1) Well, everyone's about the same in power. I think the Blade with Tenser's Transformation is the most powerful fighter in the game. 200+ hp, +4 hit, +4 damage, max damage per hit, 3 attacks per round, THACO of a 16+ level warrior (because he has to be level 16 to cast, I think), AC around -9, in offensive spin. Just wish he could wear a helmet. Mirror image, stone skin, and fire shield your blade and he will be a one man wrecking crew.
2) Silence almost never works in the game now. Most mages cast globes of invulnerability right off the bat. Plus, the fact your enemy mage often has mirror image, stone skin, mislead, protection from magic weapons, or some other combo on, means that if your slow to cast silence fails, you are toast. In addition, silence can be saved against, and you need something that has no saving throw roll. Pierce magic and breach are good. Malison might be worth casting if you still want to use silence.
3) Katanas are the same as 2hd swords that are faster and can be held in one hand. The Celestial Fury is probably one of the best weapons in the game, is a katana, and is easy found. Ideally you might want to wield the Daystar and Celestial Fury dual wield if you are not a caster, before chapter 4. At any rate, the flail of ages is better than any long sword pre chapter 4. Plus the +2 flail that poisons is better than the second best long sword. So you might as well spend proficiencies on flails in the beginning at least. The sad thing about long swords too, is the fact for most you are better off just keeping it your unused weapon slot and using it for effect, rather than wielding it.
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