D&D 3E/3.5 Ambidexterity [3.5]

[EricNoah]

Now, reality aside, lets talk game mechanics.

Sliding over to the Rules forum...

 

[CCamfield]

Weapon enchantments aside, I think analysis has shown that two-weapon fighting is not any better than, say, fighting with a two-handed weapon. So I don't think it's overpowered for a single TWF feat in 3.5 to reduce the penalties when wielding two weapons, the off-hand weapon being light, to -2/-2.

I think it'd be good if the penalties without a feat were a bit weaker, but then again I also think the penalty for wielding an improvised weapon is too high as well.

 

[Stalker0]

One thing I'm curious about, ambi now also removes the -4 penalty for trying a skill in your offhand. Combat aside, will the new TWF do that as well?

Personally I would rather have had ambi stay and TWF go.

 

[Ranger REG]

Never heard about using Ambi to perform a skill in your off hand. Cite your source.

Although personally, you should.

 

[Zhure]

Never heard about using Ambi to perform a skill in your off hand. Cite your source.

Although personally, you should.

PHB. page 80,
"AMBIDEXTERITY [General]
You are equally adept at using either hand.
Prerequisite: Dex 15+.
Benefit: You ignore all penalties for using an off hand. You are
neither left-handed nor right-handed.
Normal: Without this feat, a character who uses his or her off
hand suffers a –4 penalty to attack rolls, ability checks, and skill
checks. For example, a right-handed character wielding a weapon
with her left hand suffers a –4 penalty to attack rolls with that
weapon.
Special: This feat helps offset the penalty for fighting with two
weapons. See the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, page 86, and Table 8–
2: Two-Weapon Fighting Penalties, page 125.
A ranger wearing light armor or no armor can fight with two
weapons as if he had the feats Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon
Fighting."

 

[Hypersmurf]

Normal: Without this feat, a character who uses his or her off
hand suffers a –4 penalty to attack rolls, ability checks, and skill
checks. For example, a right-handed character wielding a weapon
with her left hand suffers a –4 penalty to attack rolls with that
weapon.

You know, I could have sworn I quoted that exact passage at Ranger REG over on the WotC boards two days ago.

... yup, there it is. He even commented on it.

Never heard about using Ambi to perform a skill in your off hand.

I beg to differ.

-Hyp.

 

[Ranger REG]

I always visit EN World messageboard before Wizards'.

I must have glossed over that portion of the description. My group and I hardly enforce the handedness rule.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Yeah, I'm on board with that. Go ahead and ditch the notion of an "off-hand" altogether.

I disagree.

Of course, the DM must not let people get away with switching their main hand every other round.

Furthermore, ambidexterity should give a +2 bonus to Sleight of Hand (was Pickpocket).

Why?