Torn between flails and swords
AXidenT
Member Posts: 3
So I'm playing the BG:EE series for the first time (I played the original, though not to completion a long time ago) and am going with a Paladin. Traditionally flails are my favourite sort of weapon and BG actually has a super good weapon (Flail of Ages) so that would be a good option. However I also really like swords (second pick) and since I'm rolling with a Paladin which has the Carsomyr which is also mean to be really good and presumably more other good swords before that, that is seeming the more natural pick.
Can anyone offer my some advice and help me decide what to specialise in? Thanks!
Can anyone offer my some advice and help me decide what to specialise in? Thanks!
1
Comments
However, I would ask whether you are determined to play a paladin even though there is already one in the party? They are among the weaker options in the game unless you are playing an inquisitor, whose dispel magic ability is one of the strongest available to any characters. If you are open to trying something different, you might consider a fighter/cleric or ranger/cleric which would be thematically similar while perhaps offering more party utility.
One important note: the EE unifies the proficiency system between the two games, standardizing with the finer categories of BG2. Old proficiencies like "large swords" are gone, so bastard swords and two-handed swords are now different proficiencies.
As a paladin, you can't go beyond specialization, so you'll have room to develop multiple weapons for different situations. None of the companions you can recruit in BG2 start with flail proficiency, so they're all inclined to use other weapon types - but, by the same token, only Keldorn can even use Carsomyr or Purifier (the bastard sword jsaving mentioned). Bastard swords also have very little competition; only Ajantis starts proficient in BG1, while only higher-level versions of Dorn start proficient in BG2. Two-handed swords have quite a bit of competition, with Minsc and all the paladins.
Notable weapons in these proficiency types:
Flails and morning stars:
In BG1, there's a +1 flail you can get from a certain evil fisherman - maybe not paladin-approved, but it's a +1 weapon available very early with essentially no risk. +1 morning stars and flails are fairly common finds as you go on. Then there's a +2 flail you can buy in the big city, and a +3 cursed berserking morning star in Durlag's Tower.
In BG2, the Flail of the Ages is available early, and nothing really compares for offensive use. You can also buy the Defender of Easthaven as defensive support, granting 20% physical resistance when equipped.
Two-handed swords:
It can take a while to find a +1 in BG1, and non-magical two-handed swords are relatively expensive. Still, you'll eventually come across Spider's Bane +2, and later there's a +3 in Durlag's Tower. There's also a cursed berserking +3 when you deal with Brage.
In BG2, you get a +2 two-handed sword before you even reach the surface, and then Lilarcor +3 is available in a quest you can take on day 1. There are a bunch of other neat options, easily enough to equip multiple party members. In the long run, of course, Carsomyr is the way to go for a paladin. Well, a good paladin. Evil paladins have some options of their own.
Bastard swords:
Nonmagical bastard swords are incredibly plentiful in BG1, dropping from all the random hobgoblins you meet. You can get a +1 in Beregost, either buying from Feldepost or stealing from the smithy. Then there's Kondar which is great against the werewolf island bosses, and Albruin for general use if you can stomach working with Dorn for a bit.
In BG2, they're sparse early on. You'll get Kondar again, but then you'll have to go to Watcher's Keep for the good stuff. The two endgame options are Foebane (WK level 1) and Purifier (WK level 3, Paladin only). Both have upgrades with Cespenar which are very good. In the main SoA campaign, the best you can do is the Blade of Searing +3 found in the Underdark.
And yes, you have enough proficiency points to go with "all of the above". By level 15, you could have specialization in all three weapon types, plus one dot in two-handed style and two in two-weapon style. You can always switch weapons as the situation demands.
Now, you do have to prioritize in the early stages. Since Carsomyr is guarded by a dragon, it's not a priority for early point allocation. I'd go with the one-handed weapons in BG1, and develop your two-handed skills later.
There's also one choice point much later: Carsomyr and Purifier share an upgrade token, so you can only boost one of them. Between the two ... Purifier gains a lot more with the upgrade. Both of them get +1 attack and damage, but Purifier also gains more magic resistance and some daily spell charges.
Flail of Ages is THE weapon of the game. Slow without any saving throw is unbeatable.
But it also depens on which mods are you using. I usually play with SCS components "Replace many + 1 magic weapons with nonmagical fine weapons" and "Fine weapons are affected by iron crisis". Add from Tweak "Weapon proficiencies rebalancing" (which groups morningstars with maces) and there is single non-breakable magical Flail in BG 1 and two magical flails with unique properties in BG2/TOB.
It's not really a question of which you're doing. It's a question of which you're doing first.
Two Handed Swords have a lot of great options available much earlier than than the cool flails so I'd say go with two handed swords first and flails later if you're feeling indecisive.
It seems the immediate question is definitely what to start with on the character. I'm unsure whether I'll commit to Bastard swords just yet - so will look to try and get a flail or 2h-sword early on. jmerry seems to imply there are more early options for flails in BG1EE, whereas Chronicler's reply seems to say there are more two handed swords earlier? I'm guessing I'll survive either way so I might just flip a coin and adjust as needed as I go but aim to have both specialized.
You do have to steal those bastard swords in Bereghost though, which may or may not be in keeping with how they're playing their paladin.
In pen and paper a lot can be justified through creative roleplay. One of the less scrupulous members of the group will steal something and then we'll create some flow of events so the uptight one doesn't know where his cool weapon came from. In Baldur's Gate though, with one player in charge of the entire group, you tend to move the entire party as a single unified force, and it can feel weird for some players to send your thief companion to go steal things for your paladin player character.
And I agree - from a RP point of view I probably wouldn't be inclined to do that with a lawful good leader.
It doesn't even work with like darts or slings or other one handed ranged weapons. No real way to rules lawyer it.
The one rules-lawyer oddity is that weapon styles do apply to transformed characters using an effect like the Cloak of the Wolf or a Polymorph Self spell. Most of those forms' attacks are treated as one-handed melee weapons.
As for the +1 bastard swords in Beregost - you don't have to (and can't) steal the one that Feldepost is selling. It'll cost you a good chunk of gold (3750 before charisma/rep discounts), but it's not a burden on your conscience.
Oh, and there's another +1 bastard sword available relatively early in the EE. If you do Neera's quest, there's a named hobgoblin that carries one near the end.
Well
Pally - "Hi, is it open? Ok, it seems that nobody is here... too bad, we will come back in the morning"
Team exit the building, thief approaching the door in order to re-enter
Pally - "Why are you coming back in the store <Thief_name>?"
Thief - "No-nothing! Just forgot my bag inside, it will take a minute!"
The next day
Thief - "Hey <Pally_name>, you are skilled with bastard swords, aren't you?"
Pally - "Sure thing, too bad my normal ones are keep breaking out"
Thief - "So, happy birthday! Just bought it during the night while you were asleep!"
Pally - "Oh my Ao, you are so kind! Thank you!"
Thief - "You are welcome! -whispering 'Dumbass!!!'-"
Yes, i really invent these scenes while playing, too bad that even like this it's unlikely that a character with 13+ WIS would believe this kind of crap.
Well, he DOES worship Ao...