Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Weapons Attack MOD - I need your help / opinion

I like balance discussions!

tl;dr: I think balancing Special Weapon Attacks so they're equivalent in power with normal weapon attacks is the best option, as it preserves their power over all levels. Otherwise, either they'll be too weak for level 5+ martials with Extra Attack or to strong for level 1-4 martials.

1) CHARGE ATTACK: seems a bit weak imo. Your entire turn for 1d4+mod damage, plus only a chance to prone the target? A normal weapon attack deals ~1d8+mod damage, so essentially you're also using your bonus action to deal 2 less damage and attempt a Shove Prone. Differently ordering things: you're using your action to Shove prone, and then a bonus action for (an attempt at) 1d4+mod damage. Which actually reads better on paper, as off-handing a weapon only deals ~1d6 damage...except that these things are conditional(?). If you miss the initial attack, I assume there's no attempt to Shove Prone?

70% chance to deal 1d4+mod damage, and a 50% chance to Shove Prone. I suppose it is technically balanced -- for level 1-4 characters only -- but I don't see myself ever using it, as I won't be able to follow up attacks (with Advantage) on my turn.

Might I suggest something more along the lines of: benefit = free attempt to shove prone, and cost = you're easier to hit until the start of your next turn

2) OPENING ATTACK: too weak. This is the Help action except not guaranteed. Or the Shove Prone action except the enemy doesn't stay prone and it costs a full action rather than an action-equivalent attack.
I'm not sure this attack is even necessary, but something like "chance to reduce enemy AC by 2 until the start of their next turn" is probably more appropriate.

In general, I dislike the "action + bonus action cost" system that you're using to balance attacks. It punishes classes that actually have bonus actions (rogues, rangers, some barbarians, clerics) while being ~free for classes without normal bonus actions [I assume we're playing in a mode without BA shove]. Imo, a better way is to balance Special Weapon Attacks against individual weapon attacks - action-equivalent cost. The downside should be a penalty to hit or damage, or leaving yourself open to attacks.

3.1) LACERATE (Slashing weapons): See above. Effectively, we trade 2 damage for the chance of 2 damage and disadv on Con STs. Disadvantage on Con STs is fairly strong; I might suggest a -2 penalty to Con STs instead. This attack could then only cost a single action-equivalent attack.

3.2.) CONCUSSIVE SMASH: Again, I'd suggest a lower ST penalty and removing the BA cost, especially since Wis ST spells are generally of the incapacitating variety.

3.3) PIERCING STRIKE: Basically the above. -2 penalty, no BA cost