questions about "weapon finesse"

[newander]

is this feat supposed to "exchange" your strength to dexterity in combat?

I mean if you have 18 in dexterity and the feat weapon finesse, would that be the same as haveing 18 in strength?

When I played a human fighter with high dexterity and weapon finesse, he dealt out maybe 2 or 4 damage in combat at level 3, while the cleric Linu often dealt out 14 damage.

so why would you wanna use your dexterity bonus instead of strength if you are a fighter?

is this feat only meant for classes that naturally "should" have high dexterity such as rogues or rangers?

can someone enlighten me?

[Kakero]

I forgot what weapon finesse does but you should put points at strength instead to do more damage.

[Zateel]

Weapon Finesse allows you to use your Dex modifier instead of Strength modifier *IF* it is higher, but only for attack rolls.

Ex. If you have 14 STR and 20 DEX without Weapon Finesse
to Hit is +2, Damage is +2

If you have Weapon Finesse:
to hit +5, damage +2

Also, you can't use this feat while weilding anything other than light weapons (listed on page 98 of the manual) or unarmed attacks.

This is great for say, a Wizard/Rogue, but not a Barbarian. I tried it with my first character and didn't like it a bit.

[Morgeruat]

Linu also has power attack that she uses religiously, to add the extra 5 damage.

[oldbittercraig]

the feat is great for dex based characters... if you want a 'style' fighter rather, a Drizz't, rather than a straight basher.

I AM surprised scimitars don't qualify for finesse- size and weight wise they are extremely similar in function, relying on precision rather than sheer brute force, to be effective.

Given the Druid's limited weapon choice, I opted for scimitar specialization with my decent Dex, average Str druid pc before I realized I couldn't get finesse.

A bit disappointing.

[theifprowess]

yes that feat is a joke for fighter type classes. i had a guy online that was playing . he lvled up and asked what it did. i was like dude you read what it did right? if your dexterity is higher than your strength then you know the rest blah blah blah.he quit shortly there after since he didnt save the game. guessing he wanted to relevel his paladin

Originally posted by oldbittercraig: the feat is great for dex based characters... if you want a 'style' fighter rather, a Drizz't, rather than a straight basher. I AM surprised scimitars don't qualify for finesse- size and weight wise they are extremely similar in function, relying on precision rather than sheer brute force, to be effective. Given the Druid's limited weapon choice, I opted for scimitar specialization with my decent Dex, average Str druid pc before I realized I couldn't get finesse. A bit disappointing.

Scimitars are not light weapons. They have reletivly thin blades but they are wide and are not really finesse weapons but rather just plain slashing weapons. The Rapier, Foil, Epee and their varients are more the finesse weapons. Drizzt's use of scimitars is.....unique. (and down right near impossible by original D&D rules)

[oldbittercraig]

scimitars weigh 4 pounds to a rapiers 3... not that much of a difference... it's a judgement call. I got a pretty "by the books" dm to grant me finesse with the scimitars in a D3 adventure.

Drizz't is also a book character rather than a real pc, too. Or if he is a PC (the books based on a played adventure, perhaps), they had a really liberal DM.

[The Hunter of Jahanna]

Drizz't is also a book character rather than a real pc, too. Or if he is a PC (the books based on a played adventure, perhaps), they had a really liberal DM.

No doubt , Craig!! Drizzt has at least 4 illegal by PnP rules abilities. Most of the Drizzt books were written before 3rd Ed. and by 2nd Ed. rules these things just dont fly.....

#1 dual classing !!! Since when could an Elf dual from a straight fighter to a ranger?? According to 2nd Ed. rules Elves cant dual class at all !!!

#2 Drizzt can Backstab!! Since when could fighters backstab??

#3 According to the hall of heros book Drizzt can also cause instant death on a roll of 20. They justify it by saying that its because of his extreme specialization with scimitars. A. to my knowedge you could only specialize with a weapon ONCE!! B. Also to my knowedge the only way to kill something according to the rules is to deplete all its Hit Points. I have yet to see a scimitar do enough damage to cause instant death to anything with more than 4 hit dice.

#4 according to the books Drizzt doesnt lose any of his drow powers. According to the rules , after 6 months away from the underdark all drow special abilities are gone FOREVER !!

Also IMHO Drizzt isnt all that great. I killed him in BG1 and 2

[theifprowess]

WWWWOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

did you guys know dragons dont really shoot fire.
did you also know they didnt exist....
in a fictional story creators create such specific heroes like drizzt
as a legendary figure. you my freinds arent as legendary as drizzt is.
maybe your char just cant specialize like he can. how do items give the char darkvision and what not? maybe one of drizzt's items he has on makes it so he retains his drow powers.

hell in the game you can make your char heavy set or medium build. either way they still carry the same amount of stuff if they have the same strength.

maybe they set up the game in such a way that they wanted it to play like that. and yes in a REAL life situation regardless of amount of "damage" you take a scimitar would easily kill any body. and in real life any long blade can be vorpal style. and kill with one hit.
how is it dragons and other high lvl bosses are immune to vorpal attacks?