I just got back BG2 from a friend along with TOB, and after months of doing without it, I am playing the heck out of it! I tried 3 characters (not to mention hours of rolling up stats.. grrrr)
Sorceror, Monk and Fighter/Mage (I think thats it)
The Sorc was too boring, Monk was too powerful (if his hands could slay practically everything in the first dungeon unaided, I didnt want to play a game when he REALLY gets up in levels)

And now I'm using a Fighter/Mage with yes, I'm for real, proficiencies in both Quarterstaves and Scimitars and Two-Handed Style. And I can tell you that right now, I'm prizing enchanted staves a heck of a lot more than when I used to chuck them in the back row with my mages. The only reason why he's a mage is so he can use the better staves in the game, and throw some spells on the side (I'm having a field day role-playing him..)

Anyone ever try something as odd as this? Like a Barbarian that uses nothing but daggers and shortswords? I'm suddenly finding an appreciation for the lesser-used items in the game and its a totally different experience!

Well, in my opinion, no one seems to use the halberds, but i love em. Daggers are great for my mages, and the only thing i reject is darts and throwing knives, and throwing axes.

I havent assembled the Wave Halberd in all my previous games. Hrm. I shall create a ranger to use them next game :D :D
They look DEAD COOL when you're wielding them.

Treasure them throwing axes, especially the magical ones, my solo Cavalier would never have completed ToB without them.

Quarterstaffs are extremely powerful and you can buy a +4 enchanted one in the Adventurer's Mart. I love using them( and wait till you get ToB, there is a really, really powerful quarterstaff in it).

I had a Fighter/Thief before who grandmastered in Daggers and dual-wield them. ;) He was fun to play with. *Pokey!* *Pokey!* ;)

Scimitars on the other hand, I have never really enjoyed using them, they look kinda weird IMHO.

Do not underestimate darts, especially the poisonous ones. ;) They can be very, very potent when used extensively.

That did it! I'm going to be a Bard with anything throwable next game!
Wheee!

And Slaytern, spoil me, what staff do you get?

I actually think Scimitars are pretty cool. But thats just my humble opinion.

I played an archer all the way thru SoA and ToB. And I used quarterstaves, halberds, or spears as his secondary melee weapon. It works out great that way since an archer can never have more than 1 * in any non-missile weapon. Also, it leaves the great "standard" weapons for the other characters.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SecretMaster:
Well, in my opinion, no one seems to use the halberds, but i love em. Daggers are great for my mages, and the only thing i reject is darts and throwing knives, and throwing axes.<hr></blockquote>I love halberds!! I had a bard once that used a halberd exclusively. I like taking advantage of the fact that bards can use any weapon (almost).

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you asked what stzaff do u get. well, after upgrading (you need a helmet from ToB IIRC) its a Rod of the Ram +6 (can you say - awesome?) jaherias currently throwing people across the room with this thing. its great. it acts as a staff of striking with infinite charges (drool - but remember that if you sell an item with charges left then when you buy it back it'll be recharged). i think it does d6 + 12 damage. thats b4 prof and STR bonuses of course. pity i cant dual wield it with crom faeyr. but its a staff so i cant.

the only downside is that the icon looks a bit naff.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SecretMaster:
Well, in my opinion, no one seems to use the halberds, but i love em. Daggers are great for my mages, and the only thing i reject is darts and throwing knives, and throwing axes.<hr></blockquote>

I like halberds a lot myself. Gave Minsc two proficiencies in them and the Wave blade is awesome, esp. in TOB.
Darts are apparently very useful for fizzling enemy magic-users' spells, but I never really used them that much.