Weapon focus and loot

[Riftwalker]

This has probably been mentioned countless times before, but weapon focus is a dubious choice in this game because you can't be sure the game will actually support your investment, and you'll question on whether or not you should really invest in them.

I was thinking since it's a common practice for GMs to do anyway, just scan the party for weapon focus feats (or make it so taking the feat triggers hidden flags) that make it so that the weapon will appear as random loot. if loot is only ever specific then go around and replace some weapons with a generic "weapon focus weapon drop with x enhancements", so that you'll occasionally just come across your weapon you're using and stay relevant.

this should be true for all characters and simply add some consistency across all characters.

[OnlyOffensive]

Look at this like that. Weapon focus by itself is already +1, which makes +1 weapon better than +2 and open path to crit feat which is ridiciolus ( doubles your threat range ) and improved focus/specialization. If you grab all that feats, any +1 weapon will probably be better than anything you find.

There are tons of generic +2/3 weapons which with full package of weapon focus are better than any super duper weapon without them.

[Riftwalker]

yeah, but if you're only playing a character that uses star knives, well good luck bucko. the point is, there's a lot of weapons you'll never likely to see show up as a drop or as special loot.

[OnlyOffensive]

Well, picking weapon focus makes sense when you at least have decent weapon or see one at a shop, sure if you pick it absolutely random it can backfire. It isnt feat that "must have" early. Picking it somewhere at lvl 6-9 pretty ok ( for full BAB better at 6 so you can get crit at 7 ).

[dwarfpcfan]

My advice would be to avoid making a weapon specialist until you've done 1 play through at least to chapter 4 so you know what weapons are available, then pick the one you prefer on a subsequent playthrough.

As it stands, early game you can some pretty decent two handed swords and axes (+1 Acid/frost/Fire/Shock) along with maces, morning stars and hammers (there's a +1 shock and frost morningstar you can get super fast) and at least 3 +3 maces/hammers/morning stars you can also find very quickly. Other then that, dueling swords are also fairly common thought early game thought, nothing to convince me to waste a feat to use them

The only character I grab weapon focus and specialization for is Valeries for bastard swords, as you can buy a +1 flaming bastard sword as soon as you get your capital that will carry her most of the game and getting every weapon specialization and focus feat is pretty much the way to go if you plan on sticking to her intended level progression scheme (fighter into devoted defender prestige class) to keep her damage and hit functionally useful.

[valky]

Originally posted by Riftwalker:

yeah, but if you're only playing a character that uses star knives, well good luck bucko.

'nother good example - I found one +1 hand crossbow (!) in either end of 4 or start of chap 5.
Now...you can dual wield them ... they count as light weapons and every 2-weap feat should apply. At least it did in D&D..not sure about pathfinder.

[Riftwalker]

Originally posted by OnlyOffensive:

Well, picking weapon focus makes sense when you at least have decent weapon or see one at a shop, sure if you pick it absolutely random it can backfire. It isnt feat that "must have" early. Picking it somewhere at lvl 6-9 pretty ok ( for full BAB better at 6 so you can get crit at 7 ).

it is must have, if you're playing someone who only uses starknives. it's meant for the RP feels.

that's why if you pick weapon focus you start with whatever you picked weapon focus for. i'm just saying, prolong that benefit beyond level 1.

[Riftwalker]

Originally posted by dwarfpcfan:

My advice would be to avoid making a weapon specialist until you've done 1 play through at least to chapter 4 so you know what weapons are available, then pick the one you prefer on a subsequent playthrough.

As it stands, early game you can some pretty decent two handed swords and axes (+1 Acid/frost/Fire/Shock) along with maces, morning stars and hammers (there's a +1 shock and frost morningstar you can get super fast) and at least 3 +3 maces/hammers/morning stars you can also find very quickly. Other then that, dueling swords are also fairly common thought early game thought, nothing to convince me to waste a feat to use them

The only character I grab weapon focus and specialization for is Valeries for bastard swords, as you can buy a +1 flaming bastard sword as soon as you get your capital that will carry her most of the game and getting every weapon specialization and focus feat is pretty much the way to go if you plan on sticking to her intended level progression scheme (fighter into devoted defender prestige class) to keep her damage and hit functionally useful.

i'm aware of the pitfalls in this game, i'm making a suggestion so that everything you said, isn't necessary. you pick weapon focus twobladed sword, we got you, you pick heavy flail, we got you, you pick halfling sling, we got you. etc.

i'm fairly deep into the game, i don't need advice, i've imparting an idea unto the community, even if it's probably fairly common idea among players.

[J4n1]

There's really no excuse for the game to have every possible weapon of appropriate power level available at every point in the story, be it through vendors or crafting.
We run a barony/kingdom, even if our character lacks proper crafting skills, there should be no reason why we can't send for a weapon/armor/jewelry/clothing of our choice, with only limitation being possibly a minor price increase for more powerful or rare items.

[Shadenuat]

How about playing the game for a while, finding some nice toys and then picking Focus feats with things you liked.

[J4n1]

Lack of crafting and limited weapon selection is a flaw in the game.
Just because we can work around them does not mean we should not point out the flaw.
As is, only Jaethal in my game has weapon focus (scythe), rest go for other feats.

[FullmetalWinry]

Originally posted by Shadenuat:

How about playing the game for a while, finding some nice toys and then picking Focus feats with things you liked.

Because I'm making a two-bladed sword or double orc axe build? Because I think heavy flail are cool and want to use them for RP reasons? Because star knives are versatiles and I would like to use them more? There's plenty of reasons.

[IKerensky]

There is no sling in game at the start (staff sling aren’t sling) and no throwing weapons.
Yet people keep defending the developpers while it is clear that they fail to correctly implement loot and gear distribution.
Becauses if you take the focus you start the game with thoses but you can’t buy/found them in game.

[FullmetalWinry]

Originally posted by IKerensky:

There is no sling in game at the start (staff sling aren’t sling) and no throwing weapons.

That's another big problem, like you said. I wanted Harrim to use a sling so he could keep his shield to protect against ranged attacks and stay behind my melee characters to cast spells, but they are nowhere to be found.

[Stigelmo de Axes I]

I know the game keeps suggesting weapon focus, but you can play without it. It isn't even a great feat for most builds and is not required for imp. critical

[Riftwalker]

Originally posted by Shadenuat:

How about playing the game for a while, finding some nice toys and then picking Focus feats with things you liked.

because my dude uses star knives

Originally posted by J4n1:

Lack of crafting and limited weapon selection is a flaw in the game.
Just because we can work around them does not mean we should not point out the flaw.
As is, only Jaethal in my game has weapon focus (scythe), rest go for other feats.

and i mirror this opinion

Originally posted by Stigelmo de Axes I:

I know the game keeps suggesting weapon focus, but you can play without it. It isn't even a great feat for most builds and is not required for imp. critical

this idea is how to work in strange loot into the game, not how to improve weapon focus.