Belm OR Kundane

mrdeluxe · Post by **mrdeluxe** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:49 pm

Is there any big reason for choosing Belm over Kundane? I want to give one of them to my Stalker, but it seems silly to dual wield to completely different sword types like Long Sword and Scimitar, or Katana and Scimitar.

Long Sword and Short Sword sword, however, make a little more sense.

However, with Scimitar proficiencies I could use a Wakizashi, which would make a good companion for a Katana, but there's not really any good ones…

roller1234 · Post by **roller1234** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:21 am

Contrary to the popular opinion, both are bad weapons, not even that great for early game. There weapons lack any mods and being +2, not hit things you'd like to hit. The only thing they actually do is adding, due to a slightly exploitable way the game works, an extra attack to your main weapon. Now consider that this is completely equal to just adding a good weapon into offhand directly, without spending points in scimitars or anything.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:53 am

Honestly, because I favor attack speed over damage, I use both of them, all the way through ToB, with some occasional weapon swap. The choice largely depends on your class and abilities, so since I usually play as a Blade, I use both in order to gain the highest possible attacks per round, however, if I'm using my Offensive Spin, then I'll switch over to a heavier weapon, while still sitting at five attacks per round.

As a Stalker, since (later) you gain the ability to have ten attacks per round regardless of weapon, it only makes sense to choose a damaging one, such as a two handed sword. Don't forget that these weapons are only good for attacking - if you want to backstab, you want to use a very damaging weapon to take advantage of the multiplier (such as the Staff of the Ram +6).

mrdeluxe · Post by **mrdeluxe** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:37 am

Thank you both for your answers.

For roleplaying reasons I'm planning of using swords of some kind, and I do like to backstab (the main reason I switched from an Archer to a Stalker).

What weapons would you suggest to use on the off-hand other than Belm or Kundane? I would prefer weapons that would make some "sense": short swords, wakizashis, daggers, even axes, maces, clubs and hammers make (some) sense, if a little unorthodox.

Long swords, flails and bastards swords would be much harder to pull off, although there was a famous samurai that supposedly fought with two katanas…

roller1234 · Post by **roller1234** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:30 am

lots of choices really. Offhand slot is best used for items with good mods, which buff the overall strength. For example crom hammer for total strength or axe of unyielding for regeneration. And if not liking anything or not having the weapon yet, just use the Kundane, after all it does somewhat buff the character. I would probably stick to one weapon, cause of ranged weapons, throwing daggers are crazy powerful in this game (firetooth) and staves for backstabs. For coolness nothing beats two katanas. What kind of Ranger is it supposed to be? Minsc like or Valygar like. Mazzy like?

mrdeluxe · Post by **mrdeluxe** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:57 am

More Valygar-like, I suppose, though I never really played that much with Valy.

The main inspiration is a Strider kind of character (Aragorn in Lord of the Rings): the pure stalker that can scout ahead, deliver tactical strikes in the enemy and hold his own until the cavalry comes to his rescue.

For this I'm valuing versatility more than sheer power. That means that I have him ** in Long Bows for the times that he can't get near enough for a backstab (this is also a lifesaver in BG1).

In a party, I would have Minsc with me with a Two-Handed Sword or Double Axes as the main damage dealer and Jaheira as support and tank (with a Shield, Full Plate and Ironskins).
In the back, providing Arcane and Holy magic I'll have Imoen (Jan before spellhold) and Aerie, perhaps Haer'Dalis as well. Later in ToB, Haer'Dalis would get the boot in regards to Mr. ToB.

With a party like this I already have big fighters, tanks, mages, clerics and usable thieves, so my Ranger will fill gaps when needed.

Right now I'm having loads of fun in BG1. Backstabbing with Varscona +2 is fantastic! My favorite tactic is attacking a group of Black Talon bandits from the shadows, forcing them to change from ranged to melee, and then having my group pierce them with arrows.