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I'm nearing the end of Chapter 2, and I can't tell you how many hours I've spent saving and reloading outside randomized chests trying to find better weapons for my ranger. I've had any number of unique axes, hammers, katanas, kamas, flails, armors and shields. But I can't find a single longsword better than my +1 Astral Blade, nor a single off-hand better than my +1 Feyduster. Are these weapons just not available yet?

Not really that many, and you'll be able to get some new ones in chapter 3. Although I belive you should be able to find some +2 weapons in chapter 2, but I can't give excat locations.

Thanks! +2 isn't that big an upgrade over my "special" weapons, so I guess I'll wait until Chapter 3. It's just that there are some pretty impressive uniques popping up already in all the other weapon categories. Seriously - what's up with the excess of kukris and kamas and sickles in this game?

The weapons you find a randomised (in a not very random fashion lol) and I think it might be linked to class. I've played the game before as a dual weilding halfling monk and I wanted kukris and found nothing but morningstars so I don't think its very random at all. You seem to either find a lot of one weapon type or a lot of another. The same goes for boots, cloaks and so on.

Interesting. And further reason not to park outside chests hoping for a sword of some kind. I'm now parking waiting for something worth money instead

Am I right in assuming there's not going to be a better light armor than the +4 studded - Shadow Legion, I think? I already spent all my money on that once, and have since reaccumulated 40k or so.

The shadow legion armour is, in my opinion, the best light armour in the game

Not sure if you checked out Mutamin's stuff in the Green Griffon Dragon Inn but he pretty much has +2 and +1 versions of all the major weapon types. He also has the Blade of the Gladiator (longsword +2 with additional acid damage) and Dagger of Chaos (+2 great sword with chance for confusion and I think vampiric regeneration??). Rather pricey items. These two weapons are also carried by one of the Luskan merchants supposedly (not sure which one). Not sure where you are in the 2nd chapter but I haven't even entered Luskan yet and my PC is already swimming in gold nearly 200k.

Too bad rangers don't get Greater Magic Weapon (from HoU) as a spell (paladins do although they get it pretty late) to enchant their own weapons. Seems only clerics and arcane casters can enchant their weapons higher than the 2nd chapter's available weapons for the most part. A level 9 cleric/arcane caster can enchant their meelee weapons to +3.

Re: Shadow Legion - I suspected it would be. Excellent.

And no, I did not even realize that Mutamin had a shop. Guess I'm heading back there after all... Especially if gold isn't going to be a problem much longer.

The option to check out Mutamin's wares doesn't become available until after you ask about a room at the inn LOL

I played a half-elf ranger (seems to be a lot of those!) and I remember saving up for the shadow armor until I came across the storm armor, 3+3, protection from fire and sonic, and spell protection I believe. It did a body good. Just found a set in HotU also, level 1 Undermountain.

Yeah... just found the storm armor at the aforementioned Mutamin's shop However, I'm sticking with the shadow legion, as I coughed up the ridiculous money for the gladiator blade. Blech.

My ranger's a dwarf, just to be different. So far so good, since missile weapons don't seem to be of much use.

Zebedee wrote: (snip)My ranger's a dwarf, just to be different. So far so good, since missile weapons don't seem to be of much use.

After figuring out some missile tactics, I was surprised how effective missile warfare could be. Consider the lowly shortbow, with its lowly 1d6 damage. Throw in a fire arrow for 1d6 and it starts to look good... like Greatsword good.

Now, consider the lowly composite longbow +3, Mighty +5, and the rapid shot feat. Grab yourself a little Rogue, say three levels, to add some back stabbing into your missile repertoire (just let your henchman/animal companion keep em occupado), to the tune of 2d6 per arrow. Per arrow. With 18 strength and a fire arrow, it looks like 1d8+3+4+1d6+2d6=33 maximum damage; and remember, you get two shots per round with rapid fire, so 66 posible damage points! Ohhh, and if you roll a twennnnntyyyyy... 150 points maximum, one round. (backstab isn't affected by citical shots). I have seen 60+ arrow hits several times.

Yep. Bows _me_ like.

Oh oh oh throw in Point Blank Shot to use the bow w/out penalty in melee, and get a +1 hit/damage when you're within 15 feet of target! Ohh, the humanity! (Of course, you have to have Point Blank to get Rapid Shot, so it's kinda moot, what?)



(Thank you, Xandax, I'll do that next time)

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Two things :
- Shadow Armor is NOT the best for a Ranger
- You can be really rich and have powerful weapons if you're patient

DEX Rangers are better than STR Rangers, as all Rangers advantages are based on DEX (skills, feats).
And as the Shadow Armor puts a limit on your DEX and penalties on DEX based skills, it's no good.
There's a better armor for Rangers, sold by the Ranger in town in chapter 2, it's a +0/+3, with defenses against electricity IIRC.
This one doesn't put any limit on DEX nor any penalties.
As the best weapon you can use Finesse with is the Rapier, the Ranger is just the best while wielding two Rapiers.
Focusing on the Rapier, you can destroy anything in chapter 2.

To get really rich and get high level weapons, it's basically the same as maximizing XP : finish everything in the chapter except the last quest before opening any chests.
Beware, as there are some places you can go back to, like the castle of the cursed village once you finish it and go out by the front door (using recall stone, you can still go back to it, but you have to pay). The more levels you have when opening chests, the more powerful the weapons will be.
I focused on the Rapier and maximized XP for my human ranger, and at end of Chapter 2, being level 14, I got a rapier +3, another (traveller ?) rapier +2 + 1D6 acid damage, another again +2 with +1D6 fire damage against evil. I even found all the most powerful armors (like Shadow Armor) you can buy in chapter 2, before entering Luskan (as once you get in Luskan, you can't go back, you have to open all those chests before), so I sold them back.
So it's a very good strategy. It's not really easier as you have to pass most of the chapter with your old weapons from the precedent chapter.
But you will get lots of gold and good weapons.
You just have to stock on the bags of holding so that you can have a maximum of stuff before having to go back to town.

That would be Armor of the Stars. Sure no dex cap and no arcane spell failure. Probably best robe type for arcane casters seeking AC bonuses but prefer Greater Battle Robe.

The electric resistance is nice but not a selling point. I felt holding up for loot to be very true especially for the first chapter but once your PC exceeds level 9, the loot value was good enough that you might as well loot stuff as you go along.

Ookaze wrote: As the best weapon you can use Finesse with is the Rapier, the Ranger is just the best while wielding two Rapiers.
Focusing on the Rapier, you can destroy anything in chapter 2.

Perhaps, but your AB would be higher with two short swords

jeremiah wrote:That would be Armor of the Stars. Sure no dex cap and no arcane spell failure. Probably best robe type for arcane casters seeking AC bonuses but prefer Greater Battle Robe.

*chants* Robe of Vecna. Robe of Vecna. Robe of Vecna.

Sorry. I had to get that in here. I almost exclusively play arcane casters and if there's one class that's been shrifted when it comes to armor/clothing of any type, it's them.

Yeah feel like the arcane casters got shafted in terms of robes. But the Greater Battle Robe is readily available from Eltora in Port Llast. May get the Master Adventurer's Robe later when it is available from a merchant (can't seem to find it but I think one of the Luskan merchants has it).

There is one other nice robe, which you can get from - SPOILER: Highlight to read: In HOTU, when you are in the Wastes of Cania and get to the cave where you have to fight Grimgnaw and the three others, the Rogue carries a robe that's called "Last Words". It comes with a +5 AC Bonus, Cast Spell: Fear [5] ( 1 Use/Day ), Hide +20, Move Silently +20, and zero Arcane Spell Failure.