Weapon Style Rebalancing.
Hoo
Member Posts: 128
Hello, I'd like to suggest a small suggestion; Weapon Style Rebalancing.
There have been so many mod that produced various items, especially weapons for off-hand, so the advantages which can be obtained by Single Weapon Style (AC bonuses and +5% ciritical hit) usually can be gained by some off-handed weapons.
That is, I felt that Single Weapon Style is a little weaker than the other weapon styles. As far as I know the weapon styles can't be modified by modding due to its engine limitation. Thus, this would need to be supported by BGEE imo.
And, from the rebalancing point of view, I'd want to suggest that Single Weapon Style should give some more advantage to the main-handed weapon. It means that this weapon style should provide not only the current +5% ciritical hit bonus but also some more bonuses like damage/THAC0 to the main-handed weapon.
As a result, the character with Single Weapon Style can deal damage as much as Two-handed did. Since Two-handed weapons provide longer range than One-handed weapons, this is reasonable change imo; Equal damage and + critical hit bonuses, but AC bonus vs. Speed Factor+long range bonuses.
What do you think about it?
There have been so many mod that produced various items, especially weapons for off-hand, so the advantages which can be obtained by Single Weapon Style (AC bonuses and +5% ciritical hit) usually can be gained by some off-handed weapons.
That is, I felt that Single Weapon Style is a little weaker than the other weapon styles. As far as I know the weapon styles can't be modified by modding due to its engine limitation. Thus, this would need to be supported by BGEE imo.
And, from the rebalancing point of view, I'd want to suggest that Single Weapon Style should give some more advantage to the main-handed weapon. It means that this weapon style should provide not only the current +5% ciritical hit bonus but also some more bonuses like damage/THAC0 to the main-handed weapon.
As a result, the character with Single Weapon Style can deal damage as much as Two-handed did. Since Two-handed weapons provide longer range than One-handed weapons, this is reasonable change imo; Equal damage and + critical hit bonuses, but AC bonus vs. Speed Factor+long range bonuses.
What do you think about it?
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Comments
The other missing item is that the Bastard Sword, in particular, had different damage for single-hand vice 2-hand use. BG does not use this difference, nor does it use the AD&D damage versus large opponents.
If you don't like my idea that SWS gives extra damage bonuses because of its reality (aka "Single weapons generally have lower weight than Two-handed weapons"), I'd like to suggest extra THAC0 bonuses to SWS instead.
Since SWS seems to be related with agility/accuracy/concentration, this might be the best solution imo. What I want to say is that SWS should have at least one or more unique features that can not be achiavable by Two Weapon Style (i.e., generally TWS can give +AC/crit/APR so I thought some bonuses to main-weapon, that aren't given to Two-Handed Weapon Style, could be SWS's own feature).
TH weapons are largely the fighters territory - no other class has much access to the "good" ones (eg: Halberd or TH Sword). That said, they're supposed to be better and this comes at a cost. Interestingly, a TH Sword only does 1 more damage on average than a longsword of the same properties (d10 vs. d8 respectively). Despite the game's suggestion that "TH swords are more powerful than their one-handed counterparts", they really aren't more powerful by much. Further, magical longswords and other one-handed weapons greatly outnumber magical TH swords, particularly in BG2. If SWS becomes better than TWS, this small edge for TH weapons disappears completely.
2h specialization is worthless compared to 1h due to no AC increase, the speed factor increase being negligible and to top it off you can't instantly equip a shield if needed while keeping your weapon bonus if you put a point into say great sword.
The bonuses from full investment (2 points) in Single Weapon Style gives you -2 AC and a 19-20 crit.
Compare this to Two Handed Style's +1 damage and 19-20 crit (as well as about 1 point of damage from the weapon being bigger). You trade 2 points of damage for 2 points of AC. That's not a bad comparison in either direction.
Of note: they say "Magical two handed weapons are more powerful than their single handed counterparts", but their notin BG1. Even in BG2, Flail of the Ages, Roseblade, Celestial Fury, and a score of other great one-handers are lying everywhere. Only the late game artifacts, like Holy Avenger, Vorpal, and Wave, are truly 'better', and even then - not by much.
Sword and Shield style is about as useful too. At 2 points, the wielder gets 4 bonus to AC vs missile weapons. The magic bonus on shield is hard to find in BG1 (usually +1, one TOSC +2, one late +1/+4 vs missiles), and in BG2 they're still not that common (+2, late +3 and up).
So, in BG1, you're usually looking at Tower Shield +1 for +2 AC (+5 vs missiles). By using single weapon style, you're trading 5 AC vs missiles for crit range, but you still have to buy and lug around that shield.
It doesn't look like Single Weapon Style is weak until the BG2 mid game, but after that, I'd have to agree with you. Heading into late game BG2 or ToB without a cool shield mod and a few extra AC hurts when compared to just a 19-20 crit.
Rogues also get access to Single Weapon Style, but they can't use shields, so this is sort-of a free bonus to them, if they can afford it.
I guess the weakness of Single Weapon style doesn't bother me because it only affects warriors (who have three options other than this one) in mid game BG and later. I wouldn't know how to balance this mechanically - its a sticky situation because it only gets mucked up very late.