Fairly new to D&D 5e (only a couple of games played, but played 2nd, 3rd, and 3.5 though for many years).
Looking through the core books, and I come up on 2H Weapons. I am kinda surprised to see that there is no longer the 1.5 x Str Mod to damage for them!
Is this real?!?
It seems like having a shield and a battle ax far outweighs the couple of extra points of (average) damage now. Especially when you get to using magical shields. Seems like the risk vs. reward is not really there anymore.
A Fighter who uses a longsword and shield does 1d8 (avg. 4.5) slashing damage.
A Fighter who uses a greatsword does 2d6 (avg. 7) slashing damage.
The average damage of a longsword multiplied by 1.5 = 6.75... seems like under the new and improved 5e rules it is way better, no?
Under 3 and 3.5, you added 1.5xStrMod to the weapon damage for two handed weapons. Not 1.5x the weapon damage. So if you had a 17 Str, instead of +3 damage from strength, you got +4. 18 Str got +6 instead of +4, etc. It was the trade off for not being able to use shields. Larger die, larger strength bonus to damage. Seems odd to get the same modifier from strength to a 1H weapon as you would a 2H weapon.
Two-handed weapons are fine as is. As soon as you get features that increase how often you attack, two-handed weapons pull ahead significantly. Having a shield is also inconvenient if you need to cast spells or grapple.
Getting rid of the multiplier keeps things simple.
As others have said, it's mostly fine as is. Also keep in mind that most characters that specialize in two-handed weapons take the Great Weapon Master feat, which significantly adds to your damage.
As others have said, it's mostly fine as is. Also keep in mind that most characters that specialize in two-handed weapons take the Great Weapon Master feat, which significantly adds to your damage.
Yep. +10 damage per hit if you use a two handed weapon and take this feat really adds up. Go barbarian, reckless attack,add in a level of fighter with great weapon fighting that lets you reroll 1s and 2s on those d6s for a great sword...watch the damage roll in.
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Fairly new to D&D 5e (only a couple of games played, but played 2nd, 3rd, and 3.5 though for many years).
Looking through the core books, and I come up on 2H Weapons. I am kinda surprised to see that there is no longer the 1.5 x Str Mod to damage for them!
Is this real?!?
It seems like having a shield and a battle ax far outweighs the couple of extra points of (average) damage now. Especially when you get to using magical shields. Seems like the risk vs. reward is not really there anymore.
Am I off base here?
A Fighter who uses a longsword and shield does 1d8 (avg. 4.5) slashing damage.
A Fighter who uses a greatsword does 2d6 (avg. 7) slashing damage.
The average damage of a longsword multiplied by 1.5 = 6.75... seems like under the new and improved 5e rules it is way better, no?
Under 3 and 3.5, you added 1.5xStrMod to the weapon damage for two handed weapons. Not 1.5x the weapon damage. So if you had a 17 Str, instead of +3 damage from strength, you got +4. 18 Str got +6 instead of +4, etc. It was the trade off for not being able to use shields. Larger die, larger strength bonus to damage. Seems odd to get the same modifier from strength to a 1H weapon as you would a 2H weapon.
Two-handed weapons are fine as is. As soon as you get features that increase how often you attack, two-handed weapons pull ahead significantly. Having a shield is also inconvenient if you need to cast spells or grapple.
Getting rid of the multiplier keeps things simple.
As others have said, it's mostly fine as is. Also keep in mind that most characters that specialize in two-handed weapons take the Great Weapon Master feat, which significantly adds to your damage.
Yep. +10 damage per hit if you use a two handed weapon and take this feat really adds up. Go barbarian, reckless attack,add in a level of fighter with great weapon fighting that lets you reroll 1s and 2s on those d6s for a great sword...watch the damage roll in.