Weapon Styles?

[jdougan1]

I am curious what people use for weapon styles?

I went all the way thourgh with "Two Weapon Style" for a Ranger - but I am not sure this was the right choice. Thoughts?

[Drakron Du´Dark]

Good choise since Ranger always get ++ in that.so you only lost a + to put.
Its a good choise since you only get a -2 on off hand, and with the right weapons you can deal some serious damage.
I have 2 weapon style for my F/M and she is a very capable warrior.

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"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not became a monster... when you gaze long into the abyss the abyss gazes into you..."
Friedrich Nietzsche

[Thomas]

I only seldom use two weapons at once for my characters, since the extra attack doesn't compensate for the use of a good shield.

I usually put a only single slot into twohanded weapons, since the second slot only makes the weapon quicker wich the better magical weapons already are. Most my archers/crossbowyers has a twohanded weapon for meele so spending this slot makes sence to me.

Single weapon style is the way to go for thieves and druids. A thief gets better backstabs and the druids shapechanged forms enjoys the bonuses as well (In spite of using two claws the game still considers this to be a single weapon).

Never used the sword and shield style. Not to many enemy archers in the game and the ac bonus is pretty weak. I would have liked this to be an AC boost to all kinds of weapons rather than just missiles.

[Jhareth of house Noquar]

When facing an enemy mage who has stoneskins, I'll switch to 2 handed, to get extra attacks to knock those babies down! As soon as they drop, I'll switch back to one weapon, to deal out the massage damage. This works great for Minsc. He'll fight with Jhar the Bleeder and a +1 shortsword, then switch to his 2H Flame of the North.

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Lil alurl velve zhah lil velkyn uss...
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Your friendly neighborhood
Drow in Sunglasses,
Jhareth of house Noquar

[Black Hand]

I think that two-weapon and two-handed weapon style are the best.

TWS: The additional attacks and weapon abilities make it a very powerful combo.

THWS: Since there are a lot of cool two-handed weapons, this style is also very useful.

Shield Style: Although shields are usually a good defensive choice, the skill only adds to missile defense and is less useful.

Single Weapon Style: The defensive bonus cannot compete with a shield, the additional critical hits are not that strong.

[Gruntboy]

1 slot Single weapon for thieves - backstab critical on a 19 or 20

2 slots 2-handed weps - critical on 19/20 again.

3 slots dual wield seems the most popular - who needs a shield if your AC is high and you're attacking anyway?

PS I think some of the styles are there to balance the classes - sword only for example can be great for a thief. They only get bucklers so they may as well take sword only for the -1AC and the 19/20 crit. Keeps you're second hand free for large weapons too.
Does anyone use sword & shield? Who needs that extra missile protection anyway? What a waste (Jaheira - I'm talking to you...)

And I only ever put ++ in my weapon choice - that gets you the big bonues (3-5 stars gives very little compared to the 'style' bonues.

[This message has been edited by Gruntboy (edited 01-22-2001).]

[Krom]

The big problem with the weapon and shield style is the ones who can benefit the most from it (i.e. single class mages) can't use it.

For other characters, the damage from arrows is "generally" small enough to shrug off while you close for melee.

edited for spelling: Hey, it's Monday...I have an excuse.

[This message has been edited by Krom (edited 01-22-2001).]

[Hex92]

First time through I had a Ranger so 2 weapon style was an easy choice. This time though I have a Kensai/Mage , so again 2WS seems the way to go.
My thief never uses a shield since she switches from short sword to bow so single WS is the way to go.
I think I had Vic and Korgan put a prof. into sword and shield style which makes sense too.
Its best to mix and match each class to the appropriate weapon style (and also your playing style).

Hex92

[Nighthawk]

3 of the 4 weapons styles make sense at least some of the time.

dual wield: For warriors, bards, clerics, druids who don't shapeshift, etc. Most of the time this is the best style. These classes can generally get close to the max AC and an extra attack does 20 times more damage over time than the extra chance to critical hit.

single weapon: Thieves and Druids using shapeshifting. Thieves can't backstab with 2-h and will often try to backstab with the offhand weapon if dual wielding. Additionally, the extra chance of a critical hit is very nice when the double damage is then multiplied x5 and the extra AC often helps since they can't wear heavy armor. For druids, single weapon is the style that has effect while shapeshifted.

2-h weapon: For paladins, archers, druids, etc. Paladins for Carsomyr of course. Druids get to use Impaler which is arguably the most deadly druid weapon. Archers can use this or 1-h without having to go into the inventory screen to switch back and forth.

shield/sword: I think points spent here are better spent elsewhere. The bonus generally doesn't do much and often is wasted as it will take a warrior over the max AC. If you're really worried about missile attacks, use the Shield of Reflection.

[This message has been edited by Nighthawk (edited 01-22-2001).]

[Grimbold the Unlovely]

Two weapon style is great for kensais. The trick is deciding what weapons to specialize in. You get 10 proficiencies total. You will want 3 in dual wield. You can then choose between 5 in one weapon, 2 in another, or 3 in one, 4 in another. Katanas are great, but there is only one really good katana in the game. Longswords are probably a better choice. I'd put 5 in longswords, and 2 in war hammer (for Crom Faeyr).