Understanding Weapon Speed

[Gro]

Hope you can help me (anyone out there!). I'm new to the game and can't figure out why my Rogue, using a Rapier takes so long to use it!!! It has a 4 sec countdown.

He's a pure Rogue level5, with weapon proficiencies like weapon finesse, preferred weapon (rapier) etc... Maybe it's one of his other active skills that's causing it. Thanks

[Orange]

Everyone has the same cooldown, the only difference is the turn order (ruled by the Initiave bonus) and how many attacks they can do per round (per 6 seconds) which is restricted by their BAB (base attack bonus grants a new attack at +6, +11, +16) plus feats (Two-weapon Fighting grants an extra attack with a penalty) and spells (Haste or Divine Power grant one extra attack).

As a lvl 5 rogue you're restricted to 1 attack per round due to a BAB of +3 and only using 1 weapon and not being under the effect of any relevant spell.

[=[NK]= Col. Jack O'Neil]

Yeah just to clarify 'weapon speed' isn't a thing, but you can get additional 'iterative attacks' that are spread throughout the 6 seconds, or you can get feats and abilities like flurry of blows or two weapon fighting that also give additional attacks :)

[kaymarciy]

to make it clear:
A single combat round (6 sec) is divided into the Standart Action and Move Action (3 sec each). During the Standart Action your character always makes a single hit (Standart Attack) which looks very slow. If you have additional attacks (from Haste, high BAB or whatever), you may deliever it during the Move Action instead of the actual move (it's called Full Attack) and it looks very fast, especially if you dual wield.

[AzureTheGamerKobold]

DnD is divided up into Actions, actual weapons don't really have speeds

your basic actions are
Move Action (any movement, drinking a potion swapping weapons ect)
Standard Action (attacking, casting a spell, using an ability)
Full Round Action: an action that takes both move action and standard action phases

Lesser actions are
Free Action: such as talking or some abilities that dont cost any actions to activate they just turn on instantly free of charge.

Swift Action: like a free action but you can only do this once per turn

Immediate Action: a reactionary action you get 1 of these if i remember correctly but you can use it at any point even during the opponents turn.

To do all your attacks as a fighter as a n example you NEED to use a full round action to get all of them otherwise if you move then attack you only get one.

THIS is why DnD is better played turn based as things get wonky when you add in real time to the mix. As actions suddenly have a time attached to them, and some things start to make less sense over all. I've NO idea how swift and immediate actions work in this game if at all.. or how long a full round action consumes... because every round is suppose to be 6 seconds which implies move and standard should be what 3 seconds each? i can tell you that's not how it works functionally!

At any rate hope this helps a bit.

[Gro]

Thank You for the comprehensive info very helpful. I didn't realise this game was so detailed before buying it. However it is great fun and I'm really starting to get attached to the characters, I think that's why I'm posting questions about the game.

I have downloaded the 'Turn based' mod but haven't installed it yet. Looks like I also need a few more abilities for this character.

[=[NK]= Col. Jack O'Neil]

Originally posted by Gro:

Thank You for the comprehensive info very helpful. I didn't realise this game was so detailed before buying it. However it is great fun and I'm really starting to get attached to the characters, I think that's why I'm posting questions about the game.

I have downloaded the 'Turn based' mod but haven't installed it yet. Looks like I also need a few more abilities for this character.

Lol.. Glance at www.d20pfsrd.com and see just how complex the table top rules are :)

[Gro]

Jesus.... What a monumental task it must have been for the devs of the game. Must be sickening when people bash the game for leaving something out etc.

[[CoH] Joker]

You really want to shake your head in amazement, 1st Edition D&D DID have weapon speeds that affected the initiative order. Heavier weapons, like Two Handed Swords (Greatswords) sometimes were so slow the attack happened on the following round.

[Gro]

Wow, that must have sucked big time!

Well I'm finding some nice weapons, which means I have a better Idea which character builds I can make on my next run or DLC's.

[Edstyles]

Dexterity gives you initiative . You can also get higher by getting feat.
You roll the dice as to how good start initiative you get plus the added bonuses.

Worth mentioning you get extra attacks by leveling your class . by half and 75 and full progress

[Gro]

Nice to know, thanks.

[dolby]

Well, how on earth does a crossbow fire faster than a composite bow if there is no speed. I tested it with a party off all bows and 1 heavy crossbow and that crossbow will fire faster due to animation i guess... it's the same if i rolls high initiative roll 16+ or if i roll 6 or bellow on that crossbow...It will always get 1 more shot in before the mobs get close...as the bows will only get one shot...

[Doombringer]

Who is using the crossbow and who is using the bow?
If it is someone with more attacks/round (like a fighter) or someone with Rapid Shot feat, then yeah they will shoot faster...

[Martialis]

Using the turn-based mod, one oddity I noticed is that my dw rogue only gets attacks from both weapons if he is standing next to an enemy already (i.e., he doesn't have to move first). A 2H fighter can move, and then attack. So for 2H, there is no difference between standard attack and full attack, but for dw there is. Doesn't seem fair.

[Immortal Reaver]

Originally posted by Martialis:

Using the turn-based mod, one oddity I noticed is that my dw rogue only gets attacks from both weapons if he is standing next to an enemy already (i.e., he doesn't have to move first). A 2H fighter can move, and then attack. So for 2H, there is no difference between standard attack and full attack, but for dw there is. Doesn't seem fair.

When your 2H fighter gets to 6th level he will get one more attack. Then he will still do 1 attack in this situation.
If you move then attack you get only 1 attack,
Full, unbuffed, 20lvl fighter can get 4 attacks (+3 max if dual wield) if they dont move.(also paladin, monk, barbarian, slayer or ranger)
Rouge on lvl 20 can only get 3 attacks from 1 weapon.(+Cleric, Alchemist, Magus etc.)
Wizard on lvl 20 get 2 attacks.