Carsomyr is the better weapon, of course - 2H weapons are almost always better. The real question is, is Carsomyr better than the Bastard Sword with a powerful shield? That's a bit more difficult and the answer really depends on what your party's composition is.
Uhm well no, the answer is still very definitely Carsomyr and it is not even close. Now if you would consider dual wielding two ToB weapons vs Carsomyr you might have a discussion, but sword and shield... nope...
Carsomyr has nice stats but damage wise nothing beats the Flail of Ages which alone outpowers all other weapons. And you can still combine it with a shield or another offhand weapon. But that's just from the powergaming viewpoint. The game is really more fun if you go mostly by flavor and only a reasonable amount of powergaming
@MilesBeyond - a +1 sword which has an additional +2 to damage. This makes it +1 thac0, +3 extra damage.
Immunity to poison in BG1 is actually incredibly useful. Think of the amount of times you've been poisoned - spiders etc.
Detect invisibility can also be useful, although not as useful as through BG2.
The idea of +1 or +2 in BG isn't as important as basic damage. Sure the extra point in thac0 is nice, but the majority of enemies in this game aren't immune to to anything more than +1 weapons. For those that are (werewolves etc), then albruin can be substituted with the Sword of Balduran or the shapeshifter sword.
I stick to my point: Albruin is a very mean weapon.
The toughest enemies are the ones which cast spells, most notably, the ones which cast spells which make them tough to hurt. Carsomyr deals with this, and I think that makes it overall better than the Flair of Ages, though its a close run thing.
Plus, you know, your a paladin. Come on, use the holy avenger! You have other party members to use that flail.
Cavalier is a cooler role play, and you can just use throwing axes to get round the restriction. Inquisitor is more powerful though- his dispel is fantastic and free true sight is also cool.
The toughest enemies are the ones which cast spells, most notably, the ones which cast spells which make them tough to hurt. Carsomyr deals with this, and I think that makes it overall better than the Flair of Ages, though its a close run thing.
Plus, you know, your a paladin. Come on, use the holy avenger! You have other party members to use that flail.
Cavalier is a cooler role play, and you can just use throwing axes to get round the restriction. Inquisitor is more powerful though- his dispel is fantastic and free true sight is also cool.
Carsomyr also gives three free dispell magic per day/ rest
I concur with the fact inquisitors are very good in BG2, but we already have Keldorn to fits the needs.
...but Dorn will have to face off against Sarevok, who is also evil and uses 2-handed swords.
This might be true, but remember that as a Paladin-class, Dorn can only put 2 pips in a weapon style, and starts with the maximum in both 2H Swords and 2H Fighting. By the time you get Sarevok Dorn will probably be specialised in another 2 weapons, which gives him alternative options. It's likely that Rancor will be getting some kind of upgrade as well, since it is his signature weapon.
The Inquisitor is weak. What good is True Sight and Dispel Magic against the great bonuses of the Cavalier? The couple of times I played as a paladin it was a Cavalier and the Undead Hunter. Their bonuses are beneficial since you will be going up against demonic and draconic enemies (Cavalier) and all sorts of undead (Undead Hunter).
The Inquisitor is weak. What good is True Sight and Dispel Magic against the great bonuses of the Cavalier? The couple of times I played as a paladin it was a Cavalier and the Undead Hunter. Their bonuses are beneficial since you will be going up against demonic and draconic enemies (Cavalier) and all sorts of undead (Undead Hunter).
They are cheesy in specific situation (dispell mage/dragons protections) or instant-remove ailments on party.
But since Bg1 has a VERY low magical setting (mages battle are very scare and quickly dispatched), it is more useful to roll a Cavalier for the first game.
For the second one, if not planning to pickup Keldorn, best solution is to create an Inquisitor (or wield Carsomyr and accept not being as cheesy).
Is nobody a fan of the undead slayer at all? It feels to me that it was the most useful paladin class throughout BG2. Level drain is truly an annoying problem and you fight an awful lot of undead.. Bodhi?
Level drain isn't really that annoying. I just put the amulet of drain protection from shadow thieves on a cleric, slap some defensive spells on him and have him tank them all while the melee finish them off. Even mage with just stoneskin and mirror image will give you enough time to kill them all.
I like Keldorn enough to want him in my Paladin's party, which means for me Cavalier is the better choice.
Also, at higher levels Paladin spellcasting is actually quite good, like being able to throw down a Draw Upon Holy Might when you have 2.5 attacks per round, or gain damage resistance from Armor of Faith + Hardiness at the same time.
Well, I think with either one you either go for Carsomyr with Two Handed Sword and weapon styles...
But I think one could as well be overall rather useful by going with Two Weapon/Sword and Shield Style with Flail/Morning Star proficiency... Gives you two rather powerful blunt weapons, and blunt weapons in general are rather useful as there are things you can't defeat with slashing damage of swords.
@MilesBeyond - a +1 sword which has an additional +2 to damage. This makes it +1 thac0, +3 extra damage.
Immunity to poison in BG1 is actually incredibly useful. Think of the amount of times you've been poisoned - spiders etc.
Detect invisibility can also be useful, although not as useful as through BG2.
The idea of +1 or +2 in BG isn't as important as basic damage. Sure the extra point in thac0 is nice, but the majority of enemies in this game aren't immune to to anything more than +1 weapons. For those that are (werewolves etc), then albruin can be substituted with the Sword of Balduran or the shapeshifter sword.
I stick to my point: Albruin is a very mean weapon.
AFAIK Albruin isn't even in BG1 and technically it's not available at all - you've got to do some tricky game manipulation in the Underdark to make it available.
Comments
But that's just from the powergaming viewpoint.
The game is really more fun if you go mostly by flavor and only a reasonable amount of powergaming
...Or did I just fall in the sarchasm?
Immunity to poison in BG1 is actually incredibly useful. Think of the amount of times you've been poisoned - spiders etc.
Detect invisibility can also be useful, although not as useful as through BG2.
The idea of +1 or +2 in BG isn't as important as basic damage. Sure the extra point in thac0 is nice, but the majority of enemies in this game aren't immune to to anything more than +1 weapons. For those that are (werewolves etc), then albruin can be substituted with the Sword of Balduran or the shapeshifter sword.
I stick to my point: Albruin is a very mean weapon.
Plus, you know, your a paladin. Come on, use the holy avenger! You have other party members to use that flail.
Cavalier is a cooler role play, and you can just use throwing axes to get round the restriction. Inquisitor is more powerful though- his dispel is fantastic and free true sight is also cool.
Thanks from me too for all the great information on this thread.
I concur with the fact inquisitors are very good in BG2, but we already have Keldorn to fits the needs.
So a Cavalier is always good.
They are cheesy in specific situation (dispell mage/dragons protections) or instant-remove ailments on party.
But since Bg1 has a VERY low magical setting (mages battle are very scare and quickly dispatched), it is more useful to roll a Cavalier for the first game.
For the second one, if not planning to pickup Keldorn, best solution is to create an Inquisitor (or wield Carsomyr and accept not being as cheesy).
Instant true sight is also golden...
Also, at higher levels Paladin spellcasting is actually quite good, like being able to throw down a Draw Upon Holy Might when you have 2.5 attacks per round, or gain damage resistance from Armor of Faith + Hardiness at the same time.
But I think one could as well be overall rather useful by going with Two Weapon/Sword and Shield Style with Flail/Morning Star proficiency... Gives you two rather powerful blunt weapons, and blunt weapons in general are rather useful as there are things you can't defeat with slashing damage of swords.