Dual wield f/t weapons or sword and shield question

certus

Hi there,

Looking to start a halforc mc fighter/thief. I was thinking of dual wielding long swords and axes, off handing the axe and main hand the long swords. I know I won't get backstabs with the axe, but will I still be able to get backstabs with the long sword in the main hand?

Also, has anyone run a build like this using sword and shield? i like the idea of sword and shield as I can then easily use switch to throwing axes. Dual wielding is a pita to switch to missile weapons. However is there any penalties to thief skills if equipping tower shields?

Is half orc fighter thief a viable class and is there a better race to choose? Cheers everybody

Talarasha

certus said:

I know I won't get backstabs with the axe, but will I still be able to get backstabs with the long sword in the main hand?

Yeap

certus said:

However is there any penalties to thief skills if equipping tower shields?

Nope

certus said:

Is half orc fighter thief a viable class and is there a better race to choose? Cheers everybody

It is a viable class, but I can't say that there is a some race around with a critical advantages to F/T. Half Orcs may have a 19 STR, and it's always a good thing, but STR damage bonus does not multiply with backstab in BG:EE.

ReadingRambo

Yes, you backstab with your main hand weapon. As long as its a thief weapon should be fine.

No skill penalties for shields are implemented in BG EE, so feel free to sneak around with the dining room table strapped to your arm

As for race, half orcs are exceptional physical specimens and with their 19 strength you can land your backstabs more readily, and with 19 con they can be front liners even in leather. Half orcs make great fighter thieves... Actually they make great anything .

My advice would be to pick a race you want to be; they are all viable. Even dwarves with a 17 max Dex make fine thieves.

ryuken87

certus said:

Is half orc fighter thief a viable class and is there a better race to choose?

It's pretty hard to come up with a race/class combination that isn't viable, this will do just fine.

A half-orc F/T will be more at the fighter end of the spectrum of a F/T. They have 19 str which is great but get no racial bonuses to thieving skills and no shorty saves. You will have to invest the vast majority of your points into stealth to have a good success rate which may leave you short in other areas of thieving unless you plan on using invisibility.

Sword and shield style is also fine although I prefer dual wielding. I wouldn't put any proficiency points in sword and shield style as the benefits simply aren't that great.

Oxford_Guy

ReadingRambo said:

Yes, you backstab with your main hand weapon. As long as its a thief weapon should be fine

Just be aware that if your off-hand weapon is faster (lower speed value) than your main hand weapon, your thief will attempt to backstab with that, which is not a god idea...

IkMarc

Instead take two handed weapons. Specialize in quarterstaves, pick up the +3 staff from Ulgoth's Beard early game and your backstabs will be the shit right away. You will also be able to use a bow without problems.

Eudaemonium

I now feel inspired to create an Assassin who primarily uses a Quarterstaff and a Crossbow. XD

Oxford_Guy

Eudaemonium said:

I now feel inspired to create an Assassin who primarily uses a Quarterstaff and a Crossbow. XD

Also the best backstab weapon in the game is a staff, though you can't get it until quite late:

The Staff of Striking

The +3 Staff is great too, though, and you can get it as soon as you have enough gold to buy it

Madhax

Yeah, a 2-hander would be better for backstabbing (especially with 2-handed style points!), and would make swapping to a bow much easier.

You could also do single-weapon style and a 1-hander. You'd benefit from the same improved crit range, backstab a little worse, but also be better at tanking thanks to the extra AC from the style.