BTW, I think TWF is one of the most powerful fighting styles, but it also needs a serious dedication for it to work well (at least two proficiency slots).

PLEASE READ THIS! You are completely wasting this style if you use it for just one extra attack. Use that offhand weapon, which will only attack once a round (except with WW and GWW) for it's special bonuses (added STR, protections, ect.).

If you use GWW a lot in ToB, you would be better off with a two handed weapon or a weapon/shield combo because GWW does attack more than once with the offhand weapon.

I usually give Aerie a point in sword and shield. The only weapon I ever bother giving her ever her is a sling.... Plus, where else is it worth putting her proficiency points? It's not as if she uses the sling that much either. </font>[/QUOTE]Okay, slight correction: "Don't EVER put any of your proficiency points down the toilet that is Sword & Shield Style, unless you're really scratching your head over what else to do with them." Yeah, characters who don't fight can do anything they damn well want to with their weapon proficiences, it won't make any difference. Or to Monks, for the same reason.


I'm with total agreement with Armen on the "roleplay your class" factor. In my opinions, Cavaliers shouldn't be allowed to put any proficiency points in any Style except Sword & Shield, seeing as how they're supposed to epitomize the ideal of defending the party.

That makes sense. Likewise with a swashbuckler using Two weapon style. Or a ranger using 1 weapon style. It's all in how you play.

But you get no bonus for two handed weapon style until you put the bow down and pick up your melee weapon. A character who will be primarily using a bow shouldn't put anything into two weapon style until he has 5 stars in the bow and two in the melee weapon of choice. If you have character that you REALLY want to keep out of the fray they are better off with a shield. If they can't use a shield single weapon style is slightly better than two handed weapon style - these character probably need a critical to hit, so single weapon could be doubling your hit chances, and who really cares about what weapon speed your mage has?

True. But that doesn't mean that the extra AC of a Shield (and the -2 AC vs. Missiles from Sword & Shield style) is worth using a Sling or Darts instead of a Bow. I'm not saying that there are no good Slings in the game--heaven knows there certainly are--I'm just saying that those few really good ones should be given to those who can use practically nothing else, and let the really good Bows shine as well. Both from a powergaming and roleplaying standpoint, the Shield of Harmony is great, but it's not going to make me ignore Gesen.

For the most part, yes--obviously, your character should cater to what he's going to be doing for most of the game. A Fighter who's concentrating on ranged combat should concentrate on ranged proficiencies first of all--but I can see deciding to spread out his melee skills among ALL 2-Handed weapons, putting a star in Staff and then 2 stars in 2-Handed, before branching out to Spear, 2HSword, and Halberd.

If they can't fight worth beans, who really cares what melee weapon they're carrying at all? I'm gonna be giving Edwin the Staff of the Magi instead of Pixie Prick, thanks, doubled chances of getting a Critical be damned.

Weapon style hardly matters as long as you have a character with celestial fury 1 handed katana in your party, this is definitely the most important weapon in BGII for me. Once I start a new game I almost immediately set out to pick it up. One insane sword, even though it's only +3 is Blackrazor, but it's better than any other sword plus you can use it with a shield (fortress shield helps you out)

Also you have to think of what type of character you're playing. Let's say a swashbuckler/mage with celestial fury and fortress shield with 2 slots in sword and shield is a killer character. You'll have a mage with killer AC and is virtually immune to missile damage.

2-handed weapons tend to do a little more damage, but are slower. 2 weapon style just looks nifty, but BGII has a bug with two weapon style long swords/short swords and boots of speed, allowing you to only use your left handed weapon. This sucks since your THAC0 is lower with the off-hand weapon.

single weapon fighting is also good for pure kensai's.

In the case of a "SOLO" kensai, what prof would you use? Remember you have nobody to divert the attacks and arrows to, cannot wear armour or use shields.

Do you dual wield for an extra attack to try and kill the enemies faster or do you go for +2 to your AC which is only +2 off its base...

Can anyone give me more information about this? This is NOT a good thing. :( I tend to give my boots of speed to my dual-short-sword-wielding single-classed fighter.


Sillara

The boots of speed bug is only there if you forgot to use Baldurdash and the patches. Otherwise, you're going to have a kick-ass fighter with 5 attacks per round! :D And boy, I know I've used those lots of times, powered up with improved haste they're going to be pure blenders with 10 apr!