Basic Fantasy RPG Forums

Thought I would share my two weapon combat rules I use for any dungeon fantasy RPG, in hopes someone else would find them useful.

Two weapon fighting has always felt clunky to me, and I don't think it's necessary to over complicate it.

I simply allow a +1 to attack when wielding two weapons, indicating your more likely to hit when you have more option, you don't get any additional attacks, and you can freely choose which weapon you hit with.

This streamlines things a bit wear sword and board is +1 AC, florantine is +1 attack, and doublehanded weapons are +1 damage(so to speak)

You will have to modify the bonus depending on the damage great weapons do and how much defense shields allow.

but in BFRPG I'd run it as above.

I thought with two weapon fighting, one was to be used as the offensive weapon, and the other as the defensive. Like a sword and throwing axe, the sword being offensive, the axe defensive. In that way, it would act as a parry weapon, or, could even be seen as a kind of a shield.

I like the idea. Essentially one is more likely to hit something with an extra weapon being brought to bear. I like that it gels with the other ideas (including the increased damage for using two-handed style). Perhaps, in order to appease those who see it differently (such as a rather defensive way to use weapons)... it can work as +1 to hit and as +1 to AC but only against a single melee opponent (the one that is/was attacked that round)... whereas a Shield gives a universal +1 to AC.

So, we have:
Shield Use - +1 AC (all opponents). Perhaps more if other shield types are used (Equipment Guide)

Two Weapon Style - +1 to hit and +1 AC vs one single opponent (the current target)

Two-Handed style - +1 damage rolls (and optionally more if attacker is Large/Giant)

I think the idea works rather harmoniously. One still has to add in all the caveats... smaller weapon in secondary hand, no large weapons. etc.

I like what MedievalMan is using in our game. No penalty to the initial primary hand attack, but if you miss you swing again with the off hand at a -2. Thats a rule for players.

I mean think about it, a creature with 2-3 attacks (claw claw teeth) gets 3 different attacks with no penalty. A PC should have his primary attack penalized for 2 handed fighting if he trained for it.

Hywaywolf wrote:I like what MedievalMan is using in our game. No penalty to the initial primary hand attack, but if you miss you swing again with the off hand at a -2. Thats a rule for players.

I mean think about it, a creature with 2-3 attacks (claw claw teeth) gets 3 different attacks with no penalty. A PC should have his primary attack penalized for 2 handed fighting if he trained for it.

That's nice too. I think I like Ogre's idea for its simplicity... no extra rolls to hit, just increase the odds that somebody is nicked.
But I would suggest the rule state implicitly that damage is rolled by primary weapon (with +1), and that the attack should be considered an 'attack routine' rather than thinking of it as a particular 'swing' of a weapon.

I don't like just adding +1 to the attack because its no different than a magic weapon bonus, strength bonus, etc. There is nothing in that that gives any indication that a PC is using two weapons, like having a penalty on the 2nd swing if you miss, or a penalty on bothe swings if you are going to allow two damages if they both hit.

Hywaywolf wrote:I don't like just adding +1 to the attack because its no different than a magic weapon bonus, strength bonus, etc. There is nothing in that that gives any indication that a PC is using two weapons, like having a penalty on the 2nd swing if you miss, or a penalty on bothe swings if you are going to allow two damages if they both hit.

The mechanic does not address magical weapons... how would one apply +2 Longsword in one hand, and +3 dagger in the other? hmmm

Perhaps your (and Medieval) idea would work better Hywaywolf. Just thinking things through.

you choose which weapon you are hitting with before you roll, so you add any additional bonuses, magic bonus, etc, for the weapon you chose to attack with, this adds the benefit of having a weapon out that disrupts undead, and another that slays orcs, and deciding what to use depending on what you are fighting.

I would say parrying falls under dex bonus, but everyone's different

Its two different approaches. Ogre is using two handed weapons as a weapon and a shield. For me, if thats what you want then just use a shield. And MedievalMan's is trying to attack with both weapons, but if you want to use the off hand in defense you get a +1 to your AC but nothing for your attack and no 2nd attack if you miss.

The two handed-weapon guide that already exists for BFRPG allows two attacks for two weapons, but both attack's get penalties. That is great for higher level fighters when slashing through a horde of lower level monsters. But is next to useless for the early levels.

You could allow players to choose either to take the penalty to both attacks or do half damage with each attack (or any mix between).