Dual Wield Concept Rule

[cynthialee]

Available to only Barbarian and Dwarf Champions with 20+ Quests Completed {This rule has not been play tested.}

An epic warrior may dual wield a second weapon in their off hand for a second attack. This attack may be taken against the same target as the first attack at full dice for the weapon, or the attack may be taken on a secondary target at -1 Attack Dice, minimum of 1 Dice.


Comments: This gives the warriors a heavy advantage in combat on the attack, but it precludes the use of a shield, which in most games is only 1 point, but at my table there are a few artifact shields that may add +2 and 1 awesome shield with a +3. (but that one is only pulled out of the Emperors Armory for End Game quests.) So it isn't a big penalty at a basic game. But then we are in the realm of house rules anyways...
I am also inclined to perhaps go with a -2 Attack, minimum of 1. That would limit the warrior with a pair of long swords striking with a 4 dice attack on the primary strike and a 2 dice attack on the secondary strike.
I also think maybe the second strike can only be taken if the primary strike gets a 'Hit'.


Ideas? Opinions?

[Anderas]

I employ as a character special rule "if you have two blades of the same kind in the hands, add a die to your attack".

I could also imagine to use "This Hero can distribute the attack dice between two adjacent enemies. Decide before rolling."

I find the straight out double attack feature quite strong. As you prepare mostly one quest at a time perfectly fitting to your current Heroes, it won't bother you as it would me, though.

[cynthialee]

I would limit such a skill to very high level games.
Modifications in such games at our game table tend to be all monsters defend on white shields, Bosses defend on all shields, most monsters have multiple Body Points, encounters with heavy hitting monsters is pretty much going to be every room...
So such a rule for high level warriors is just equalizer.

(In such games the Wizard gets the entire deck of Elemental Spells, the Elf gets all of the Elf Spells and numerous artifacts are in play. So the warriors can be a little left behind in some cases.)

[Showdown35]

My house rule for dual wielding is similar to the one stated above:

Full normal attack with dominant hand
Secondary attack with off hand at -1 combat die, restricted to non-heavy, non-ranged, and non-reach weapons (reach being the ability to attack diagonally).

So really, my heroes are limited to dual wielding shortswords, which just gives a bonus attack of 1 combat die. When it gets fun, is later on in the campaign when the heroes have gained enough experience to gain special abilities, one of which allows them to wield any non-ranged weapon in their off hand.

[cynthialee]

Basic Rule idea for a Dual Wield that would be in place until the hero becomes Epic and takes the right training.

Warriors with an off hand weapon may take a 1 Dice Attack with the off hand for a 1 dice penalty on the primary weapon. Regardless of the off hand weapons base damage, the weapon only strikes with 1 dice.
The warrior may target a second opponent with the off hand attack.

[mitchiemasha]

For my HQ preferences, it over complicates it. My dual wield (as discussed in the other thread) simply is the short sword, own 2 get 2 attacks.

[knightkrawler]

For my HQ preferences, it over complicates it. My dual wield (as discussed in the other thread) simply is the short sword, own 2 get 2 attacks.

...and don't get to use the shield in the same round?

[Anderas]

For my HQ preferences, it over complicates it. My dual wield (as discussed in the other thread) simply is the short sword, own 2 get 2 attacks.

...and don't get to use the shield in the same round?

You need to state that only if you don't have a equipped/unequipped status of the equipment. So, in the original rules you would need to state that, yes.

In most of the homebrew versions i've seen, there are certain restrictions like the cost of an action or the idea that you can change only at the beginning of the turn, to avoid any inconsistencies.

[knightkrawler]

Yeah, going with my rules (only one "weapon" equipment or artefact card may be used for an attack)
I'd have to state that a hero able to dual wield "may ignore one 'weapon' icon per attack.
They already state that you may only apply two "hands" over the course of a round, so this would exclude the usage of a shield after you've used dual wield in that round.

"weapon" and "hand" are icons, more specifically one for blunt weapon, one for blade weapon, one for ranged weapon, one for one-handed, and one for two-handed.

[mitchiemasha]

For my HQ preferences, it over complicates it. My dual wield (as discussed in the other thread) simply is the short sword, own 2 get 2 attacks.

...and don't get to use the shield in the same round?

Yeah no shield. My weapons equipment rule is simple... Sacrifice 1 Md6 to change weapon. Same for give and other special abilities for characters, such as sneak for the thief. Drink a potion is still a free action.