Fighter/Mage: Longswords or Katanas?

[mrdeluxe]

Hi!

I'm considering some kind of Fighter/Mage for my next run (perhaps Dual and perhaps Kensai or Berserker), and I was thinking about weapon proficiencies. Celestial Fury + Dak'kon's Zerth Blade seems like a no-brainer but I was wondering about Longswords, since they're a bunch around in the game that I tend not to use and they're more feasible choice for BG1 and ToB as well, it seems.

So let's consider, for instance, a Fighter level 9 dualed to a Mage. He would have 7 proficiency points. How would you spend them?

[Pellinore]

If you aren't going to have Yoshi or Valygirl I would use the katanas for yourself. I would still carry Daystar though...

[arsiwash]

blackrazor

Celestial Fury plus Blackrazor, will keep your str up there, and the HP drain is not bad either

[kmonster]

Belm and Kundane are better off-hand weapons than the Zerth Blade, even if you have grandmastery in katanas and no scimitar or short sword profs.

For a character who dualwields CF and belm I'd start with ***** in katanas and ** in scimitars, take quarterstaff at mage level 1 and dualwielding at level 6 and 12.

[Crenshinibon]

Kundane and Belm (Shortsword and Scimitar) are actually the best choice. The way I play a fighter/mage combination is by fighting as a Greater Wolfwere. As such, most weapon effects don't matter (unless they're castable, but that still doesn't help much). What you want the most is attack speed. If you want extra tankability, use Defender of Easthaven with one of those weapons. If you're not a fan of Shapechange, then I strongly suggest that you use longswords. There way are too few Katanas to put proficiency points in, not to mention that they aren't that good.

For longswords, you have much more flexibility and useful effects:

Blackrazor:
*Stat drain.
*Health regeneration.
*Twenty-point heal.
*Four-level drain on enemies.
*Immunity to Charm and Fear.

Angurvadal +5:
*Bonus fire damage.
*Immunity to level drain (frees an amulet slot).
*Strength set to 22 (frees belt slot).

Dragonslayer:
*Double damage against dragons!
*Detect invisibility. (More of a perk, it's not really useful.)

The Answerer +4:
*Each hit lowers target's magic resistance by 15%. (You ARE part mage after all, so this should mean something to you.)
*Each hit applies a -2 penalty to you're opponent's AC (less misses for everyone).

The Equalizer:
*Grants good THAC0 bonuses.
*THAC0 bonuses apply to the main hand weapon.

[Edar Macilrille]

Does it not depend on the mods you use (like so much else)?
I have found that using Tactics and whatever mod it is that lets you upgrade CF, Katanas are great for my Kensai-Mage-Thief. CF + the Acid Katana (forgot name) is very useful. Any hits, not just damage, gives acid damage to the one dealing it. Pretty nice...

[Stworca]

I'm not sure if Fighter/Mage can use Flails (because i only played this class once).

But if yes - Flail of Ages + Defender of Eastheaven beats all. Let me add a line under it, use CAPS and increase font. BEATS ALL

For swords, if your fighter/mage is spell focused with a little melee now and then (instead of other way around) then The Answerer sword is what you want. Reduces enemy MR on hit.

Edit : So yes, i agree with Cren on everything except the Scimitars part

[Edar Macilrille]

Fighter-Mage Can use flails, but Fighter-Mage-Thief cannot backstab with a flail as a flail is a non-backstab weapon.

And it all depends on the mods you are using. The Acid katana is pretty useful (if difficult to get).

[Stworca]

Ah yes, Kuroisan's acid katana. A very, very good, if not overpowered weapon.

[Edar Macilrille]

I kind of like its Regen ability as well. Always nice.

[Rancid Sushi]

I would say long swords just because you can get really good ones very early in the vanilla game. Specifically: Namarra +2 (cast Silence 15" Radius) from the Crypt King and Daystar from the City Gates Lich. Get proficiencies in Katanas later because it usually costs more to get them, and Namarra will be useful in the Guarded Compound fight.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

* in Scimitars or Short Swords will do you fine - they'll just be offhand weapons anyway. Start with a longsword focus IMO.