Dual-Wield in Medium Armor for Strength PCs

[Egon the Monkey]

Ranger theoretically has the unique ability to run a high-STR, low-DEX dual-wield build, as the Dual-Wield Feat has no DEX requirement. However, practically speaking, you do need DEX! Because you can't Dual-Wield in Medium Armor, and low DEX in 3/5 leathers is a very sad place to be. Meanwhile, DEX Rangers can't do much more than issue scathing papercuts unless fully buffed.

If Dual-Wield was changed to work in Medium, then 18 STR, 12 DEX dual-wielder would become a thing you can do without having suicidally bad AC. Because you could have full Chainmail AC, and better STR or a less optimised ability spread than the average Dual-Wield PC.

It would mean the promise of 'well TECHNICALLY you can make a dual-wield STR build' would be a reality, and I think it would be especially cool for Stonefolk Rangers who suffer that DEX penalty.  Rather than people defaulting to 2h weapons or shields and not taking advantage of the class's Cool Melee Move.

[LoveLess]

An 18 strength Ranger with only Two-Weapon Fighting and taking the -4 AB penalty to your offhand will still have more AB on each of it's attacks than a Monk at level 9/10. You even get Improved Two-Weapon Fighting without ever needing to meet the requirements for Dual-Wielding or Ambidexterity.

[Egon the Monkey]

An 18 strength Ranger with only Two-Weapon Fighting and taking the -4 AB penalty to your offhand will still have more AB on each of it's attacks than a Monk at level 9/10. You even get Improved Two-Weapon Fighting without ever needing to meet the requirements for Dual-Wielding or Ambidexterity.

I'm confused. Are you telling me 'What if you buy a redundant feat on a Ranger, and run a weird optimised build that Just About Works and comes online at L9'? Because at that point why not grab myself a fighter level and take Improved 2-weapon Fighting at 8? I've already ignored the free feat I get from Ranger!

I also don't see why you compare it to monk, which doesn't typically dual-wield. Rather than to the Dual-wielder fighter Perk, which just stamps all over a Ranger with that bonus +2AB offhand and access to Imp. 2-Weapon Fighting at 8.

I feel like your complex solution just reinforces the point I'm making, which is:

• Dual Wield is the Ranger's Iconic Flavourful Combat Thing, as it allows 2-weapon fighting without a stat requirement.
• Except it's got a de facto stat requirement, unless you like getting hit a lot.
• Dual-wield in Medium opens things up to less optimised/buff-hungry builds and lets more people be Cool Hunters With Two Swords without focusing their build on making that work. Given that Ranger gets Medium Armor as standard.