Bard College of Sword. Dueling or Two-Weapon Fighting?

[Ashuran]

Hello everyone. So I just reached lvl 3. Yes I play slow lol. But I am torn between these two fighting style on my bard. Dual wielding is cool and naturally deals more damage but dueling I guess is more defensive since we can equip shield? Can bard veteran give me advice on these two options? Thanks. Really loving the game so far granted I am only at the beginning lol.

[SOFAGUS]

To get percs from one handed style you have to have second hand empty

[Ashuran]

Originally posted by SOFAGUS:

To get percs from one handed style you have to have second hand empty

Cannot equip even shields? I thought it says just no other weapon on second hand.

[Szorrin]

Originally posted by SOFAGUS:

To get percs from one handed style you have to have second hand empty

Incorrect, you just need to not wield a 2nd weapon, you can use a shield. +2 damage and +2 AC from a shield is just always better in my opinion.

[Tzyder]

a complete encyclopedia of class progression and abilities should have been included on release. Or at least an off-line Wiki. Just one reason this game doesnt deserve the hype its received. What a time of Renaissance we'd live in if customers could act a little less like drug addicts and have some standards.

[Rez Elwin]

Dual wielding is different from 2 weapon fighting, dual wielding is feat you can pick up that lets you equip two weapons that are not light, like two long swords or rapiers for example.

[Ashuran]

Originally posted by Tzyder:

a complete encyclopedia of class progression and abilities should have been included on release. Or at least an off-line Wiki. Just one reason this game doesnt deserve the hype its received. What a time of Renaissance we'd live in if customers could act a little less like drug addicts and have some standards.

There is a wiki which I think is decent but I think a lot of stuff can only be gleaned thru experiencing it on the game itself hence I am trying to get some advice on bards who already have played a bit of these playstyle. I already went TWF buut I am thinking of respeccing to dueling hence am asking before I spend that 100 gold haha.

[Ashuran]

Originally posted by Rez Elwin:

Dual wielding is different from 2 weapon fighting, dual wielding is feat you can pick up that lets you equip two weapons that are not light, like two long swords or rapiers for example.

oh sorry I will edit my title.

[Tzyder]

If you want to play a martial charecter you should mutliclass into a fighter or rogue. Bard is a casting class and you are giving up the extra dice rolls or magical secrets for meh weapon skills. Also in the DOS games shield was subpar choice mostly for casters compared to 2hnded or duel. Not sure if that carries over here but something to consider.

[Kurnauskis uwu]

Originally posted by Tzyder:

a complete encyclopedia of class progression and abilities should have been included on release. Or at least an off-line Wiki. Just one reason this game doesnt deserve the hype its received. What a time of Renaissance we'd live in if customers could act a little less like drug addicts and have some standards.

Imagine if people just played games instead of reading about them from a wiki. Crazy, I know.

[Rez Elwin]

Originally posted by Ashuran:

oh sorry I will edit my title.

No need to apologize, I am letting you know when you level up again, at level 4 you can choose a feat, that is one of them. It will make the most out of fighting with two weapons and makes 2 weapon fighting a solid choice.

[SwashBuccaneer]

I went with two weapon fighting on mine, but that play through feels borked and I might be soft locked. I am trash, but I think I would go with Dueling when I redo a bard in the future.

[Agony_Aunt]

Personally i prefer to dual wield and take the feat that gives +1 AC when dual wielding.

[Ashuran]

Originally posted by SwashBuccaneer:

I went with two weapon fighting on mine, but that play through feels borked and I might be soft locked. I am trash, but I think I would go with Dueling when I redo a bard in the future.

dun worry I feel like trash too. I wiped several times on bandits on that first ruins we explore lol. I admit this is the first time I play bard on any crpg. Always been Paladin or rogue on previous baldur gate or neverwinter games.

I went bard because I want to RP more of a simple travelling adventurer that got caught up in this mess and that he is less of a fighter or mage and more of the average joe who will use wits and ingenuity to survive etc.

[Rez Elwin]

Originally posted by SwashBuccaneer:

I went with two weapon fighting on mine, but that play through feels borked and I might be soft locked. I am trash, but I think I would go with Dueling when I redo a bard in the future.

You can re-spec at any time, no need to restart if you feel like your character isn't playing how you want. And it's not not just stats and skills, you can change your entire class if you really want.

[Szorrin]

Originally posted by Rez Elwin:

Originally posted by Ashuran:

oh sorry I will edit my title.

No need to apologize, I am letting you know when you level up again, at level 4 you can choose a feat, that is one of them. It will make the most out of fighting with two weapons and makes 2 weapon fighting a solid choice.

Dual Wielder is bait if you're DEX based. It only gives you +1 bonus to AC, and your off-hand can be a 1d8 weapon instead of 1d6. Meanwhile just taking the ASI and pumping DEX would give you +1 AC, +1 to hit and +1 damage.

It's really only decent for STR based Two-Weapon Fighters, who wouldn't be getting any AC from pumping STR.