Longsword, What's It Good For, Anyway?

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Srsly, has anyond found an actual reason to use a longsword? Most other 1-hd weapons are better if you're playing sword n' board, and if not why wouldn't you be using a greatsword instead?

Once a staple of D&D warriors, the venerable longsword seems to have fallen by the wayside. How could it be made to be attractive again?

[dolby]

what\?? is wrong with it ? What more do you want.. you got range closer and bonus action daze that removes dex AC bonus and works with smite, bleed is ok if stacked with other stuff adds up if you play smart and efficient.
i mean it's not a fireball if that's what you were expecting lol.

We just need to get a few good magical ones...

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

How could it be made to be attractive again?

it would be even better if larian would let us use off hand weapon special attacks but for some stupid reason they do not.


SO people play with GWM and two handed weapons most of the time.. As a two handed weapons Longsword of course is out classed by other stuff due to dice numbers..

[brendan_in_china]

Is it still possible to cycle through longsword-warhammer-battleaxe to get use of all properties between rests?

Rush attack, pommel strike and lacerate are all great options btw. No need to power-up further.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by brendan_in_china:

Is it still possible to cycle through longsword-warhammer-battleaxe to get use of all properties between rests?

Rush attack, pommel strike and lacerate are all great options btw. No need to power-up further.

Hmm, that's an exploit I hadn't thought of.

However, while I enjoy the weapon actions, I haven't found them to be a deciding factor in whether I'll use a weapon or not. While you rightly point out that the longsword's special attacks are useful, so too are the warhammer's, morningstar's and battleaxe's. They are an extra bit of flavor, I wouldn't choose the longsword over other 1-hd versatile weapons based on this alone.

The only two reasons I can find to use a longsword are:

1) Magical weapon. Many magical swords in D&D are longswords. Currently, we only have Phalar Aluve which is just a +1 longsword for the moment (some have speculated that it may have as yet undiscovered powers) and +1 longswords from the vendor. You can also find +1 weapons of other types (as well as those with powers), so this isn't currently a good reason, though it may be in the future.

2) Proficiency. This one is harder, however, because it only applies in a small number of cases. Elfs, for example, get proficiency in longsword, but have bonuses to Dex instead of Str, so are more likely to use a Finesse weapon if possible (and if they are playing a martial class, then they also have proficiency in other weapons). If you are playing an elfen spellcaster, then it's possible you might use a longsword for some reason, although your spells would fo more damage anyway, and you are unlikely to have a high Str.

[Ivas]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Most other 1-hd weapons are better if you're playing sword n' board,

Why? It has exactly the same damage as every other 1-hd weapon.

From PHB:
Longsword - 1d8
Flail - 1d8
Trident - 1d6, can be thrown
Scimitar - 1d6, light, finesse
Rapier - 1d8, finesse
Morningstar - 1d8
Short sword - 1d6, light, finesse
Whip - 1d4, reach, finesse
Battleaxe - 1d8
Warhammer - 1d8
War pick - 1d8

So, where's the difference outside of "finesse" for Rapier and damage type?

[dulany67]

Efficiency sucks. If the character feels like "long sword" then long sword.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Ivas:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Most other 1-hd weapons are better if you're playing sword n' board,

Why? It has exactly the same damage as every other 1-hd weapon.

From PHB:
Longsword - 1d8
Flail - 1d8
Trident - 1d6, can be thrown
Scimitar - 1d6, light, finesse
Rapier - 1d8, finesse
Morningstar - 1d8
Short sword - 1d6, light, finesse
Whip - 1d4, reach, finesse
Battleaxe - 1d8
Warhammer - 1d8
War pick - 1d8

So, where's the difference outside of "finesse" for Rapier and damage type?

As far as I can tell, setting aside possible magical properties and special weapon attacks, the warhammer is the best because more monsters (undead) are vulnerable to bludgeoning, and there are places in the game where you can only pass if you deal significant bludgeoning/force damage.

[Ivas]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Originally posted by Ivas:

Why? It has exactly the same damage as every other 1-hd weapon.

From PHB:
Longsword - 1d8
Flail - 1d8
Trident - 1d6, can be thrown
Scimitar - 1d6, light, finesse
Rapier - 1d8, finesse
Morningstar - 1d8
Short sword - 1d6, light, finesse
Whip - 1d4, reach, finesse
Battleaxe - 1d8
Warhammer - 1d8
War pick - 1d8

So, where's the difference outside of "finesse" for Rapier and damage type?

As far as I can tell, setting aside possible magical properties and special weapon attacks, the warhammer is the best because more monsters (undead) are vulnerable to bludgeoning, and there are places in the game where you can only pass if you deal significant bludgeoning/force damage.

As a martial character, you can just use the warhammer when you need certain damage type. And maybe later on there will be enemies vulnerable to slashing, who knows?

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Ivas:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

As far as I can tell, setting aside possible magical properties and special weapon attacks, the warhammer is the best because more monsters (undead) are vulnerable to bludgeoning, and there are places in the game where you can only pass if you deal significant bludgeoning/force damage.

As a martial character, you can just use the warhammer when you need certain damage type. And maybe later on there will be enemies vulnerable to slashing, who knows?

Well, yeah, maybe later, but the thrust of my question is what is a longsword good for now?

I plan on keeping most magical weapons at my camp (rather than selling them), because I've noticed that unless they are complete trash, sooner or later you will find a use case for them. In the eay game I tend to store an extra maul or hammer for this reason. Better to have one and not need it than need it and not have one.

[dolby]

Originally posted by brendan_in_china:

Is it still possible to cycle through longsword-warhammer-battleaxe to get use of all properties between rests?

Rush attack, pommel strike and lacerate are all great options btw. No need to power-up further.

why would that be a exploit? even if it didn't work and you do it during combat you still need to waste a action to get it... and otherwise you can just rest as many time as you want cos that's how the game is designed.

[Yojo0o]

Is this different from previous Baldur's Gate games? Longsword did the same average damage as flails, maces, axes, and scimitars, and as you said, there tends to be a benefit of bludgeoning damage compared to slashing/piercing.

BG1-2 and the other Infinity Engine games tended to offer a large number of magical longswords compared to other weapon options, so we'll see if that holds true for BG3 1.0.

[dolby]

Originally posted by Ivas:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Most other 1-hd weapons are better if you're playing sword n' board,

Why? It has exactly the same damage as every other 1-hd weapon.

From PHB:
Longsword - 1d8
Flail - 1d8
Trident - 1d6, can be thrown
Scimitar - 1d6, light, finesse
Rapier - 1d8, finesse
Morningstar - 1d8
Short sword - 1d6, light, finesse
Whip - 1d4, reach, finesse
Battleaxe - 1d8
Warhammer - 1d8
War pick - 1d8

So, where's the difference outside of "finesse" for Rapier and damage type?

the difference is in special weapon attacks but those are good on Longsword so no big deal at all infact one of better ones compared to others

[brendan_in_china]

Originally posted by dolby:

why would that be a exploit? even if it didn't work and you do it during combat you still need to waste a action to get it... and otherwise you can just rest as many time as you want cos that's how the game is designed.

It's not. In fact, I'd expect experienced fighters to do exactly that.

I do in my play-throughs, although I try to avoid needless clicking. I'll switch weapons to break a door or crack ore, but not for properties...

Though I think I will now.

If I can eek out a bit more efficiency before rests, I will.

[Wolff]

Rush Attack... Longsword is one of my favourite weapons. If you two hand it you still can get great weapon feat with it. I don't like using just one type of weapon on my characters. I'll have bludgeoning and piercing or slashing damage for each of my characters. My Strength rogue uses two bludgeoning weapons, one-shotted Anders with Skybreaker on my offhand.

Going for the Gith patrol next for the Gith longsword, which will pair nicely with Phalar Aluve on my strength rogue.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932449888

[Lord Adorable]

It's for hitting explosive barrels.