hit? oh and yes it doesn't stack with powerful build that is in the description of monkey grip. here's something to think about to make it even nastier. oversized two weapon fighting, a feat from complete adventurer, says you can wield any weapon you could hold in your main hand in your off hand as if it was light.

[bean illus]

so then with them both you could wield a weapon 2 sizes bigger at -2 to hit? oh and yes it doesn't stack with powerful build that is in the description of monkey grip. here's something to think about to make it even nastier. oversized two weapon fighting, a feat from complete adventurer, says you can wield any weapon you could hold in your main hand in your off hand as if it was light.

Well Exotic Weapon Master needs 2 feats as reqs, and +6 BAB.

Human Ranger - EWP Bastard Sword *1d10
1. Power Attack
1. Monkey Grip *2d8
2. TWF
3. Oversized TWF
6. Weapon Focus, Imp TWF
7. Exotic Weapon Master - Uncanny Blow

Strongarm Bracers * 3d8, 4 attacks

Seems like a lot of investment. .... I'm tired, good night.

[the_tick_rules]

if you want even more investment tempest from complete adventurer. 5 level prestige class that specializes in two weapon fighting. if you wield a one hand and off-hand light you have no penalties from twf so you would only have the -2 size penalty. you'd also get a +3 untyped AC bonus.

[Rebel7284]

I believe the consensus is that all of these effects that allow you to wield weapons one size category larger than you are don't stack.

Regardless, Exotic Weapons Master is a reasonably good class especially if dragon magazine is allowed and you can thus grab 4x EWP with Exoticist Fighter Dragon Magazine #310. A warblade dip to turn those into floating EWP feats is even better.

[bean illus]

I believe the consensus is that all of these effects that allow you to wield weapons one size category larger than you are don't stack.

Regardless, Exotic Weapons Master is a reasonably good class especially if dragon magazine is allowed and you can thus grab 4x EWP with Exoticist Fighter Dragon Magazine #310. A warblade dip to turn those into floating EWP feats is even better.


Oh, we know! Martials must not be allowed nice things! We are only fantasizing about those horrible dms that would allow a fighter to do damage in melee. lol


if you want even more investment tempest from complete adventurer. 5 level prestige class that specializes in two weapon fighting. if you wield a one hand and off-hand light you have no penalties from twf so you would only have the -2 size penalty. you'd also get a +3 untyped AC bonus.

Tempest needs 3 feats. I don't know of any easy way to get them fast but fighter. Maybe Ordained Champion ...

Human Fighter - EWP Bastard Sword *1d10
1. Power Attack
F1. Monkey Grip *2d8
F2. TWF
3. Oversized TWF
F4. Dodge
F6. Weapon Focus, Imp TWF
7. Exotic Weapon Master - Uncanny Blow
F8. Mobility
9. Spring Attack
10. TEMPEST

Strongarm Bracers * 3d8, 4 attacks

OR ...

Strongheart Exoticist Fighter - EWP Great Scimitar

Bonus feat, TWF
1. Power Attack
F1. Monkey Grip
F2. Oversized TWF
3. Dodge
F4. Mobility
F6. Weapon Focus, Spring Attack
7. Exotic Weapon Master - Uncanny Blow
8. CC- Know, Strength domain, XX
9. O Ch- BF Imp TWF, BF Imp Crit, OPEN
10-14. TEMPEST

You have 1 open feat at level 9, crit on a 15, and Enlarge Person ...
Still, who wants a 14th level martial?