For the life of me I can't remember anything about the requirements to dual wield.

I am running an elvish ranger right now thru' BG1/ToSC and will import him into BG2/ToB when I've finished BG1. Right now he doesn't use a shield much as he is the main sniper of the party (along with Kivan) and is using a longbow.

If I give him dual wield skills in BG2, I don't suppose he *can* do it whilst wielding the bow? The offhand must be free in order to wield a second weapon, right? Which means 2-handed missile weapons (like bows and crossbows) are out?

Well they are not "out" per'se, you will just have to go into inventory and switch weopons out when you are ready to engage melee style. It is a bit annoying, but doable.

Yeah--the annoying thing about Dual-Wielding is that it's even more restrictive than a Shield: When going Sword & Shield style, you can instantly switch to a 1-Handed Ranged weapon (Sling, Darts, Throwing Daggers, Throwing Axes, and a certain Throwing Hammer) and be a very versatile fella. But Dual-Wielding has an irritating limitation: NO ranged weapon of ANY kind can be equipped when a weapon is in your off-hand. This also applies to "Switching" weapons: Some Thrown weapons can be used as Melee weapons only--these weapons cannot be Dual-wielded, ever, because they still count as Ranged weapons.

Pls refresh my memory: when you pause the game in BG2, does it stay paused when you go into the inventory screen? Also, I remember you can't change armour whilst in combat, but I think weapons can be swapped (moving a weapon in/out of the quick weapon slots)?

Yes, in BG2 the game pauses when you go into inventory. So you can switch out items. If I remember correctly, what you can't do is open your bag of holding to get items out if it while paused.

I dont think thats right. I'd have to check though.

good for you! playing an elven ranger i mean. my fav class. btw what allignment are you?

Let me know Zuvio, that is why I said if I remember correctly. It seems like I tried once while paused and either I heard battle start in the background or I got a message stating I can't do it while paused.

I'd love to test the theory, but Im at work right now ( [img]graemlins/showoff.gif[/img] ) and I'll be out all weekend, so it wont be till monday that I'll post again :(