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Originally posted by Alson:
All in all, the Equalizer is a very solid off-hand weapon indeed, IMO, especially for dual classed Fighters/Mages or Fighter/Thieves, who usually don't have a great THAC0 due to an early class-transition.
Even if one has ToB, level 13 will be the recommended level to dual.
Now, a level 13 fighter THAC0 (excluding the Kensai) is not superb, to say the least. Most probably, not good enough to hit most of the ToB baddies with each hit.
In that case, a +6 THAC0 bonus would be superb for the character.
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If I had a Fighter/Mage, I would use the time-honoured combination of Celestial Fury and Dak'kon's Zerth Blade. You do not hear people complaining about their THACO do you? A pureclassed Warrior will have extremely good THACO. A dual/multiclassed Warrior will still have good THACO.
They will have a base of 8 THACO at level 13. Factor in STR, Grandmastery and equipment, and they will still have such a ridiculously low THACO that they will hit almost all the time save through Critical Misses.
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Another example - backstabers.
Most of the Assassins don't have a good enough THAC0 to backstab the really tough, backstabable monsters. Well, now they do!
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Backstabbing grants a +10 THACO bonus. I assure you, my pureclassed Assassin never missed with her oh so unspectacular Blade of Roses save through Critical Misses.
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Here is a classic. A Swashbuckler/Mage.
This class is almost a Fighter/Thief->Mage Dual - we all know how good Swashies are. The only thing they lack is a low enough THAC0. Now they have that, too.
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Eh? Swashbucklers were chosen exactly because their THACO were better( one of the reasons at least)! Dualling at level 15 meant a further +3 to their THACO. They can Specialise too, further improving their THACO.
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Open your mind, Dundee. Accept the gifts offered to you. [img]tongue.gif[/img]
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I would hardly consider the Equaliser as a gift.
I consider it a con-job by Cromwell. [img]tongue.gif[/img]
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You lost me here. Explain - why is the +3 damage lost?
The bonuses aren't transferred to the main hand - they are just applied to both hands, globally.
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I mean... in the grand scheme of things, you actually decrease your damage per round.
PS: I just double-checked, and you got the THACO and damage reversed. These are the true statistics of the Equaliser.
Long Sword: The Equalizer
Such is the age of this sword that its true origin has been lost to time, but markings hint that it was possibly forged in the service of Helm. Also called the "Sword of Neutrality", it seems designed to seek and terminate extremes, to shift the universe closer to harmonious equilibrium. The further the behavior of a target from true balance, the more potent the damage they suffer.
STATISTICS:
Always considered +3 when determining what it can hit.
THACO & Damage:
vs True Neutral: +0 to hit, +0 damage
vs Chaotic Neutral, Lawful Neutral +1 to hit, +2 damage
vs Neutral Good, Neutral Evil: +2 to hit, +4 damage
vs other alignments: +3 to hit, +6 damage
Damage type: slashing
Equipped Abilities:
Immune to Charm and Confusion
Weight: 3
Speed Factor: 3
Proficiency Type: Long sword
Type: 1-handed
Requires: 6 Strength
Not Usable By:
Druid
Cleric
Mage
So while I now see some
use when I face Chaotic/Lawful Good/Evil opponents, take heed that not all enemy types fall into these categories. I might do some calculations though.
ADD] Rakshasa are Chaotic Neutral, Golems are True Neutral and Suneer is Neutral Evil. To cite some relevant examples.
ADD] ADD] Some more food for thought. Some Vampires are either Chaotic Neutral or True Neutral as well.
[ 11-21-2002, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]