Imo the entangle effect is purely a gimmick. You can't rely on it at all, and most of the time when you're already in there, hitting the enemy why do you need to restrain it? Not like there's a lot of running away of enemies in this game.
The entangle effect is very reliable. It hits 15% of the time and lasts 4 rounds. That's 0.6 rounds of entanglement per hit on average. And the reason why it's useful is not because it prevents the enemy from running away from you; it's to keep the enemy from chasing after you. This means you can kite it much more easily, or more effectively use hit-and-fade tactics.
Usually, if something doesn't seem useful, it's because you're wondering how it could fit your pre-existing strategy, not how you could adapt your strategy to make use of the item or spell itself. It only looks gimmicky because you haven't bothered to figure out a use for it. I like disabling enemies with Hold Monster to pick them off one by one; what good is Sunfire if it can't paralyze the target?
I recently did a run where I only used underused and underpowered items and spells. Even Power Word: Sleep was useful, even if it wasn't as useful as other spells might have been.
I'm not disputing that you could construct scenarios where it appears useful. However, in practice, it just doesn't do much.
Are you seriously telling me you are running around with a short-sword-wielding characters trying to kite enemies. Whatever for? Sure you CAN do that but why would you ever WANT to?
I mean yeah, by the same logic you could extend the fringe scenario and find circumstances where it could come across as a good idea. But chances are that there is practically always a better, more effective solution.
Now, of course no one HAS to go for the most effective solution. Not by any stretch. RP and stuff trump it any time. But that's a personal decision, and knowingly choosing a less-than-optimal route doesn't make that route any better; it just makes it your choice.
What choice you make is ultimately up to you. Just be aware that you're making "bad" choices, and you can make them all you want.
If you just carte-blanche everything with "yeah you could just use it if you like", why have a discussion at all. After all, it's not about DECIDING what to do, it's about PRESENTING the various aspects of the issue. The decision is up to everyone individually. But sidetracking with fringe scenarios is, I feel, not overly conducive to that.
I want to use shortswords but more often than not, end up not doing it. Haer'dails if recruited late comes with pips ín LS, Mazzy I most often use with ranged and with S/S as backup. Mainchars more often than not end up using scimis/wakiz/ninja-to's rather than shortswords.
So, no I very seldom use it but I would really like to use more shortswords, and not only for shorties. I really like the idea of one of my own canonical characters, a blade, to use shortswords for RP reasons.
If you simply want to use short swords, this is the best one to be sure. Goes well with Kundane in the offhand, which is legitimately powerful.
You could also debate using a mod that shifts weapon types around (BG2Tweaks does this iirc), so that e.g. wakizashi are also short swords (as makes sense, considering that's what they are).
Comments
Usually, if something doesn't seem useful, it's because you're wondering how it could fit your pre-existing strategy, not how you could adapt your strategy to make use of the item or spell itself. It only looks gimmicky because you haven't bothered to figure out a use for it. I like disabling enemies with Hold Monster to pick them off one by one; what good is Sunfire if it can't paralyze the target?
I recently did a run where I only used underused and underpowered items and spells. Even Power Word: Sleep was useful, even if it wasn't as useful as other spells might have been.
Are you seriously telling me you are running around with a short-sword-wielding characters trying to kite enemies. Whatever for? Sure you CAN do that but why would you ever WANT to?
I mean yeah, by the same logic you could extend the fringe scenario and find circumstances where it could come across as a good idea. But chances are that there is practically always a better, more effective solution.
Now, of course no one HAS to go for the most effective solution. Not by any stretch. RP and stuff trump it any time. But that's a personal decision, and knowingly choosing a less-than-optimal route doesn't make that route any better; it just makes it your choice.
What choice you make is ultimately up to you. Just be aware that you're making "bad" choices, and you can make them all you want.
If you just carte-blanche everything with "yeah you could just use it if you like", why have a discussion at all. After all, it's not about DECIDING what to do, it's about PRESENTING the various aspects of the issue. The decision is up to everyone individually. But sidetracking with fringe scenarios is, I feel, not overly conducive to that.
So, no I very seldom use it but I would really like to use more shortswords, and not only for shorties. I really like the idea of one of my own canonical characters, a blade, to use shortswords for RP reasons.
You could also debate using a mod that shifts weapon types around (BG2Tweaks does this iirc), so that e.g. wakizashi are also short swords (as makes sense, considering that's what they are).