Melee suggeston: Anti-glance stance

[Depravity]

A thread about Stealthy Repossession got me thinking about the difficulty of engaging a single target while using a two handed weapon. I think it would be a nice tweak to have the option of using a stance (that would come free at +1BAB) that would remove glancing blows when using THF.
Your average barbarian might not want to ever use this, but anybody working in group with an arcane or bard throwing fascinates and hypnotisms around would be able to single out targets without inadvertently splashing wakeup damage all over the place.

[systemstate]

A thread about Stealthy Repossession got me thinking about the difficulty of engaging a single target while using a two handed weapon. I think it would be a nice tweak to have the option of using a stance (that would come free at +1BAB) that would remove glancing blows when using THF.
Your average barbarian might not want to ever use this, but anybody working in group with an arcane or bard throwing fascinates and hypnotisms around would be able to single out targets without inadvertently splashing wakeup damage all over the place.

The occasions are fairly uncommon for me, but yes- I see where this could be useful. Let Sleeping Dust Lie, anyone? Hitting the single ogre amidst a swarm of spiders as a THF barb is challenging to say the least.

[Elmaster_Thay]

You don't get glancing blows while moving. If you want to precisely strike a single target you just need to run around like crazy waving your two handed weapon.
I love how that makes sense...

[Khanyth]

The occasions are fairly uncommon for me, but yes- I see where this could be useful. Let Sleeping Dust Lie, anyone? Hitting the single ogre amidst a swarm of spiders as a THF barb is challenging to say the least.

As a THF Barb, I've never had a problem with Sleeping Dust.

Just turn on auto attack and get out a throwing weapon, and range the ogres.

It does help to let your party know you're doing this though.

[MrLarone]

why not just change to a one hander?

it seems perfectly reasonable that a weapon that gets a str bonus to mimic it's (IRL) increased leverage would suffer penalties for using said weapon in a confined space...

[sirgog]

/signed.

Primarily for epic VON6. If the mobs aren't fascinated in sensible places (and this happens all the time), turning off the glancing blows would be a godsend.

[DANTEIL]

I would definitely use this while fascinating mobs on my THF bard. As it is, I have to be careful how I approach each mob to avoid glancing blows, which isn't my usual THF style

But yes, sometimes I change weapons instead.

[Talltale-Storyteller]

Honestly this change would be unnecessary. Just use "twitch" THF techniques and you will not proc glancing blows, AND you'll attack faster! Basically you use movement to interrupt your attack chain which prevents you from getting to the attacks that proc glancing blows. You will get a -4 to hit while moving, but will only attack one enemy and increase your attack speed.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

Forgive me. but part of my love for D&D is having to adapt tactics to face different challenges.

And having to change weapons is part of the fun of the game.
(not talking about mixing slimes and zombies here.)

I dont want to see the game (d)evolve into solving every problem with your epic Sword of Shadows.

[sirgog]

Honestly this change would be unnecessary. Just use "twitch" THF techniques and you will not proc glancing blows, AND you'll attack faster! Basically you use movement to interrupt your attack chain which prevents you from getting to the attacks that proc glancing blows. You will get a -4 to hit while moving, but will only attack one enemy and increase your attack speed.

-4 to-hit is a very bad thing against epic Djinni with an AC in the low 60s (maybe it's just high 50s).

[Ybbald]

-4 to-hit is a very bad thing against epic Djinni with an AC in the low 60s (maybe it's just high 50s).

turn off PA

[Zachski]

Actually, I could see a sensible stance being made from this.

"Focused Strikes"
Requirements: THF
Effect: You concentrate your weapon on a single target. Your glancing blows no longer hit enemies in a wide area, but gain an additional proc chance against the enemy you are fighting. (Meaning you could strike a single enemy twice with glancing strikes)

Stacks with Power Attack, obviously, or else it'd be useless.