Quote Originally Posted by Hadrian View Post
I didn't say I didn't understand the idea. I just said that comparing +5 weapons is comparing +5 weapons, not weapons too high in level to be +5. Obviously using just +5 weapons skews the results away from what you'd actually see using real weapons, but it was your idea afterall, and you set the limitations. If we're going to make that comparison then we should stick to the limits, or you should revise what you said about +5 weapons being a useful comparison for new players.
I guess we saw the purpose of the +5 weapons comparison differently. I meant it as a reference point, not a hard ceiling, and felt it was useful to look at reasonable DPS growth potential since Shade labelled this a "MAX DPS" build.

Secondly, you have to-hit problems with your offhand if you do that with power attack on. It drastically reduces your to-hit in the off-hand (more than the difference between the OTWF feat that is a big part of the discussion), and you need a well-equipped character to overcome that. This set up actually makes power attack something you'd want to turn off if your target has 30 AC, and the plain pair of +5 dwarven axes (power attack off) take a significant lead at the end of the curve.
My understanding was that offhand attacks suffered only with regard to STR damage, not to-hit. If that is correct, then PA would not affect offhand any more than main hand. Or is there another factor I am overlooking?