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Baldur's Gate seriesBG1: What's better for a Fighter, Longswords or Two Handed Swords?(13 posts)solved(13 posts)solved
(13 posts)solved
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This is my favourite topic
Posted April 13, 2018
Is the speed factor + the ability to wear a shield better than the extra sides to a two handed sword?

I've been using the regular 1D10 two handed sword since the beginning (I'm level 3) but recently acquired Varscona and I'm surprised how much better the stats and bonuses are...

Keep in mind, this is the original game so I have the Large Sword proficiency.
This question / problem has been solved by CFMimage
Posted April 13, 2018
It's all a matter of preferring better AC (using a one-handed weapon and shield), versus preferring better damage (using a two-handed weapon).

Your dude in the top slot is the one getting attacked first, so for the very front-most front-liner, perhaps better AC is preferred.

The dudes in the second and third slots maybe don't get targeted as much, so for the second-liners coming forward from behind the front-liner and attacking without being attacked, perhaps better damage is preferred.

Speed rating is another factor. But I'll say this: my one time through the game years ago, I had Khalid Jaheira Minsc Boo Dynahier and Imoen (with my Cleric). Khalid had a long sword and shield, while Minsc used a two-handed sword. Khalid's weapon's speed rating was always lower (i.e. faster) than Minsc's, but I don't remember noticing Khalid striking any faster than Minsc. Maybe it was faster, and I just never noticed because of the chaos of group combat. I'm just not sure how significant a weapon's speed rating is within the Bioware Infinity game engine.
Post edited April 13, 2018 by CFM
Posted April 13, 2018
I depends what kind of fighter you want to have. I usually use one-handed weapon and shield for the defensive type of fighters and two-handed weapons for offensive ones. I would also take into account whether that fighter is using two-handed range weapons.

All in all I simply use whatever I like, some kind of theme, or what looks better in my opinion. I would simply try that longsword and see, if it's better in any way.
Posted April 13, 2018
Also, with my decision making as to who uses what, you gotta picture the character.

I always thought Khalid was kinda of a smaller-ish, scaredy-cat Fighter ("Better part of valour!"), so of course he wants the shield for protection. While Minsc, with his super strength and miniature "giant" space hamster, seems more like a two-handed sword kinda guy.

(Khalid was always getting his ass kicked in my game. It almost felt like he had an unusually low morale rating.)

Or, the decision making is based on what weapons you come across. You use Varscona until you find Spider's Bane.

Or, the decision making is if you want to also switch to a bow, which is much easier to do when not using a shield.
Post edited April 13, 2018 by CFM
Posted April 13, 2018
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CFM: Also, with my decision making as to who uses what, you gotta picture the character.

I always thought Khalid was kinda of a smaller-ish, scaredy-cat Fighter ("Better part of valour!"), so of course he wants the shield for protection. While Minsc, with his super strength and miniature "giant" space hamster, seems more like a two-handed sword kinda guy.

(Khalid was always getting his ass kicked in my game. It almost felt like he had an unusually low morale rating.)

Or, the decision making is based on what weapons you come across. You use Varscona until you find Spider's Bane.

Or, the decision making is if you want to also switch to a bow, which is much easier to do when not using a shield.
Minsc is completely useless and always seems to take the most damage. I'm going to get rid of him once I find someone better. Khalid is a coward and Jaheira deserves better (and she will get what she deserves in BG2, yes sir, she will...).
Posted April 13, 2018
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chris1995: Is the speed factor + the ability to wear a shield better than the extra sides to a two handed sword?

I've been using the regular 1D10 two handed sword since the beginning (I'm level 3) but recently acquired Varscona and I'm surprised how much better the stats and bonuses are...

Keep in mind, this is the original game so I have the Large Sword proficiency.
If you were playing BG2, BG1 using the BG2 engine or the EE version It's an easy choice. Pick Elf (for a +1 to hit with longswords) and dual wield long swords.

long swords: Varscona is about the best you can get until you get deep in Durlag's tower and grab the flame tongue sword.
bastard swords: Kondar (extra potent against shape shifters) is the best one. but the gold one from werewolf island can be very nice for certain battles.
2-handed swords: you can find Spiderbane (+2 and some extra benefits) in the cloakwood forest which is very nice. Deep in Durlag's tower you'll be able to find a +3 sword (without cursed berserking)

I'd say stick with Varscona and a shield until you get the +3 2-handed sword
Posted April 14, 2018
Varscone is great and best sword you can find, except for Drizzt scimitars which you get after killing him. These are +3, if I remember correctly, and one of the gives -2 bonus to AC. For that reason I typically specialize in long swords in BG1 when playing a fighter character. In BG2 long swords are not as great so there I usually switch to hammers or flails.
Posted April 14, 2018
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Lebesgue: Varscone is great and best sword you can find, except for Drizzt scimitars which you get after killing him. These are +3, if I remember correctly, and one of the gives -2 bonus to AC. For that reason I typically specialize in long swords in BG1 when playing a fighter character. In BG2 long swords are not as great so there I usually switch to hammers or flails.
I encountered him last night... I decided against attempting to kill him (especially since he 1 hits everything) and I didn't want to lose reputation either.

My AC is -4 and my THAC0 is 10. Not bad for level 4, right?
Posted April 14, 2018
Minsc is useless? He usually finishes with around 45-50% kill-experience rate in my playthroughs ;)
Posted April 14, 2018
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Engerek01: Minsc is useless? He usually finishes with around 45-50% kill-experience rate in my playthroughs ;)
Don't know what's wrong with him. Could also be the AI. He's always lagging behind. Khalid seems to always take front and center even though I'm the leader. Minsc never seems to do much damage and always take a lot of damage and he was just as outfitted as Khalid.

I did his quest but left him on Bear River... Now I'm just a party of 5. It's all right. I always found him annoying anyway.
Posted April 14, 2018
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Engerek01: Minsc is useless? He usually finishes with around 45-50% kill-experience rate in my playthroughs ;)
Yeah Minsc and Boo were big in my party too. Had Imoen Khalid Jaheira Minsc and Dynaheir. I was a cleric.
Post edited April 14, 2018 by CFM
Posted April 14, 2018
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chris1995: Don't know what's wrong with him. Could also be the AI. He's always lagging behind. Khalid seems to always take front and center even though I'm the leader. Minsc never seems to do much damage and always take a lot of damage and he was just as outfitted as Khalid.

I did his quest but left him on Bear River... Now I'm just a party of 5. It's all right. I always found him annoying anyway.
I never used Minsc as a tank. He was my archer and you know how bows rule in BG1. Also he can make massive damage dualwielding maces when the situation needs it.

I mostly used Jaheira as my tank. With her spells and around -10 AC, very few things could actually hit her.
Posted April 18, 2018
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Engerek01: Minsc is useless? He usually finishes with around 45-50% kill-experience rate in my playthroughs ;)
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CFM: Yeah Minsc and Boo were big in my party too. Had Imoen Khalid Jaheira Minsc and Dynaheir. I was a cleric.
Same party make-up, but my PC was a Ranger/Cleric - dual wielding maces for the win, heh. Minsc had a two-handed sword and Jaheira and Khalid had sword and board. Imoen, Jaheira and Dynaheir mostly handled ranged combat (slings, spells and a shortbow). Think I'm currently somewhere outside Durlag's Tower on my last play through.

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Baldur's Gate seriesBG1: What's better for a Fighter, Longswords or Two Handed Swords?(13 posts)solved(13 posts)solved
(13 posts)solved