Weapon(s) of choice
odessa333
Member Posts: 59
Hi all!
With a LOT more free time till BGEE comes out, I'm looking for new things to research, and decided I'd try weapons. It seems every time I play BG1, I always end up using bows and two handed swords for everyone who can use them, then defaulting to hammers and slings for those who can't. Maces, halberds, spears, axes, cross bows, daggers... they just don't seem to measure up (to me) for some reason. I'm going to be trying out different weapons for my eventual fighter, but thought it might be interesting to get people's thoughts on the types of weapons, and why you use them. Any thoughts?
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Besides, flails are awesome.
The fighter pc usually uses a longsword, a katana in 2 weapons style with the flail as the blunt weapon of choice. I wish to try out other weapons like the halberd and spear, but I couldnt find any good ones near the start of the game (I played bg2 and tob only).
Really I tried to spread the weapon proficiencies of the party out so I could use as wide a variety of weapons as possible. This was more of an issue in BG2 since they did away with weapon groups. But no type of weapon was really my favorite.
For BG, take a look at the speed of all the weapons, esp ranged weapons. Darts do less base damage than other missile weapons, but they're faster and allow for more attacks per round. If thrown by someone with a decent thac0, that could mean higher overall damage in longer fights.
Another example: Give Coran or Shar-teel two+ pips in Missiles (BG1) or Crossbows (BGTutu) and equip them with the Light Crossbow of Speed and magic bolts. They'll practically machine-gun down groups of mages.
That gold warhammer is probably the best 1h weapon in the game, but keep in mind that plain warhammers do *less* damage than other crushing weapons. For the scope of the first game, this might mean needing to get that weapon as early as possible.
Spider's Bane is a great 2h sword that grants Free Action, but given that ranged weapons and AC are so important in BG1, I think it's slightly less attractive than it otherwise would be.
certain 1h swords are 4-11 damage weapons and additionally grant various bonuses, like +2 to AC or +50% fire resistance.
certain daggers do 9-12 damage
Offtopic: Weapon of choice that was the first thing that come to my mind when I saw this thread.
ye my favourite main is a monk!! :P
I would bring a magic bo stick, but sadly no bo sticks in BG and monk can only wield one-hand weapon
Carsomyr +6 is very awesome too. I still have to try a fighter/paladin or a paladin/fighter dualclass that has GM in dual handed swords and wears the Seldarine amulet together with both rings of Kangaxx. That must get the magic resistance up to around 80% if I remember correctly. Also, there are the bonuses to magic resistance from the last fight in BG2 and from Lums machine in Watchers Keep, so the resistance can be potentially even higher.
For BG2 the Celestial Fury is definite favorite, I'm currently playing a fighter/mage who uses Celestial Fury/Mace of Disruption (for the undead and golems) in main hand and Dak'kon's Zerth Blade in the offhand.
the Long Sword +2 from Greywolf at the Nashkel Mines
the War Hammer +2 from Bassilus near Beregost
the Dagger of Venom +2 purchased from the Beregost Smithy
Also, two good two-handed weapons that can be obtained relatively early are:
the Quarter Staff +3 purchased from Ulgoth's Beard
the Spider's Bane +2 from Cloakwood Forest
Other weapons worth mentioning are the Short Sword +2 and the Dagger +2, which are both obtained early. The Staff Mace that you get from Werewolf Island is an improvement on the War Hammer +2, in damage, and also the fact that any class can use it, and it allows a shield. The Battle Axe +2 is good but Kagain is realistically the only character who'd be making use of it. The Throwing Axe +2 is good because it's both for melee and ranged attacks, but it unfortunately doesn't apply a strength damage bonus, and is a late addition from Candlekeep. Halberd +2 is a good weapon, but like the Axe +2, not many NPC's need it, and it's a bad proficiency choice for charname. Kivan is the only one who'd need it, but he could have ** in another weapon by then. Weapons that are acquired so late that they aren't so great include the Scimitar +2, the Staff Spear +2, even the Two Handed Sword +3, and finally the Short Sword +3 and the Longtooth Dagger +2.
You could basically own BG1 with the light crossbow of speed & long bow of marksmanship.
The same applied to the dagger of venom, backstab a mage and laugh as he is interrupted over and over. Solo assassin runs with DoT effect weapons were a lot of fun.