Is two-weapon fighting/ambidedxterity needed to benefit from a two-bladed sword?

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OK, it might sound like a dumb question, but there it is anyway. Is it necessary to have TWF/Ambi to get a second attack from two-bladed swords/double axes/dire maces/quarterstaves. The manual lists two damage values for these four weapons, but my character only attacks once each time.

 

Yes, by 3ed rules fighting with a double weapon is like fighting with 2 weapons, except that it's compounded into 1 . So you need those feats for the extra attack.

Technically you also need to enchant each side of a double weapon making it just as expensive as 2 weapons if you want both sides enchanted, but they made that work simplar for game mechanics I believe, although it is a little unbalanced.

 

Thanks, guys!

@ omnigodly

OK, I'm going to assume you're talking about pencil-and-paper 3e.

@ BTA
I did see a "secondary attack" every now and then during melee, but my character has a level of monk, and this second attack was shown "in-game" as the character kicking his opponent! Also this character does have the two-weapon fighting feat.

The main reason I asked is because I'm restarting the game, and I wanted to be sure I could benefit from double weapons but wasn't wasting feat slots on TWF & Ambi.

 

oo yea actually you don't need the feats lol, I am mistaken!!! Sometimes little things slip like that, but you should have both feats in order to reduce penalties when fighting with 2 weapons.

 

Aye, you dont need them to get two attacks, but you wont be hitting much with them, if you dont take the feats.

On another point, quarterstaff is not considered a double weapon in NwN, so you cant get a second attack with it at all, unless your BAB is +6 or more