- Joined
- Dec 16, 2019
I'm not really arguing with you, or trying to, so I'm sorry if I gave that impression. I was agreeing with you 100% on why people would love to rock those builds because they're so hilariously easy to build for and with such excellent gains, even in 3.5e, especially since you get to slap extra damage on from the Iajutsu Focus whereas you otherwise wouldn't be able to.That's 5e, not 3.x, which is what I'm talking about. In 3.5, Weapon Finesse was essentially the Finesse tag, but it didn't apply Dex to damage - the main reason for it was for classes like Rogue, who didn't really use Strength for damage, and relied solely on Sneak Attack dice. But yeah, if you're going to throw 'Finesse greatswords' into your game, where the only upside to Strength is getting access to the best melee weapons in the game, yeah. You're gonna get -every- character using Dex and studded leather. =P
And now to disagree with a side of irrelevant to D&D autistic history wank, actual studded leather (either earlier coats of plates or later brigandines) was damn, damn fine armor, able to made cheaper and easier than plate and for minimal loss in overall protection. Which is why most samurai wore it along with their bastard swords/longswords-by-another-name known as katanas. Welcome to actual Japan! And yes, the GM is that weird combination of weeb and history nerd known otherwise as an autist.
To throw in my 2c with the Dex/Str stuff, it isn't just damage you gain. AC, versatility with rapier and bow, little or no penalty to dex-related stuff stuff, the ability to actually make saves against traps and AoE attacks, and to quote The Joker, they're all cheap. Note: Talking 5e here since again, no experience with 3.5e. Who wants to spend the 1500 gold on a suit of plate for 18 AC when 200 will get you splint for just one less AC. Hell, anyone who's got 14 Dex for a +2 will want to just go right to scale for a suit that weighs less than chain, is cheaper than chain, and gives the same AC. There is also that fixed, inherent cap of 18 to AC by going Str with heavy armor. If you're an elffag like me, with standard array you can start at 17 or 16 dex, already forcing you into light armor since you're doing better than you can with a breastplate with just studded. You get 20 Dex from feats/ASI, and that 18 AC plate is looking mighty unappealing since you're faster, almost as well protected, and you didn't need to pay a single CP to get there, saving it all for booze and Rings of Constitution so you can challenge dwarves to drinking contests.
Now, that out of the way, I actually spec my elffag fighters to be well-rounded 90% of the time, with roughly even Str/dex even as an elf because fuck that stereotype of prissy dancers, but even then the call of damage output from Finesse/light weapons is hard to avoid since 5e just loves Finesse weapons and nimble combat in general.