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Xan's Moonblade now has dagger proficiency!

Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
in Archive (General Discussion)
I've only just noticed, but Shadowkeeper now reports tha Xan's Moonblade now has dagger profiency, so he can actually wield it now without penalty!

Comments

  • scriverscriver Member Posts: 2,072
    It was always a dagger mechanicswise.
  • mjsmjs Member Posts: 742
    it was short swords in vanilla and mages got short swords, but could only wield daggers
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    In BGT and BG Tutu it had a proficiency Xan couldn't put points into (long swords?)
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    I'm pretty sure Short Swords and Daggers were the same proficiency in BG1
  • EnterHaerDalisEnterHaerDalis Member Posts: 813
    what is the point....
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    I gotta ask. What difference does it make? Is anyone really going to use Xan as a front line tank? Does his 'To hit' proficiency with a HtH weapon really matter that much?

    I mean, sure most times you are wondering if you really should have him on suicide watch. But really?
  • BobCBobC Member Posts: 47
    the_spyder said:

    I gotta ask. What difference does it make? Is anyone really going to use Xan as a front line tank? Does his 'To hit' proficiency with a HtH weapon really matter that much?

    I mean, sure most times you are wondering if you really should have him on suicide watch. But really?

    Apparently you never used the sword against mobs that are under crowd control. Works extremely well with cleaning them up.
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    BobC said:

    the_spyder said:

    I gotta ask. What difference does it make? Is anyone really going to use Xan as a front line tank? Does his 'To hit' proficiency with a HtH weapon really matter that much?

    I mean, sure most times you are wondering if you really should have him on suicide watch. But really?

    Apparently you never used the sword against mobs that are under crowd control. Works extremely well with cleaning them up.
    Well, to be perfectly honest, I never used Xan at all. I hate his personality.

    But not sure what you mean? You mean after they have been Slept or held? Wouldn't any old dagger do just as good? If they have been "Crowd controlled", presumably the 'To Hit' component is less of a factor regardless. Either you have loads of time or if you kill them or don't doesn't matter.

    in the end, regardless of what situation you use him in with an HtH weapon, he is still never going to hit as often as any other non pure caster in the game. Proficiency or not. Sorry to say.

    But I do agree that correcting the proficiency makes sense from a consistency stand point.
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    Xan's weapon I believe doesn't do the typical damage types, is practically a +3 weapon and with a scroll of Fire resist and the right spell protections, is a great way to lure enemies into a large group so you can chuck fireballs at him. I believe at over 100% resistance there's absorbtion... I could be wrong.
  • lDanielHolmlDanielHolm Member Posts: 225
    Xan is actually a good target for buff spells purely due to his Moonblade (it's still a +3 weapon). Throw some buffs at him and get him to quaff some Fortification potions, and he's respectable for a pure mage in melee. Respectable--not awesome.

    One tactic is to have a Paladin or a Ranger use a scroll of Righteous Magic to really boost him up. (Righteous Magic normally locks out your spells, but for a Paladin or a Ranger, it doesn't really matter--they won't have spells in BG1 anyway.)
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    LOL. After several hours with Xan, I want to put myself out of my misery. It's all so hopeless.
  • UnknownQuantityUnknownQuantity Member Posts: 242
    He might be a good fighter with tenser's transformation and black blade of disaster. :)

    Personally I never take him along. Poor fellow.
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    UnknownQuantity said:

    black blade of disaster. :)

    kinda defeats his purpose, no?

  • UnknownQuantityUnknownQuantity Member Posts: 242
    Dazzu said:

    UnknownQuantity said:

    black blade of disaster. :)

    kinda defeats his purpose, no?

    Maybe, but he does have the moonblade.
  • mlnevesemlnevese Member, Moderator Posts: 10,214
    Xan is so negative a black blade of disaster should do double or triple damage when he uses it.
  • DJKajuruDJKajuru Member Posts: 3,300
    Xan has a decent thac0 and I always have him attack when the enemies are busy with other npcs.
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    mlnevese said:

    Xan is so negative a black blade of disaster should do double or triple damage when he uses it.

    Xan is so negative, Black Blade of disaster would take one look at him and turn to the light, thus turning itself into a staff of healing.

    Xan could get Marvin the Android down.

  • SirK8SirK8 Member Posts: 527
    @EnterHaerDalis - your comment is in vain...
    EnterHaerDalis said:

    what is the point....

  • LemernisLemernis Member, Moderator Posts: 4,318
    I did once try buffing him and having him use the moonblade, and it was not nearly as much fun as having him just chuck spells. His THACO is just too poor to hit anything. At least that was my experience. I was hopeful that he would be surprisingly good. But um, no.

    I'd like to see a mod that makes it possible for him to let you use his moonblade. Nothing elaborate. Just that.
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    He's just sooo..... useless....
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    Xan is so negative, when he stepped onto the Negative Energy Plane to try and commit suicide, 4th Edition happened because the Negative Energy Plane freaked out and asked the other planes to help keep it from collapsing on itself.
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    I kind of think that Xan would have been much better if he had been voiced by Stephen Moore and scripted by Douglas Adams. Would have made him a much more interesting character.

    Zaphod Beeblebrox: What's up metal Man?
    Marvin: I don't know. I've never been there.
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