you can always smash the chest open. Tomi doesn't like to disable traps, so chances are that you're going to get smoked anyway. Personally, I think he's a wuss.
The double bladed sword or the two headed axe or whatever have the advantage of doing more damage per blade than a normal two weapon combo. The two bladed sword does d8/d8 and, for purposes of fighting two handed counts as having a main weapon and a light weapon. With all the feats this (obviously) gets you a -2/-2 attack mod. When two weapon fighting normally (using two weapons) the off hand weapon will always do less damage than the main weapon. So using a longsword and shortsword would net you d8/d6 dmg with -2/-2 attack mod. You could use a rapier in each hand or what not but then your attack mods will be worse. To get the same damage as a two bladed sword (two long swords) your attack mod would drop to -4/-4 which might be okay for really high levels but not for anything below say level 15. I'm sure you can figure out the specs for the double axe if you care. Hope that answers your questions.
quick edit: The only thing you can give to henchmen is potions. No equipment. Not that you care. It seems as if their equip is either better or the same as yours. They just get less potions. Oh... if you give them a potion they drink it immediately whether they need it or not so watch out.
DeSoya
[ 06-24-2002, 08:19 PM: Message edited by: DeSoya ]