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My warrior is specialized in Large Swords, and I am currently using two magical Longswords from early in the game. However, I just came across a merchant selling a variety of +2/+3 weapons, including Scimitar +3.

Scimitar +3 is listed as 1d6 + 3
Longsword is listed as 1d8 + 3
Both are categorized as large swords
Both weigh the same
Both are the same price

My question:

What's the difference?

I can see the roleplay aspect, but what's the point of the scimitar if it's the same thing, only weaker?

Check out the critical range. I believe the long sword is only on 20 while the scimitar is 19-20. That is the only reason i can see.

I was wondering that also. I may be blind, but I can't find the critical range listed anywhere on the information screen for any weapon...

Read the manual...

Page 146 gives the Critical Range:
Longsword 19-20/x2
Scimitar 18-20/x2

My main dual-wield Fighter uses the Scimitar/Short Sword combo to great effect... With feats like Improved Critical and Dirty Fighting the extra threat range really pays off... Particularly on those tough "Boss" monsters.

BTW: The Scimitar has the best threat range of all the weapons

Just theorizing loudly:
A scimitar has critical range 18-20..
Keen scimitar: 17-20.
Improved critical feat: 16-20
Executioner's Eyes: 12-20..

That makes 40% chance for a critical hit.

Let's assume a barbarian with 4 attacks.

*) He would have ~2.6% chance of inflicting 4 criticals in a combat round, taken for granted that he always hits.

*) On average, he would do 1.6 critical hits per round.

*) With a probability of ~13% he would fail to do any critical hits at all in a given combat round. Or in other words, it's 87% likely, that he does at least ONE critical hit per round.


Useful for the "dirty fighting" feature maybe, but I'd stick with a hefty greataxe.

Chris

But back to the original question the man had asked, what is the actual difference between the long sword and the scimitar.

A true Long Sword, even those it has a keen edge, is still basically a skewering weapon, meant to penetrate armored opponents. It was also highly used by mounted knights as a armor piercing slicer, buts thats based on power and not on how the blade was used.

A Scimitar is a much short weapon, although just as heavy, and designed mainly for cutting or slicing purposes, and rarely used in a stabbing manuever. You wont find too many scimitars getting through thick heavy armor, its main uses were to hit and run in unarmored areas.

I know a lot of people probably ready stories or have watched movies, like Braveheart, that have weapon use in them, and most of the time you see something like a long sword or a broad sword in use and see people hacking arms off. Remember you are seeing untrained people using brute strength as their weapon. I am not saying a long sword is closer related to a rapier, or foil, then a greatsword, but think, a longsword is basically and for its first purpose a longer short sword, which is loosely based on a gladius. A gladius was built and used as a close combat weapon designed to enter armor at the point and continue to slice through the opponent.

Thats just my two cents anyways.

Axon