PA + Athkatlan Triparite vs. IPA

[freekender]

With the recent change made to Athkatlan Triparite, I am strongly considering taking it instead of IPA for my bard, who uses longswords. Taking into account it supposedly would work with Power Attack, it seems to me that it could be better.

Comparing PA+AT vs. IPA, the build would lose the 4th and fifth attacks at -15 and -20. And it gains AB would be +3 (for not using PA instead of IPA) and damage would increase from an average of 4.5 (+enhancements) plus 3 (from IPA ) to 8 (+enhancements) plus 2. And, the bonus of +2 AC.

Maybe I am loosing something? Opinions? It seems a good trade for me.

[chad878262]

Bards don't need the bonus AC and you'll gain more damage from IPA + inspire courage. No reason to lose attacks. If you want a more thorough explanation I'll provide, but this is the short answer.

[Sun Wukong]

My Bard uses Power Attack and Northlander Hewing.

But let us look at your bard:

IPA:

• -6 AB (IPA)
• + 6 or +12 damage (IPA)

PA + AT:

• -3 AB (PA)
• +3 or +6 damage (PA)
• +2 damage (AT)
• +2 AC (AT)
• 'Limited to 3 attacks' (AT)

If you think that AT gives your bard some flavour that makes it stand out of the nigh endless mass of basically identical bard characters - you should go for it. It is why I went for Northlander Hewing - "Hey, this could be fun even if it turns out entirely useless."

But chad has a point, mechanically speaking, you might be better off with IPA. That ever so dull tasting IPA bard bread.... If only it had some flavour! Some deviation from the norm!

[chad878262]

Yes, I was only stating the IPA route is MECHANICALLY better... It's a bard so you could almost just take all completely useless feats throughout every level and you would still do fine...so flavor it up baby!

[Theodore01]

How about awesome blow? That would make your's truely awesome

(Has anyone ever tried that one?)

[Sun Wukong]

No, but does anyone have a halfling or gnome to test it on?

[Theodore01]

i volunteer as a dummy.

[Sun Wukong]

Oh crap, now I need to level up and get the feat...

[freekender]

Thanks all for the answers!

How about awesome blow? That would make your's truely awesome

(Has anyone ever tried that one?)

And by the way... What is Awesome blow?

[dzidek1983]

Ehy not the AT with IPA? is there something not working there?

[Sun Wukong]

It might be something due to a limited amount of feats. But yeah, that is something you could do as well.