Balanced Penalties for Two-Weapon Fighting

In the attempt to simplifies the penalties for wielding two weapons by treating both hands as the same and applying the same penalty to both hands. This rule also replaces the unskilled penalties with ones that make sense (based on the d20 rule system). This variant rule removes to-hit penalties and the extra attack normally associated with two-weapon fighting and replaces it with a different mechanic.

The Two-Weapon Fighting feat now reduces penalties by 4, the same as the Weapon Proficiency feat. In addition, the penalties that this system uses based on the size of the weapons that you wield are entirely balanced based on weapon damage making all weapon combinations viable.

Two-Weapon Fighting Penalties
CircumstancesPenalty to combined BAB
Normal penalties−8
Off-hand weapon is light−7
Both Weapons are light−6
Two-Weapon Fighting feat−4
Off-hand weapon is light and Two-Weapon Fighting feat−5
Both Weapons are light and Two-Weapon Fighting feat−2

Two-Weapon Fighting Combat Manuever
Benefit: When fighting with two weapons, the character may make a single aid another check to either aid his primary attack, increasing his chances to hit by +2, reduce his opponents ability to hit him (+2 to armor class), or to increase a bluff skill check by 2 when "Feinting in Combat". In order to perform ANY of these options, the player MUST be wielding a light weapon in their off-hand.

Two-Weapon Fighting [General]
Prerequisite: Dex 15, base attack bonus +2.
A player wielding a light weapon in their off-hand can choose to forgo any normal benefits for the  Combat Manuever and can instead attack using the light weapon using only standard to hit modifier and doing only standard weapon damage adding no additional attack benefit.


Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting [General]
Prerequisite: Str 15, Two-Weapon Fighting, base attack bonus +2.
Benefit: You may now wield a one-handed weapon in your off-hand without any penalty to hit.
Special: A fighter may select Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting as one of his fighter bonus feats.

Improved Two-Weapon Fighting [General]
Prerequisite: Dex 16, Two-Weapon Fighting, base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: You may now make two immediate actions each round providing both of them are to perform aid another checks to aid yourself in combat as detailed in the Two-Weapon Fighting feat.
Special: A fighter may select Improved Two-Weapon Fighting as one of his fighter bonus feats.