Bloodlust 2x Damage?

[Ophidia]

I know if a fighter uses beserk he does double damage and is more likely to get hit.The question is if a non fighter is using the Bloodlust sword that has the beserk attack mode,are they doing 2x damage also and are they also more likley to get hit than if using a regular sword? or are they just getting an extra swing? also what are the affects of a fighter in beserk mode using bloodlust vs using bloodlust with a normal attack?

[SteelBow]

Yes, anyone using the Bloodlust sword will get the 2x damage and extra swing per attack. You'll also get the penalties along with it.

Giving the fighter Bloodlust is a waste. You don't get anything extra. Unfortunately, the fighter's berserk doesn't stack with Bloodlust's berserk.

[Klutz]

Bloodlust has several separate abilities, only one of which would not benefit a fighter:
- Forces Berserk attack mode (double damage)
- +1 swing per attack!!! (minimum of two)
- +6 Initiative
- +5 to Sword skill

Note that the fighter would not have the option of delivering a normal attack with Bloodlust: anyone using it, even a fighter, only can use the Berserk attack mode.

The fighter with Bloodlust would not gain any benefits from the Berserk mode that they didn't have available before. The fighter would still be getting an extra swing per attack, the +6 initiative bonus (hence getting a lot closer to getting extra attacks and swings the normal way), and the Sword +5 bonus. Don't forget that extra swing... even ignoring the Berserk factor Bloodlust is still a "doublestrike sword", and that is a HUGE advantage for any sword-using character.

If no one else is using swords, letting the fighter use it is a lot better than letting it rust in your backpack. Even for a fighter it is the best sword available for a large part of the game. Fang, Ivory Blade, and Light Sword are probably the only one-handed swords in Wiz8 I'd rate above it. But yes, it's much better utilization to give it to someone on the front line that isn't a Fighter but is using swords, like a Samurai or Bard. Most classes have ways of getting around the curse drawback.

I've never seen the full documented Wiz8 penalties for the berserk attack mode. For the "melee" combat mode in Wiz7 which I believe berserk was based on, it applied a -4 penalty to hit and to penetrate, double damage, and as far as I know no penalties to AC or other defensive stats. I believe Wiz8's berserk attack mode works the same way.

[Ophidia]

Thanks to all for the excellent info.

[SteelBow]

There is also the stamina drain associated with berserking. Not a big problem for fighters but a Bard will get winded pretty quickly from both playing and berserking. Especially if the Bard was built for speed instead of strength and vitality. Stamina regen items help very little during combat but the Stamina or Rest All spell does very nicely.