dual axe fighter

13urek · Post by **13urek** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 3:53 pm

hello everyone, im new around here, also new to BG2, but used to play BG1 alot (went through it couple of times

)

anyway, in BG1 i really liked playing ranger specialized in long sword and Bow, but i heard rangers are that strong in BG2 (and bow isnt overpowered). so im thinking about making a ranger or a fighter to start the game with (like to have it all planned be4 i start

).

other thing, im really fan of axes :laugh: but played through BG1 with sword since there werent that many choices for axes in it, everything seemed to go around swords ... but heard that in BG2 (and ToB) all of the weapons got equal attention. so this is the question, are the weapons balanced now ?? (meaning there are both cool axes and swords, other cool items too) or are there couple of items that are definetly better than any other in weapon class.

last thing, i always liked dual-wielding (in other RPGs) and heard there is a dual-wield ability now in BG2. Is it worth it, is it better than weap+shield, or worse ?? just need your opinion on this one, and couple of suggestions for skills and abilities if i decide to dual-wield (prolly), and skills and abillities i should take if i go weapon+shield (if u think its way better that duals)

also could use couple of advices about fighters in general, also about atributes (do i need to roll for 18/18/18 str, dex, con) and any usefull advice u can give me, but ...

PLZ NO SPOILERS, i wanna enjoy the game myself (and it lasts longer this way

)

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:04 pm

Don't usually do fighters, but I can tell you this: the one class of weapon that is hopelessly underpowered is staves. Sure, there are excellent +1 items out there with some great spells to cast from within them, but as fighting weapons--no way. A lich might comment on the prettiness of a particular staff, but only to kill its user and mount the thing on its rec room wall.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:15 pm

I've roleplayed a barbarian dual wielding axes. You wont be disappointed - there are plenty axes scattered around the game.

Challenges:

Try using daggers, and as fable mentioned, staves, or maybe clubs. Clubs have powerfull units scattered, and even a cheesy one club is found rather early in the game, but you need to search a bit for them.

Aztaroth · Post by **Aztaroth** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:17 pm

Well without posting spoilers it's a bit hard to say...

There might be some very slightly spoilerish things below... very very minor stuff, though

I don't think that at least in SoA all weapons get equal attention. There are a few pretty mediocre axes out there, some of which you can get relatively early on... And there are some slightly better that you can purchase from the bigger shops (you'll know which I'm talking about when you've played a while

) but they are quite expensive... in ToB, though, there's at least one axe that, when upgraded, is pretty powerful.

I've never really used axes, though... a fan of two-handed swords, myself

Always used Spider's Bane in BG1

Anyway, good luck with your game and welcome to the forums!

13urek · Post by **13urek** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:21 pm

tnx for replies guys, so if i wanna make a good warrior i should go with fighter or barbarian class ?? is ranger bad option or no ?

one more thing, if i use axe as main-hand weapon, should i use some other axe as my off-hand weapon, or is some light weapon better, like some nice short sword or other light weapon ?

edit: tnx for the welcome msg

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:36 pm

As a fighter, you can multi-class. I don't know if that is of interest to you, but if you use mods and ToB, then you'll have plenty of opportunities for extra experience, so you won't suffer in the longrun for having a multi-classed character.

Though you may want to consider a third option, besides fighter and barbarian: a kensai. Very powerful, despite armor and ranged limitations.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:40 pm

As a human fighter of course, aye?

I prefer multiclassing myself. Makes it harder in the beggining, rewarding in the end

13urek · Post by **13urek** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:46 pm

replie

kensai is the fighter that cannot use armor and ranged weapons right ? that would make him a nice multiclass with mage, because he doesnt wear armor, or no ?? i might look into that a bit. will that class still be good at dualwielding an axe + some light weapon ?? or dual wield some swords (katanas, or something nice that would benefit mage), dont need a spoiler where to find weapon, just if it exists (class of weapon a F/M would benefit the most), still its a bit of a spoiler

anyway could this guy get enough XP without using mods, i am planning on upgrading him on ToB after i finish SoA.

edit: @ luis_antonio yes, i prefer human above all, find them mostly balanced

BIG EDIT

: another question, i have been reading all day long that strip (order of the stick), so if some1 doesnt know what it is google it

and i really liked that halfling ranger using 2 daggers (or short swords ...), but i guess this would be rather chalenging for some1 playing the game first time

any thoughts on this guy (plz read couple of strips, if u dont know what im talking about, they are really funny

)

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:50 pm

Hey.

Barbarians sound great and are great but they can't wear most of the best armors which is really a downer. There are some decent axes in SOA but they have to be bought for a LOT of money. One amazing one obtainable in TOB makes up for all the mediocre ones(note:if you have TOB installed as well this amazing axe is obtainable in SOA).

Here's a question. Why don't you just import your Ranger from BG1 to BG2? There is even a cheat to get your posessions from BG1 back...

IMO, Rangers are kinda underpowered in BG2. Most people would play a Ranger like a Fighter, making me wonder why they didn't just create a fighter(with the exception of Minsc; this guy is MEANT to be a tank). The only decent Ranger would be the Archer. As stated above, bows aren't overpowered, and there aren't a lot of good ones, which could turn experienced gamers away. The upside is that even with a weak bow he can do high damage if you are Grand-Mastered in that bow style (+++++).

So it's really up to you, but I recommend that if you have your BG1 character still, import it. THEN if you want you can find out the cheat to get your posessions from BG1 back.

About dual-wielding...
If you are planning to dual wield 2 different styles of weapon(eg. axe and katana), put the weapon that you are more proficient with in the off-hand. if you are equally proficient, put the weapon with the highest Thac0 bonus in the off-hand (if any have a Thac0 bonus). If you are planning to dual wield Axes, put the one with the highest Thac0 bonus in the off-hand. All of these tips will lower your Thac0 in both hands (that's a good thing). Also, you should have AT LEAST 1 proficincy point (+) in Two-Weapoon style. Having more than one point in it will result in an even lower Thac0.

13urek · Post by **13urek** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:09 pm

k, tnx for the info, dont have my BG1 char

but i dont mind starting over (or even run through BG1 in couple of days to make a new one, BG1 ends when u buy that composite bow +1

) but still thinking on that kensai/mage option, or dual-wielding ranger (maybe one rellying on some sneaking, not just tanking like fighters)

im not that much into archers, actually BG1 is the only RPG where i found them to be really cool, other times i just miss the action of stuffing some peace of metal into enemys face (maybe barbarian is bet for my kind of personality

)

will probably try couple of first chapters to see which char i like the best, or is this a bad idea, since some chars get stronger later ?

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:13 pm

I usually play through chapter 1 and partially through chapter 2 and then I decide I don't like the character because I might be bored of it. I've only been to chapter 3 and up twice, one of them I am working on now with a pure Wizard Slayer.

13urek · Post by **13urek** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:25 pm

i think i'l go with dual-wielding halfling ranger, i dont care if hes underpowered or whatever

i really liked that guy in the strip.

by the way, any1 else knows the strip im talking about or no. try googleing it, it should be at http://www.giantitp.com (or net, org ...). just write "order of the stick" on google, and it should find it, really enjoyed that comic book, still didnt finish reading :laugh:

edit: argh, just realized, halflings cannot be rangers

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:32 pm

I would say good choice if that could happen. IIRC, halflings can only be fighters, thieves and clerics. Mistake me if i'm wrong. BTW rangers can only be Humans, Half-Elves or Elves.

Have you thought about a romance with an NPC yet? I think you should...

13urek · Post by **13urek** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:45 pm

just checked ingame, halflings can also be barbarians

that would make a great char :laugh: about that ranger thing, i think its true, u can only be one if u are human, elf or half-elf

heard about that romance quest on some forum, but i didnt understand it exactly, so ill probably be thinking about it for my next char, once i know what it is. if some1 could explain a bit about it without putting way too many spoilers in the replie i would appreciate it

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:51 pm

oooo...a rabid halfling:mischief: wonder what that would look like

Ok. If you looked at tha manual, there are 5 female NPC's that can join you--you probably only know Jaheira. 3 of them are romancable (viconia, jaheira, and aerie). Romance dialogs happen automatically--you cant initiate them without cheating. Every once in a while one of the girls will initiate a conversation. If you say nice things, another dialog will appear later and this will continue until the romance ends. You will know if you have a romance if many dialogs with one female NPC happen. there is also one male romance option for women, Anomen. It's the same thing as above.

13urek · Post by **13urek** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:32 am

i know jaheira, and also viconia (shes the dark elf cleric u find near bandit camp in BG1 right ?) but i still didnt understand one thing, i need to be cheating if i want to get that quest ?? or will it finally happen, maybe later in the game if just keep saying nice things ?

any comments on barbarian halfling dual-wielding some daggers ?? or short showrd + dagger? are shord swrods for halfling still light or heavy weapons, as i remember in NwN they were heavy weapons for halflings ...

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 5:34 am

In BG2 there's no difference between light or heavy weapons only 1-handed and 2-handed. Halflings use weapons the same way as humans do.
It also doesn't make a difference if you use a light or medium weapon in your off-hand for dualwielding, so a halfling dualwielding axes or using an halberd is no problem.

AFAIK halflings cannot romance anyone in BG2, you'll need a mod if you want a romance, but I don't think it's worth it.

I totally disagree with Berethor's dualwielding advice. You get only 1 attack/round with your off-hand but 2.5 with your main hand. So you should use the better weapon in your main hand.
Best off-hand weapons are not weapons which do much damage but give bonusses to your main hand's attack.
Belm and Kundane are the best off-hand weapons imho even if you are not proficient in them, they are only +2 but they give +1 attack/round with your main hand.

The short swords you can get in the game are not very good,daggers are even worse so axe is probably the far better choice.
You'll probably want to get ** in short swords, ** in dualwielding, ** in axe or longsword (there are so many of them) and ** in a blunt weapon. (There's a great flail out there.)

@fable: staves are not underpowered, quarterstaff is one of the best weapon choices fighters can make. You can buy a quarterstaff +4 very early which can damage any monster. There are monsters which require +4 weapons and monsters which require blunt weapons to take damage.
The weapon which does the most damage in ToB is also a quarterstaff.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:30 am

[QUOTE=kmonster]@fable: staves are not underpowered, quarterstaff is one of the best weapon choices fighters can make. You can buy a quarterstaff +4 very early which can damage any monster. There are monsters which require +4 weapons and monsters which require blunt weapons to take damage.
The weapon which does the most damage in ToB is also a quarterstaff.[/QUOTE]

As this thread is in SoA, it's not about ToB. And while the Staff of Rynn, as you piont out, is available and is a +4 weapon, it has no other abilities, and does only ordinary (non-elemental) damage. Compare that to, say, the Mace of Disruption +2, which is +4 to undead, forces undead to making a saving throw against death, and offers the user immunity to level drain. Or Blackrazor, +3, immunity to charm and fear, 15% chance of draining 4 levels, healing the wielder up to 20 HPs, hasting him/her for 20 seconds, and increasing their strength by 3 for 20 seconds. Hubba hubba.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:58 am

99 percent of the a first time BG2 player won't get the mace of disruption +2 unless they use a walkthrough. Even then you must play evil in order to get it.

And Blackrazor is only useable for 1 percent of the game.

Quarterstaff is a good weapon choice.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:25 am

[QUOTE=kmonster]99 percent of the a first time BG2 player won't get the mace of disruption +2 unless they use a walkthrough. Even then you must play evil in order to get it.
[/QUOTE]

No, you just need to go to the Bodhi catacombs.