Rapier is Superior?

[dekrass]

What exactly makes the rapier a superior weapon?
It has the attack bonus and damage of a long sword, but with no special properties.
The rapier is a light blade rather than heavy, but that doesn't seem important unless you're a rogue. It wouldn't matter to a rogue if it were just military, though. They're only proficient in a specific list of weapons.

I just don't understand what is so special about it.
Anybody else have an insight on this?

 

[Zurai]

It's a 1d8 damage light blade.

 

[FadedC]

I guess they figured if they were going to put in a rogue weapon that the rogue would need to spend a feat to take and was better then anything he could use normally, they might as well make it a superior weapon.

 

[TK Lafours]

Seems like it would be important for a fighter or paladin who takes the Rogue multi-class feat.

 

[Hella_Tellah]

It's a 1d8 damage light blade.

This. You need a light blade to do anything cool with a rogue, a bunch of fighter powers use light blades, and (particularly important for melee fighters splashing Warlock) pact blades have to be light blades. For my Half-elf Fighter/Warlock, it's definitely worth the feat.

 

[Bison]

as I recall proficency in any superior weapon gives a +3 to hit instead of +2.

 

[Cadfan]

Mostly its because its a weapon for rogues, and its a significant upgrade from the rogue's current choices.

If a straight fighter wanted to use a rapier, I'd permit it without the cost of a feat. The feat balances it perfectly for a rogue, but for a fighter its just a longsword that counts as a light blade instead of a heavy one.

 

[Tale]

and (particularly important for melee fighters splashing Warlock) pact blades have to be light blades. For my Half-elf Fighter/Warlock, it's definitely worth the feat.

I was under the impression that the Pact Blade was a specific kind of light blade. That is to say, there is no such thing as a Rapier Pact Blade.

 

[Zurai]

Read the description for Pact Blades. They're "usually" daggers or sickles, but they can be any Light Blade class weapon (including shuriken).

 

[Stogoe]

Pact Blade is a class of magic items, like Flameburst weapons or Holy Avengers. Any light blade will do, and a rapier is a light blade.