why do all the short swords suck?

dafreak · Post by **dafreak** » Sat May 05, 2001 4:14 pm

I'm looking through the list of short swords and it seems like all the short swords in BG2 suck. They only do +2 damage. So if you want to develop har'dalis into a short-sword-duel-weilding-bad-a**, you're kinda hard pressed for a good short sword.
Am I the only one who feels this way? I mean granted Har'dalis is not supposed to be a tank, or even a medium tank but more of a support npc, it would be nice to equip him with a half decent weapon. NO, YES, OR AM I SMOKING CRACK?

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat May 05, 2001 4:30 pm

what do you mean? Short words have cutthroat which is +4. There is kundane which give you an extra attack, there short word of backstabbing a +3 that is easy to get. I think there are many good short swords. H'D own swords are good too.

Angelus · Post by **Angelus** » Sat May 05, 2001 4:33 pm

Originally posted by dafreak:
<STRONG>...OR AM I SMOKING CRACK?</STRONG>

Probably.

H'D already comes with two shortswords, they are only +2 but have some good specials.

Than there is the shortsword of backstabing which is +3, there is even a +4 one somewhere along the way. I think that's not that bad?

HighWatcher Zubie · Post by **HighWatcher Zubie** » Sat May 05, 2001 7:14 pm

Ilbrata (sp?), the sword you get from the wizard in Umar Hills is not a good sword to fight with i agree but just equip it to one of your character as a secondary weapon to give him 1 mirror image/day

The_Pope · Post by **The_Pope** » Sun May 06, 2001 3:00 am

Wow! Member #84! And I thought I was an oldie...

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Sun May 06, 2001 3:06 am

there are a lot of good short swords;
cutthroat +4 short sword of bagstabbing +3
Albane's sword wich gives free action when equiped and can cast haste one a day.
that sword from the Umar Hills is also very good mirrorimage once a day.
so your fighter,bard,thief,ranger can get a great defense to and u don't have to be a mage for that.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Sun May 06, 2001 3:48 am

pope i know(well) mamber 69!!!

White Rabbit · Post by **White Rabbit** » Mon May 07, 2001 6:58 pm

Just thought I could be the 50th person to point out the +4 short sword. I AM THE MASTER OF THE OBVIOUS!

[ 05-07-2001: Message edited by: White Rabbit ]

Pe Ell · Post by **Pe Ell** » Tue May 08, 2001 5:25 am

If some swords suck its the Bastard swords and Long swords. No more than 3+... Ok Im unsure about black razor but you get that one so late it doesnt matter.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Tue May 08, 2001 5:33 am

I agree for the Bastard Swords but the Long Swords present in the game certainly don't suck. Profiencies in Long Sword is a very good choise thanks to Blackrazor, Daystar and many more.

dafreak · Post by **dafreak** » Tue May 08, 2001 9:56 am

Ok, ok, so I overlooked the cutthroat, but you don't really get that sword until late in the game right?
so until then the best short sword is sword of backstabbing and arbane. That's still not all that great, right? Or am I still smoking crack?

White Rabbit · Post by **White Rabbit** » Tue May 08, 2001 10:07 pm

I think crack is a very real possibility at this point.....

Something · Post by **Something** » Wed May 09, 2001 8:35 am

Arbane is probably one of the better swords in the game, and easily the best shortsword. Your probably just failing to break the sword. I have a k/m that I am soloing with, just got out of the underdark and needless to say this is one of the 2 weapons I keep in my main hand. After reactivating my kensia I was able to take out the guarded compound, 40% of it was becuase I was able to drop a couple of webs/cloudkill and walk in a beat on held guys. Sure I had to drop down once or twice to pull out a couple of single guys to make it easier. But this sword gets you out of so many bad situations. Its great for just countering a hold spell(wait for the wizard to cast hold, and switch to it, after it hits switch back to whatever sword your actually proficient in.

two · Post by **two** » Fri May 11, 2001 7:36 am

Originally posted by Something:
<STRONG>Arbane is probably one of the better swords in the game, and easily the best shortsword. </STRONG>

I have always found that, for the 95% of creatures that can be hit by +2 weapons, Kundane is better as a short sword. Although it is not documented, Kundane DOES seem to give an extra attack. An extra attack is, in general, far better than a few extra pluses for to-hit and damage, for example 2 +2 attacks is better than 1 +5 attack, even better than 1 +6 attack against most monsters. The only exception is those baddies that +2 can't hit, or where their AC is so so low you need the additional bonus just to hit the damn thing (dragons, etc.)

It's not a special resistance ability, to be sure, but over the course of a few hours of play I think an extra attack, each and every time you strike, will make for a more useful and powerful sword. In general, i find that "permanent" magic items (items that give bonuses you ALWAYS use) are more powerful/useful (like 25 str., reduction of casting time, etc.) than abilities only useful on special occasions (resist fire, free action, etc. this includes weapons like Daystar only superb vs. Undead. CFury more useful than Daystar simply because CFury works against everyone).

Give a bard or thief Kundane, the scimitar Belm (which also gives an extra attack), and presto you get 4 attacks. It's also fun wielding Belm/Kundane off-hand with CromF to get the extra attack (with CromF).

Again, it's not as sexy or dazzling as glowing resistances, but there is a certain satisfaction to seeing a lowly Bard improved hasted and cusinarting away. I think.

Just my two cents.