Ambidexterity Vs Rapid Shot

[JackOfClubs]

In most of the games I have played, I have taken the Weapon Finesse, Two-Weapon Fighting and Ambidexterity feats and used a Rapier in the main hand and a Short Sword, Mace or Hand Axe in the off hand. This allows an extra attack per turn with a penalty of -2 in both hands. It also has the advantage that you can largely ignore STR and throw all of your Attribute points into DEX, thus boosting both your attack and defense at the same time.

But recently, I discovered that you can achieve similar results slightly more cheaply by taking the Point Blank Shot and Rapid Shot feats. This also has an extra attack at a -2 penalty but it uses one less feat. If you have the Martial Weapon or Elven Weapons feats (which are free for fighters or elves respectively) this also has the advantage that Long Bows do more base damage than the weapons mentioned above. Also, magic bows are more plentiful and have a greater variety of options than magic versions of the weapons in question. Finally magic arrows are more readily available and tend to do more elemental damage than most (+d6 rather than +1 or +2).

The only downsides that I see are that arrows are expendable (unless you find the Tansheron's short bow which can be tough) and you miss out on the Improved Two Weapon Fighting (which adds an additional off-hand attack) but these seem relatively minor drawbacks compared with an extra feat early in the game.

Does anyone else see something I am missing?

[Criyton]

well first off ambidexterity is for melee(daggers swords axes ect). It has nothing to do with ranged weapons whereas Rapid shot and Point Blank shot feats are strictly ranged weapons(bows throwing things crossbows ect) so by negating ambidexterity you screw yourself over when that guy you just shot runs after you and you have bad hand to hand attacks. I agree with the dexterity pumping and weapon finesse. You can do amazing damage as a rouge with high dex and sneak attacks. Im currently trying to find out wether Sneak attack from a rouge and Death attack from a assassin will stack.... if so that would be a insanely powerful combination. Imagine a 8d6 sneak attack with a 7d6 Death attack/half a chance to paralyize for 5 rounds........ provided it stacks. So dont negate the ambidexterity.

[Arrylium]

The BIG problem with Point Blank Shot is that it doesn't prevent your enemy from taking an Attack of Opportunity every round if he closes to melee - and he will.

[Mirk]

@cryton: sneak attack and death attack DO stack! stab away


*evil grin under a darkened hood...*

[JackOfClubs]

[QUOTE=Arrylium]The BIG problem with Point Blank Shot is that it doesn't prevent your enemy from taking an Attack of Opportunity every round if he closes to melee - and he will.[/QUOTE]
Ah. That is the answer I was looking for. I didn't know that. So PBS negates the -4 penalty but does still provokes an attack of opportunity. Hmm. I guess I didn't notice that because I was playing with a Rogue who had Uncanny Dodge and Mobility.

So basically the trade-off is you get an extra +1 to attack in melee situations but you provoke an attack of opportunity. Well, I still think it is worth it, but I can see that this would be a consideration. Thanks for the info.