Personally I'd like Beamdog to come up with their own kits. To be honest it seems lazy to take from D&D manuals even though the rules are based on D&D.
their is a bladesinger in 2e it is a fighter/mage kit exclusively for elves it is in the complete book of elves
I know. The Complete Book of Elves took a lot of flak for making things that were a bit too powerful. That was what I meant by sort of a touchy thing with some 2e folk.
I actually also don't think the way dual-wielding is implemented realistically - usually it was one longer+one shorter or 2 shorter weapons. One of the mods I used in BGTutu bundled Katana+Wakizashi proficiency together - which was much more logical.
I think this is an artifact of how few (if any) games bothering to to represent how difficult it can be to use a large weapon in a confined space or against a very close opponent. Without that bit of simulation, one weapon can be ideal for all situations, and it usually ends up being the bigger one. I sometimes shake my head wondering how the idea that Dwarves, a race known for mining and tunneling, should have an affinity for axes even got started, as I'm pretty sure swinging an axe around in a confined tunnel is a great way to get it stuck in a wall/broken.
Even in 2nd Edition DnD, dual-wielding requires Larger/smaller or two daggers or they suffer non-proficiency penalties when dual-wielding.
It takes ** Two weapon style (pnp version) to allow same size dual-wielding, even for rangers who normally never suffer any DWing penalty as long as they wear armor with a base AC no greater then 6 and use a smaller off-hand, unless using Dual-daggers.
PnP Two-Weapon -
0 = -4/-6 * = -2/-4, requires a smaller off-hand, except for dual-daggers. **= 0/-2, can wield same size weapons at no penalty.
Normal Character with * Two weapon, large/small = -2/-4 Normal character with ** Two weapon, large/small = 0/-2 Normal Character with * two weapon, Large/large = -4/-6 Normal character with ** two weapon, large/large = 0/-2
(Ambidexterity character trait (cost 2 NCP) (Player Options:Skills & Powers): Removes the penalty (-2) for using the non-dominate hand for actions, including combat and NCP use. All rangers are assumed to be Ambidextrous due to special training.)
(Ranger dual-wielding (2nd Ed PHB): As long as a ranger is wearing armor with a base AC of 6 or worse and wielding a smaller weapon then their main hand (except dual-daggers) the ranger suffers no penalty for dual-wielding.)
Axes are excellent close quarter weapons, depending on the design. Obviously you don't want some huge honky great axe in a tight tunnel, but a standard battle axe (looks nothing like those massive things seen in typical fantasy) is perfect for it due to being able to apply a lot of crushing/penetrating force in a small amount of space, and if it's got a pick on the other end, can be used for penetrating armor/thick hides.
They probably started out with regular mining picks, and as their culture began to become more martial, adapted them to regular axes, since the only real difference between a pick-axe (loosening and digging soil) and battle-axe with a pick (lopping of limbs/penetrating armor), with how the blade part is designed.
Also noted that Axes are much easier/faster to craft then swords (any blacksmith can knock out a good axe quickly, but swords require a specialist touch...I should know, I do both)
@ZanathKariashi - you know what would be actually really awesome? If the devs added some common Daggers, Wakizashis or Short Swords "Defender" that would have some smaller (+1/+2) bonus, but would confer -2AC. (And would be supposed to be held in the offhand). That would actually be quite realistic. I know there is a KATANA again with -2AC vs slashing...in ToB. At least there IS one wakizashi that grants +1AC...in ToB.
Comments
It takes ** Two weapon style (pnp version) to allow same size dual-wielding, even for rangers who normally never suffer any DWing penalty as long as they wear armor with a base AC no greater then 6 and use a smaller off-hand, unless using Dual-daggers.
PnP Two-Weapon -
0 = -4/-6
* = -2/-4, requires a smaller off-hand, except for dual-daggers.
**= 0/-2, can wield same size weapons at no penalty.
Normal Character with * Two weapon, large/small = -2/-4
Normal character with ** Two weapon, large/small = 0/-2
Normal Character with * two weapon, Large/large = -4/-6
Normal character with ** two weapon, large/large = 0/-2
(Ambidexterity character trait (cost 2 NCP) (Player Options:Skills & Powers): Removes the penalty (-2) for using the non-dominate hand for actions, including combat and NCP use. All rangers are assumed to be Ambidextrous due to special training.)
(Ranger dual-wielding (2nd Ed PHB): As long as a ranger is wearing armor with a base AC of 6 or worse and wielding a smaller weapon then their main hand (except dual-daggers) the ranger suffers no penalty for dual-wielding.)
Ranger (AC6), Large/small = 0/0
Ranger (AC5), large/small = -4/-4
Ranger (AC6), Large/large = -4/-4
Ranger (AC5), * two-weapon, large/small = -2/-2
Ranger (AC6), * two-weapon, large/large = -4/-4
Ranger (AC no longer matter), ** two-weapon, large/large = 0/0
@Kaigan
Pick-Axe
Axes are excellent close quarter weapons, depending on the design. Obviously you don't want some huge honky great axe in a tight tunnel, but a standard battle axe (looks nothing like those massive things seen in typical fantasy) is perfect for it due to being able to apply a lot of crushing/penetrating force in a small amount of space, and if it's got a pick on the other end, can be used for penetrating armor/thick hides.
They probably started out with regular mining picks, and as their culture began to become more martial, adapted them to regular axes, since the only real difference between a pick-axe (loosening and digging soil) and battle-axe with a pick (lopping of limbs/penetrating armor), with how the blade part is designed.
Also noted that Axes are much easier/faster to craft then swords (any blacksmith can knock out a good axe quickly, but swords require a specialist touch...I should know, I do both)
I know there is a KATANA again with -2AC vs slashing...in ToB.
At least there IS one wakizashi that grants +1AC...in ToB.
@Kaigen - I think the idea came from Pickaxe.