Dual Wielding 1337s

Querschen · Post by **Querschen** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:04 pm

My current Char is a Dual Weapon 1337, and I am obsessed with 2 weapon style, it just seems to be the most effective and The idea of all dual wielding people could be excellent. Combo suggestions as well as party suggestions ( all dual wielders) would be appreciated.

Ambiorix · Post by **Ambiorix** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:28 pm

Dual-wield suggestion:
I still use Cromm Fayr in TOB (as off-hand weapon) for the 25 strenght.
Ass main weapon Foebane is excellent.

Combo suggestion: Swashbuckler dual-classed to fighter at level 10.
Advantages:
- has AC 3 lower than a normal fighter
- can specialise in at least two thieving qualities (I set lockpicking and trapdetection at 110 but if you have another thief in your party you might consider dispell illusions, trap-setting or hide in shadows)
- has more weapon profiency points than normal fighter (because of the 4 points acquired as swahbucler: choose 3 in two weapon style and one in off-hand weapon; when duel-classing put all 4 points in main weapon)
Disadvantage:
- less hit-points

Querschen · Post by **Querschen** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:42 pm

I have dualed from swash to fighter and ended up with -20 AC or so by the end of ToB but thats not the point of this thread!

Impaler987 · Post by **Impaler987** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 2:34 pm

I go for looks as much or more so than I do power. Still, there are some great dual-wield combos that both look "right" and are quite effective.

Format: Main hand / Off hand

Oriental Combos (look good w/ a pure Kensai, Stalker, or Assassin/Fighter):
Celestial Fury / Hindo's Doom +4
Celestial Fury / Belm +2
Hindo's Doom +4 / Spectral Brand +5
Spectral Brand +5 / Belm +2

Blunt Combos (what any Ranger/Cleric needs):
Runehammer +5 / Crom Faeyr
Storm Star +5 / Skullcrusher +3
(IMO, since there's no other good flail in the game, Flail of Ages should be left wielded w/ a shield - remember, I'm going for looks as well)

Western Steel (works w/ all warrior-types):
Foebane +5 / Angurvadal +5 (best order against demons, but the other way around is good for general purposes as well)
Actually, any sword combo involving Foebane and/or Angurvadal is excellent. For role-playing appearances, try not to combine "Western" swords (bastard,long,short) with "Eastern" swords (katana,scimitar), even though I myself sometimes fall into that temptation, especially early in SoA (Celestial Fury / Blade of Roses +3 at that tough stage is too good for my Stalker to resist).

Purifier Madness (only Paladins need apply):
Purifier +5 / Angurvadal +5 (My personal favorite)
Foebane +5 / Purifier +5 (kills demons like nobody's business, especially beautiful when a Cavalier uses this on demons: +3 kit bonus against demons on top of this already insanely powerful combo.)

As for an all-dual-wield party ... this is a tough one, and probably not the best ... but here it goes (remember, emphasizing looks balanced w/ power, so no FoA / Crom Feyer here):
PC: Paladin (whatever kit you prefer, they're all great) - Purifier +5 / Angurvadal +5 (switches to Foebane +5 against demons)
Minsc - Storm Star +5 / Skullcrusher +3 (switches to Mace of Disruption +2 against undead)
Valygar - Celestial Fury / Hindo's Doom +4
Anomen - Runehammer +5 / Crom Faeyr
Jaheira - either Club of Detonation +5 / Blackblood +3, or Spectral Brand +5 / Belm +2
Imoen (not that she's too effective physically anyway, but you need magic, so...) - Short Sword of Mask +4 / Dagger of the Star +5

Every NPC is good- or neutral-aligned so as to keep Sir Paladin happy (Jaheira's essentially good anyway, despite what her alignment says).

dios · Post by **dios** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 4:16 pm

I must say that i'm impressed of your dualwielding combos Impaler987.

Personally I am very fond of any combo with Celestial Fury included, CF an Defender +5 is an great combo. (Yes i brought Defender +5 with me from BG1)

Now must i start a new game and try all new combos.

hwttdz · Post by **hwttdz** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 11:01 pm

A cheap trick is the dual of a kensai to a thief to get the high level ability use any item. A kensai not only has the damage bonus but they have a speed bonus. The major disadvantage of bastard swords is that they are so sluggish this is solved by a kensai. So a kensai can dual wield purifier/fobane. Nasty combo. You can get some strength from the belt of fire giant strength (22) which should justify someone using bastard swords to anyone.

For looks I think I like a combo of long sword/short sword. or perhaps another like combo where the offhand weapon is lighter in comparison to the main hand weapon. More of a finesse fighter.

serjeLeBlade · Post by **serjeLeBlade** » Thu Jul 04, 2002 6:22 am

My Imoen ended up double-wielding Hindo's Doom/Dak'kon Zerth Blade.
Never intended to use them to fight, but wanted the bonus spells, AC, magic resistance and immunities.
Plus... talking about look... I edited Imoen's avatar to look like a mage, and set dress colors to black.
You get a pretty girl in long black dress double wielding katanas.
A pleasure to the eyes, and way cooler tha Lara Croft

... Not?

A combo worth trying imo, since fighter-type characters wouldn't have much use for these two.

And note that there's no need to even spend a single * in "double wielding" if you don't want to, since you're never going to use these weapons to attack!

Impaler987 · Post by **Impaler987** » Thu Jul 04, 2002 8:46 am

Originally posted by hwttdz
A cheap trick is the dual of a kensai to a thief to get the high level ability use any item. A kensai not only has the damage bonus but they have a speed bonus. The major disadvantage of bastard swords is that they are so sluggish this is solved by a kensai. So a kensai can dual wield purifier/fobane. Nasty combo. You can get some strength from the belt of fire giant strength (22) which should justify someone using bastard swords to anyone.

Yep, it is a cheap trick, which is why I don't use it. I don't like to use UAI in that fashion. I never even dual-class a kensai in the first place b/c it's not proper role-playing-wise (and the kensai combos, IMO, are overrated anyway, but I like the pure kensai because it's fun and challenging). And the speed factors for the Purifier and Foebane are quite respectable (3 for their +5 forms, I think). And most of all, a paladin (especially a cavalier) is better anyway b/c of all their defenses; a kensai/thief will never match a cavalier's immunity to fear and charm, which are the demon's main tools, nor will it match any paladin's low saving throws (which by that level prevent almost anything else).

Thorin1 · Post by **Thorin1** » Fri Jul 05, 2002 12:33 am

I liked going with a Bezerker till level 12 then dual classing to a Cleric.

I wound up dual weilding with:
The Flail Of Ages +5
and Runehammer +5 for Undead/StormStar +5

You can wind up by the end of the game with 3 points in Dual-Weilding, and 5 in atleast Flail and Mace and 3-4 points in Hammer.

You can use Cleric Spells to make your Strenth 25 for battles.

Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 3:55 am

Why do you think that a Kensai shouldn't be dualled to mage?
I think that both "careers" require discipline.
Maybe the point is how you play then, if you say that a kensai always goes for an "honourable" fight

Hesperus · Post by **Hesperus** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 3:41 pm

Nice set of combos, Impaler987. With style, function, and realism in mind, I dual my shorter characters with short weapons, though I suppose spear and halberds may be liked by some shorter adventures for the reach advantage.

The contribution I have is to dual wield with two speed factor 0 weapons. Ya get an extra attack per round. I found this with my happy go lucky halfling fighter-theif dual wielding the short sword of backstabbing and Kundane, short sword of quickness. There are some nice fast daggers as well... What could be better than an extra poke in the ribs to your foes?

Querschen · Post by **Querschen** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 9:52 am

I cant believe Impaler that you left out a couple of bastard swords from SoA (yeah i know this is a ToB forum but a lot of weapons have been from SoA). No real quality bastard swords exist until the underdark, but you get 2 in a row being Jhor the bleeder and Blade of seering. I gave this to my berserker and he was a monster against drow, kuo toa, mid flayers etc. The poison is cumulative, bypasses breach and really starts to stack up damage even as an off-hand weapon.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 10:35 am

Don't know if it is stylish but it sure is effective. A Barbarian dualwielding FoA and Defender of easthaven.
Yeah and Jhor the bleeder is a very good sword indeed.
I actually think that the most stylish is to be a Cavalier and use a Shield and a Bastard/Long Sword.
You can havet the dradon equipment in SoA for instance with Red Dragon Scale, Dragon Shield, Dragon Helm and Dragonslayer Sword... talk about stylish.
Or the ultimate Cavalier uses a shield and purifier. Very elegant. Off topic but elegant.

Querschen · Post by **Querschen** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 7:40 pm

Im pretty sure my characters, especially a Cav. is interested in 'elegance' unless 'elegance' is defined as gibbing demons...