if i have a wepon with a speed factor of 4 is it better than one with spped factor 6?

Yes... Lower is good.

Am I correct in assuming speed factor determines when you attack? Thus a speed factor of 0 means you will attack on the first swing (many times with my thieves, I take two or three swipes before the actual roll is made).

I don't think the swipes matter, they are cosmetic, at least all those that aren't real ones. They are meant to represent parries, feignts etc. (I know that you wouldn't do this with 2-handed weapons etc and that if you can paary surely you could also strike, but itwould look boring if they just stood there) THe speed factor determines how long it takes for the next real one to come along. But i'm not a Pnper so i am not always that good with the rules. So the smaller the number the the quicker until the next damaging attempt is made.

I was under the impression that it determined when your attack was made. For instance if you had 2 attacks per round, your first attack would be anywhere in the first 3 seconds after you started attacking, and then your next attack would be 3 seconds (half a round) after that. The weapon's speed factor determines when in that first 3 seconds your first attack is made.

Or atleast that was how i thought it worked.

EDIT] Spelling

[ 03-28-2005, 11:27 PM: Message edited by: White Lancer ]

That is how it works, though a speed factor of zero doesn't necessarily mean you'll strike the instant your character gets within range, it can however be reduced to less than zero, resulting in quicker attacks.

I think speed is sort of an underrated factor. Things like ApR, THAC0 and even damage tend to be prioritized before speed, but the ability to strike quickly is of paramount importance, probably much more vital to survival than either of the other factors listed, for certain soloists like thieves, kensais and archers.

[ 03-29-2005, 05:12 AM: Message edited by: Rataxes ]