Two-Handed Weapon Style - Is it Worth it to Specialize (Put 2 Points?)

HaHaCharade

Curious if experienced players feel that the 2nd point in Two-Handed Weapon Style is worth it? The first point obviously gives you a better crit chance and more damage. The second however only reduces speed factor by 2. I'm wondering if I'd be better served putting the remaining dot into bows or something similar.

sarevok57

i always put 2 points, usually 2 handed weapons are really slow, so it does kinda help, and usually if i have a main melee character skilled with 2 handed weapons they will never use range weapons anyway, but if you really want to specialize in more weapons, then 1 is all you need, and plus with 5 profs in a weapon i believe that gives you -3, plus -2 with two handed weapon style, and if you get a +4 two handed weapon, that puts it to 1 altogether (although you can have 0) maybe if its like a paladin or ranger for example 2 points in two handed weapon could be good, since they can only specialize, but with a figther type that can do 5, maybe not so much, but for me i just do it anyways

SharGuidesMyHand

I recently completed a BG1 playthrough as a halberd-wielding barbarian. I started with two points apiece in halberds and longbows, and finished with two more points in 2-handed weapon style. Once I had already put the first point into 2-handed, there wasn't going to be enough time left in the game to specialize in another weapon, and I wasn't planning on importing my character into BG2, so I tossed the last point into 2-handed as well in order to get the most out of my halberd.

Had I been intending to import my character into BG2, however, I would've looked to start allocating points into another 2-handed weapon rather than putting a second point into 2-handed weapon style.

lunar

It is worth it for the specialised two handed weapon fighter subtype, like a barbarian, ranger, or multi-class fighter. Since they can't get grand mastery in the weapon they use, getting two handed style is a neat bonus they can have on top of regular weapon specialisation. Say, if you are barbarian that really really likes halberds, after getting ** in halberds it is only logical to get ** in two handed weapon style for maximum benefits. Staves become great weapons with two handed style, with speed and damage bonus, they become very comparable weapons despite their lower base damage.

A pure fighter or kensai should get grand mastery in the weapon they use first, ofcourse. Then again in bg1 you can't spend all your proficiency points into one weapon at lvl 1, so you can pick ** halberds and ** two handed style. Or, if not playing a kensai, go ** longbows for versatility, as bows are great in bg1, then get grand mastery until lvl 9 fighter, and after that put points into two handed weapon style. This fighter will use only halberds but use them VERY effectively.

In bg2 you can get, with a kensai or pure fighter, grandmastery (*****) on halberds right off the start and put the remaining point into two handed style for added bonus. A kensai with its own speed and damage bonuses, on top of two handed weapon style's bonuses, will be a very fast and heavy hitting combatant, even with a clunky halberd.

HaHaCharade

I tend to do this setup in Icewind Dale for a level 1 fighter with 2-handed:

2-Handed Sword **
2-Handed Weapon Style *
Axes *

Mainly because there's good Two-Handed Axes and Swords for my fighter, also the Throwing Axe that returns is nice and I usually don't have room for the Axe proficiency on someone with a shield. I tend to have a couple bowmen already, and normally if I'm pure melee I won't switch off that often.

Sed

I never really bothered with 2 pips in 2-handed weapon style.
The only thing it adds is a higher probability to interrupt a caster (you hit earlier in the round). It has nothing to do with damage output.

bob_veng

it's absolutely never worth it.

DreadKhan

It can be useful at very low levels on a barbarian if you use halberds or spears, because you can melee kite rather well. At higher levels, you shouldn't be doing that, so if you don't take it at lvl 1, stay at 1 pip.

But it can be useful. Ish.

Lord_Tansheron

bob_veng said:

it's absolutely never worth it.

Assuming you have ANYWHERE else to put it, you're correct. But of course, at times you don't - and that's the time to for the style :P

It really depends on how you play. When I do go for 2h, it's pretty much always on a Paladin - and then I use that 2h weapon 100% of the time. Putting the second pip into 2h style isn't great, but even the most minor gain is better than NO gain. But, if you say, found yourself using a thrown weapon or whatever even just a few times, you're probably better off specing into that than the 2h style 2nd pip.

lunar

Sed said:

I never really bothered with 2 pips in 2-handed weapon style.
The only thing it adds is a higher probability to interrupt a caster (you hit earlier in the round). It has nothing to do with damage output.

Huh? It gives a flat out +1 damage bonus per hit and also doubles your critical hit threat. That's a lot more damage output, I think.

bob_veng

in the case that you have grandmastery in a 2H weapon even when it seems like the only potentially useful option it won't produce any effects because high enchantment 2H weapons have an okay speed factor and grandmastery will aditionally lower it, so the effects won't be noticeable.

but if you only have specialization, yes, there will be very minor noticeable effects. but effectively it will still not have practical consequences.

Nimran

Mainly just an OCD thing for me. I just HAVE to max it out.

HaHaCharade

lunar said:

Huh? It gives a flat out +1 damage bonus per hit and also doubles your critical hit threat. That's a lot more damage output, I think.

Not at 2 pips, it does that at 1.

Sed

@lunar‌
what he said! *points at @HaHaCharade‌*

lunar

Sed said:

@lunar‌
what he said! *points at @HaHaCharade‌*

Oh okay. My bad. I guess there is little incentive to go for ** after * in the style.