Why to Dual-Wield

Xen · 01-13-2003, 04:25 PM

I don`t understand why so many people want to DUAL-WIELD.My point is if you have profisencies in Single Weapon Style you get a bonus to AC and if you Dual-Wield:with your Main Hand weapon you have more attackes per round then with your Off Hand.

Am i right?Correct me if not.

Cheers,Xen

Pyrenk · 01-13-2003, 04:31 PM

With dual wield, you can use two weapons. Sure Crom/Celery/FoA are nice, but two of them together are nasty. You get both abilities, and more damage potential. Also, with a fighter, thac0 isnt much of a prob. Same with the other melee classes.

[ 01-13-2003, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: Pyrenk ]

Baros · 01-13-2003, 05:31 PM

Even for non-fighter types dual wield can be advantageous. At higher levels the THAC0 penalty will hardly be noticed, with the chance to gain an additional attack it more than makes up for it. Weapon choice becomes more essential, but Celestial Fury combined with Belm makes a great combo for a thief (since Belm in the off-hand gives the additional attack to primary hand - CF).

Radek · 01-14-2003, 04:56 AM

On the other hand, a dual wielded character cannot use ranged weapons at all (as long as he is dual wielded). Therefore, both single weapon and two weapon styles have their advantages and disadvantages.
IMO, a strong melee fighter should be dual wielded and equipped with the best weapons available. This maximizes his power. An "archer" in the party should specialize in 2H weapons and a ranged weapon because you can switch between a ranged weapon and a 2H weapon. If the "archer" has ++ in the 2H weapon style then he will score critical damage at 19. The same is true for the single weapon style but, IMO, the 2H weapon is a better selection: there are many hands keen on 1H weapons in your party so that the "archer" can make use of good 2H weapons available. Moreover only a sling allows you to equip a shield along with a ranged weapon.

Baros · 01-14-2003, 06:23 AM

since the game is paused whilst on the inventory screen this is a non-issue. I can swap weapons as much as I like. I don't do it as a rule, but if you need to, you can.

Cerek the Barbaric · 01-14-2003, 01:55 PM

Why to dual-wield??? Because it can turn your fighter into a veritable juggernaut of destruction.

I originally spent most of Minsc's proficiencies in the 2-hand sword. I later changed my mind and used Shadowkeeper to change his proficiency to warhammer. I then gave him Crom Faeyr in one hand and another warhammer in the other. He immediately started going through monsters like a runaway locomotive. He was practically unstoppable.

I gave Cerek proficiencies in 2-hand sword also because that was his weapon of choice (from a roleplaying standpoint). When he found the Flail of Ages, he spent a couple of proficiency slots to "learn" how to use that weapon.

Now that I've dualed him to a thief, he has changed his fighting style again. I put one "*" in dual-wield and a proficiency with katana. He now swings Celestial Fury in his primary hand (so he can BackStab with it) and Flail of Ages in his off-hand. I just dreamed this combo up last night, but it seems to work well so far.

SixOfSpades · 01-14-2003, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Radek:
Moreover only a sling allows you to equip a shield along with a ranged weapon.

Also, there are Darts, Throwing Daggers, Throwing Axes, and the Throwing Hammer.

Cerek, your offhand isn't exactly the best place for the Flail of Ages: Your offhand only gets ONE attack per round (the last one), and the Flail is only used to its full potential when it's hitting the enemy time after time. Good offhand weapons are weapons that either provide resistances or immunities (such as the Mace of Disruption+2, the Sword of Arvoreen, the Defender of Easthaven, or the Equalizer), or confer other combat bonuses simply by being equipped (such as the 25 STR from Crom Faeyr, or the Regeneration from the Dragonslayer or Blackrazor).

Radek · 01-15-2003, 05:56 AM

A minor correction. Throwing axes cannot be eauipped along with a shield. At least, Rifthome Axe and the dwarven axe from the Sewers cannot in my game. If you set these axes to melee weapons then they can be equipped with a shield.

Baros · 01-15-2003, 07:23 AM

There are some bugs with various items which will allow them to be equipped with either shields or another weapon in the off-hand. So, like so many other things it will depend entirely on which patches you've got.

Dundee Slaytern · 01-15-2003, 09:47 AM

Oh... throwing axes and hammers can be used with shields, even in range mode.

My solo Cavalier had a lot of fun with his Sentinel Shield + Azuredge.

01-13-2003, 04:31 PM	#2
Pyrenk Symbol of Cyric Join Date: January 2, 2003 Location: Old Bethpage, Long Island Age: 35 Posts: 1,156	With dual wield, you can use two weapons. Sure Crom/Celery/FoA are nice, but two of them together are nasty. You get both abilities, and more damage potential. Also, with a fighter, thac0 isnt much of a prob. Same with the other melee classes. [ 01-13-2003, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: Pyrenk ] __________________

01-14-2003, 04:56 AM	#4
Radek Red Dragon Join Date: April 3, 2001 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Posts: 1,586	On the other hand, a dual wielded character cannot use ranged weapons at all (as long as he is dual wielded). Therefore, both single weapon and two weapon styles have their advantages and disadvantages. IMO, a strong melee fighter should be dual wielded and equipped with the best weapons available. This maximizes his power. An "archer" in the party should specialize in 2H weapons and a ranged weapon because you can switch between a ranged weapon and a 2H weapon. If the "archer" has ++ in the 2H weapon style then he will score critical damage at 19. The same is true for the single weapon style but, IMO, the 2H weapon is a better selection: there are many hands keen on 1H weapons in your party so that the "archer" can make use of good 2H weapons available. Moreover only a sling allows you to equip a shield along with a ranged weapon. __________________ My name is Demon\'s Last Day. Yes, the last one.

01-14-2003, 01:55 PM	#6
Cerek the Barbaric Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: North Carolina Age: 61 Posts: 3,257	Why to dual-wield??? Because it can turn your fighter into a veritable juggernaut of destruction. I originally spent most of Minsc's proficiencies in the 2-hand sword. I later changed my mind and used Shadowkeeper to change his proficiency to warhammer. I then gave him Crom Faeyr in one hand and another warhammer in the other. He immediately started going through monsters like a runaway locomotive. He was practically unstoppable. I gave Cerek proficiencies in 2-hand sword also because that was his weapon of choice (from a roleplaying standpoint). When he found the Flail of Ages, he spent a couple of proficiency slots to "learn" how to use that weapon. Now that I've dualed him to a thief, he has changed his fighting style again. I put one "*" in dual-wield and a proficiency with katana. He now swings Celestial Fury in his primary hand (so he can BackStab with it) and Flail of Ages in his off-hand. I just dreamed this combo up last night, but it seems to work well so far. __________________ [img]\"http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/cerek/cerektsrsig.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br />Cerek the Calmth

01-15-2003, 05:56 AM	#8
Radek Red Dragon Join Date: April 3, 2001 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Posts: 1,586	A minor correction. Throwing axes cannot be eauipped along with a shield. At least, Rifthome Axe and the dwarven axe from the Sewers cannot in my game. If you set these axes to melee weapons then they can be equipped with a shield. __________________ My name is Demon\'s Last Day. Yes, the last one.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
dual wield	JOE030303	Miscellaneous Games (RPG or not)	11	07-02-2005 01:40 PM
Dual wield - useless?	Dilbert	Icewind Dale \| Heart of Winter \| Icewind Dale II Forum	21	05-12-2003 09:23 AM
What to Dual-Wield??	Xen	Baldurs Gate II: Shadows of Amn & Throne of Bhaal	14	02-14-2003 04:26 PM
Dual Wield BUG (or what?)	kondrix	Icewind Dale \| Heart of Winter \| Icewind Dale II Forum	12	10-10-2002 10:12 AM
Dual Wield	Hoggar	Baldurs Gate II Archives	2	12-07-2000 01:59 PM

01-13-2003, 04:25 PM	#1
Xen Symbol of Moradin Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Slovenia,Ljubljana Age: 36 Posts: 8,554	I don`t understand why so many people want to DUAL-WIELD.My point is if you have profisencies in Single Weapon Style you get a bonus to AC and if you Dual-Wield:with your Main Hand weapon you have more attackes per round then with your Off Hand. Am i right?Correct me if not. Cheers,Xen

01-13-2003, 05:31 PM	#3
Baros Manshoon Join Date: January 3, 2003 Location: Leeds, UK Age: 48 Posts: 171	Even for non-fighter types dual wield can be advantageous. At higher levels the THAC0 penalty will hardly be noticed, with the chance to gain an additional attack it more than makes up for it. Weapon choice becomes more essential, but Celestial Fury combined with Belm makes a great combo for a thief (since Belm in the off-hand gives the additional attack to primary hand - CF).

01-14-2003, 06:23 AM	#5
Baros Manshoon Join Date: January 3, 2003 Location: Leeds, UK Age: 48 Posts: 171	since the game is paused whilst on the inventory screen this is a non-issue. I can swap weapons as much as I like. I don't do it as a rule, but if you need to, you can.

01-15-2003, 07:23 AM	#9
Baros Manshoon Join Date: January 3, 2003 Location: Leeds, UK Age: 48 Posts: 171	There are some bugs with various items which will allow them to be equipped with either shields or another weapon in the off-hand. So, like so many other things it will depend entirely on which patches you've got.

01-15-2003, 09:47 AM	#10
Dundee Slaytern Ironworks Moderator Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Pasir Ris, Singapore Age: 41 Posts: 11,063	Oh... throwing axes and hammers can be used with shields, even in range mode. My solo Cavalier had a lot of fun with his Sentinel Shield + Azuredge.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)