I just want some confirmation on how the scimitar of speed works as an item.
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. In addition, you can make one attack with it as a bonus action on each of your turns.
Questions:
1) If you use the scimitar to make an attack, can you use it to also attack with it as a bonus action?
2) Do you add your ability modifier to the bonus action attack?
The way I look at that you can do any normal action and also get one attack with it as a bonus action. So you could attack as your bonus action, disengage as your action, and move your normal move without taking any attacks of opportunity every round. That's incredibly powerful!
Its not that powerful. You get a single attack as a bonus action, which is not always good because some classes have things they can actually do as bonus actions. (Healing, Hunter's Mark, etc.) and it is a single attack. Excluding Rogues, you would be giving up 2-3+ attacks in order to only make one. Most likely the Rogue is not going to benefit as they can just disengage as a bonus action. Spellcasters lose the ability to cast spells, but maybe if they are in danger of going down it could be an escape measure. Still probably have spells that would be better for that situation.
This is a great weapon for a bladesinger. It allows you to cast a spell, disengage, or dodge and still make an attack as a bonus action with the blade as well as apply your ability modifier to the attack. The blade doesn't specify the attack action, just allows an attack as a bonus action on your turn regardless of what you do on your turn, this is an excellent item that is overlooked most of the time by players and DMs.
I like to use it as a free War Magic trait but you can cast a spell higher than a cantrip.
Its not that powerful. You get a single attack as a bonus action, which is not always good because some classes have things they can actually do as bonus actions. (Healing, Hunter's Mark, etc.) and it is a single attack. Excluding Rogues, you would be giving up 2-3+ attacks in order to only make one. Most likely the Rogue is not going to benefit as they can just disengage as a bonus action. Spellcasters lose the ability to cast spells, but maybe if they are in danger of going down it could be an escape measure. Still probably have spells that would be better for that situation.
Everything about this weapon sounds great for any melee attacker. I'm not sure why you think a bonus action to attack is not that powerful. So a level 5 Fighter with Duelist and max Str is going to attack 3 times at +10 to hit and do 1d6 + 9 for each. On 3 hits that's a minimum of 30, an average of 37.5 and a max of 45. Ranger/Hunter using Hunter's Mark would attack twice, with each hit doing (let's say STR-based, using a longsword, 2-handed,) 1d10 + 5, and an extra 1d6 to both. Which is a minimum of 14, average of 28, max of 42. I would love this weapon lol
About the only type of melee character I can think that won't benefit significantly from this is the dual wielder, since they already get a bonus action attack.
Seems this would be a great weapon to take the place of using 2 weapons as a rogue. You could add in a shield to bump up your AC and still take 2 attacks. And it would seem you still get to add your damage modifier since it's still an attack with your primary weapon without having to have two weapon fighting. I'll take one !
Seems this would be a great weapon to take the place of using 2 weapons as a rogue. You could add in a shield to bump up your AC and still take 2 attacks. And it would seem you still get to add your damage modifier since it's still an attack with your primary weapon without having to have two weapon fighting. I'll take one !
You don't need to be proficient with a shield to use one.
Hm, seems that's true... what does shield proficiency get you, then?
It's under Armor Proficiency, though it's a bit hidden:
Armor Proficiency. Anyone can put on a suit of armor or strap a shield to an arm. Only those proficient in the armor's use know how to wear it effectively, however. Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of armor. If you wear armor that you lack proficiency with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can't cast spells.
Though it's not specified later on, Shields are mentioned in this paragraph so I'd guess they are the same considering this rule. It's also sensible since there's no distinction between small shields, bucklers, tower shields or whatever type of shields in 5e anymore. While a rogue with a buckler (a, swashbuckler if you will...) makes sense, in 5e proficiency with shields would allow them to use tower shields as well.
So a Rogue with a shield is not a good idea, then. Disadvantage on Stealth, no Sneak Attack unless you get Advantage to cancel out that Disadvantage... eep!
About the only type of melee character I can think that won't benefit significantly from this is the dual wielder, since they already get a bonus action attack.
Even with Two Weapon Fighting Style and Dual Wielder, using this sword is an improvement. It actually beats Dual Wielder in every way I've found: There's probably something useful somewhere that triggers only on "when you engage in two-weapon fighting"; but all the things I see which rely on that, exist only to bring the offhand weapon closer to parity with the primary attacks.
The Scimitar of Speed's Bonus Attack gets all the bonus effects that stack onto my attacks, plus frees a hand so I can still wield a Shield while making extra attacks.
Before my character got locked in for the remainder of our campaign, I took a different Fighting Style \ Feat combo!
I just want some confirmation on how the scimitar of speed works as an item.
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. In addition, you can make one attack with it as a bonus action on each of your turns.
Questions:
1) If you use the scimitar to make an attack, can you use it to also attack with it as a bonus action?
2) Do you add your ability modifier to the bonus action attack?
Any thoughts is appreciated! Thanks.
Yes and Yes ;-)
I believe so
The way I look at that you can do any normal action and also get one attack with it as a bonus action. So you could attack as your bonus action, disengage as your action, and move your normal move without taking any attacks of opportunity every round. That's incredibly powerful!
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Its not that powerful. You get a single attack as a bonus action, which is not always good because some classes have things they can actually do as bonus actions. (Healing, Hunter's Mark, etc.) and it is a single attack. Excluding Rogues, you would be giving up 2-3+ attacks in order to only make one. Most likely the Rogue is not going to benefit as they can just disengage as a bonus action. Spellcasters lose the ability to cast spells, but maybe if they are in danger of going down it could be an escape measure. Still probably have spells that would be better for that situation.
It is powerful for those who has the duelist or protection fighting styles.
This is a great weapon for a bladesinger. It allows you to cast a spell, disengage, or dodge and still make an attack as a bonus action with the blade as well as apply your ability modifier to the attack. The blade doesn't specify the attack action, just allows an attack as a bonus action on your turn regardless of what you do on your turn, this is an excellent item that is overlooked most of the time by players and DMs.
I like to use it as a free War Magic trait but you can cast a spell higher than a cantrip.
So is it possible to cast booming blade as my action and still swing with it as a bonus action?
Yes.
About the only type of melee character I can think that won't benefit significantly from this is the dual wielder, since they already get a bonus action attack.
Seems this would be a great weapon to take the place of using 2 weapons as a rogue. You could add in a shield to bump up your AC and still take 2 attacks. And it would seem you still get to add your damage modifier since it's still an attack with your primary weapon without having to have two weapon fighting. I'll take one !
Rogues aren't proficient in shields, though. =/
You don't need to be proficient with a shield to use one.
Hm, seems that's true... what does shield proficiency get you, then?
It's under Armor Proficiency, though it's a bit hidden:
Armor Proficiency. Anyone can put on a suit of armor or strap a shield to an arm. Only those proficient in the armor's use know how to wear it effectively, however. Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of armor. If you wear armor that you lack proficiency with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can't cast spells.
Though it's not specified later on, Shields are mentioned in this paragraph so I'd guess they are the same considering this rule. It's also sensible since there's no distinction between small shields, bucklers, tower shields or whatever type of shields in 5e anymore. While a rogue with a buckler (a, swashbuckler if you will...) makes sense, in 5e proficiency with shields would allow them to use tower shields as well.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
So a Rogue with a shield is not a good idea, then. Disadvantage on Stealth, no Sneak Attack unless you get Advantage to cancel out that Disadvantage... eep!
well good thing i took some levels in Fighter to get the shield proficiency. Now to get the DM to give me a Scimitar of Speed !
Even with Two Weapon Fighting Style and Dual Wielder, using this sword is an improvement. It actually beats Dual Wielder in every way I've found: There's probably something useful somewhere that triggers only on "when you engage in two-weapon fighting"; but all the things I see which rely on that, exist only to bring the offhand weapon closer to parity with the primary attacks.
The Scimitar of Speed's Bonus Attack gets all the bonus effects that stack onto my attacks, plus frees a hand so I can still wield a Shield while making extra attacks.
Before my character got locked in for the remainder of our campaign, I took a different Fighting Style \ Feat combo!