D&D 5E HOUSE-RULE: Options for Two-Weapon Fighting

[ezo]

Generally, I feel for most martials the lack of a shield is a heavy price already, given how hard increasing AC is generally. As such, I've never been a big fan of Two-Weapon Fighting requiring the Bonus action, so I have a couple options and would appreciate comments or feedback on them.

 

[Corinnguard]

I picked the 'You get to make an attack with the second weapon as part of the action' option for Two-Weapon Fighting. I came across this form of TWF while admiring Laser Llama's work on GM Binder. I like it because it fixes one of the problems that comes up with TWF, using the bonus action for your offhand weapon or using it for something else that also requires the bonus action. LL's version allows for the latter option.

 

[DEFCON 1]

The 5E24 game now includes the "make an attack with the second weapon as part of the action" rule via the 'Nick' option of the Weapon Mastery system, so those classes with Weapon Mastery can already do this with certain weapons (dagger, light hammer, sickle, and scimitar).

If you wished to open this up to all classes and more weapons... you'd first probably want to change out the Weapon Mastery of those four weapons to give them something else instead (now that Nick would be a universal rule). On top of that, if it were me, I'd probably rule that because 3 of the 4 weapons are 1d4 damage Simple weapons (with only the scimitar being a 1d6 damage Martial weapon)... I'd allow only weapons that do 1d4 damage be the ones that could be used in the off-hand as part of the Attack action for all classes that don't also have Weapon Mastery.

For classes that have Weapon Mastery... they would be the ones that I would allow to use a 1d6 damage weapon in the off-hand as part of the Attack action, since they would be the ones who would normally get to use the Nick property of the scimitar.

 

[aco175]

Mostly keep it as is since they now have rules for making it part of the regular action with Nick property and such. I would be on board with allowing it as part of the normal attack with disadvantage for both attacks. It is easy enough to get advantage so half the time you would still have your cake and eat it too.

 

[Xeviat]

Here's what I have done for years, and rogues getting access to Vex proved it was balanced to me (updated for 2024):

Basic fighting with two weapons: when you make an attack with a light weapon in your main hand, you may make a second attack with a different light weapon with your off-hand. The second attack does not add your ability modifier to damage, unless it is negative. If you have extra attack, you may make an off-hand attack for each main hand attack.

(2d6+Str greatsword balances with 1d6+mod+1d6 for two shortswords. The ability to use two magic weapons and stack bonus damage is the same as stacking a belt of giant strength and a magic two-hander, so I'm not concerned about magic weapons disrupting it.)

Two-Weapon Fighting (Style): You can fight with two weapons as long as both weapons are not two-handed or heavy, they do not have to be light.

(1d6+mod+1d6 upgraded to 1d8+mod+1d8 is +2 damage, and is balanced with Duelist. This has the added benefit of making TWFing Warriors stand out from Rogues and everyone else, because Warriors can use one-handed weapons.)

Nick (Mastery): You can fight with two weapons with a Nick weapon in your off-hand, even if your main hand weapon is not light. (Scimitar loses Nick and gains cleave, but also loses light and goes to 1d8 damage; scimitars aren't small).

(This allows for Rapier+Dagger)

Dual Wielder
General Feat (Prerequisite: Level 4+, Strength or Dexterity 13+)

You gain the following benefits.

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Ambidexterity. When you take the Attack action on your turn and fight with two weapons, you may add your attacking ability modifier to your off-hand weapon damage (usually Str, or Dex if using a finesse weapon).

Quick Draw. You can draw or stow two weapons that lack the Two-Handed property when you would normally be able to draw or stow only one.

(Great Weapon Master let's you add your proficiency bonus to damage with heavy weapons, +2 - +6. This allows you to add your ability modifier to your off-hand damage, likely +3 - +5, but can be pushed to +7 with belt of giant strength or other ability scores boosters. I consider that fair; plus it doesn't give a bonus action attack.)

I still might adjust Dual Wielder, and change the name to Two-Weapon Master. The damage matches up with great weapon master, but I think it should have a defensive component, like being able to forgo offhand attacks for an AC boost, or just a constant +1 AC boost, or getting one free opportunity attack per round since you have two weapons to threaten with.)

 

[Stormonu]

I keep the basic rules as is. Bonus actions can be used for certain (custom) spells that affect weapon damage, so keeping basic 2-weapon fighting using a bonus actions keeps them from being stacked normally. Certain (custom) subclasses and feats can change it from a bonus action to just being part of the action if you want to dedicate yourself to that style of fighting, keeping a sort of opportunity cost for using this style (or devoting yourself to any other sort of style, really).

 

[ezo]

Mostly keep it as is since they now have rules for making it part of the regular action with Nick property and such. I would be on board with allowing it as part of the normal attack with disadvantage for both attacks. It is easy enough to get advantage so half the time you would still have your cake and eat it too.

The 5E24 game now includes the "make an attack with the second weapon as part of the action" rule via the 'Nick' option of the Weapon Mastery system, so those classes with Weapon Mastery can already do this with certain weapons (dagger, light hammer, sickle, and scimitar).

2014... not 2024 tag.

Basic fighting with two weapons: when you make an attack with a light weapon in your main hand, you may make a second attack with a different light weapon with your off-hand. The second attack does not add your ability modifier to damage, unless it is negative. If you have extra attack, you may make an off-hand attack for each main hand attack.

So, no Bonus action required. Got it.

 

[Mistwell]

Generally, I feel for most martials the lack of a shield is a heavy price already, given how hard increasing AC is generally. As such, I've never been a big fan of Two-Weapon Fighting requiring the Bonus action, so I have a couple options and would appreciate comments or feedback on them.

Nick solved this issue. Just adopt it for your 2014 game.

 

[ezo]

Nick solved this issue. Just adopt it for your 2014 game.

Never going to happen.

 

[TwoSix]

I've experimented with several different approaches over the years. My favorite variation was "Whenever you attack with your primary one-hand weapon and miss, you may make an attack (as no action) with your off-hand weapon".

Makes two-weapon fighting a better choice against armored enemies (since it improves accuracy), and two-handers can shine against low-armor enemies.