Suggestions for weapon proficiencies on a blade?

[Weizen1988]

got waki currently, because i figure offhand one of the apr weapons when i get it eventually. dual wield obviously, but im wondering what other weapon type would be good. its been years since i played the game all the way through, planning a full run and dont want to end up screwed late game having picked bad weapons.

[abbyzero]

Long sword.

[Weizen1988]

Originally posted by abbyzero:

Long sword.

Works for me, any other suggestions? Sadly trying to google this returns nothing but "BELM IS GOD!" "NO, ITS THE FOA!" "FOA IS TRASH, ONLY USE CELESTIAL!"

[abbyzero]

I'm using katanas on my full run blade personally. Long sword is better but I always use long sword and wanted to do the TMNT Leonardo thing.

[red255]

Blades get use Any item (and epic spike traps because they are thieves) as such the wakashi thats monk only grants them +1 APR if you want an offhand APR weapon. and nobody without UAI can use it and you can't backstab with it. sold in the copper coronet bonus merchant.

uh. Use any item encompasses alot of things. the Paladin only Bastard swords are pretty good.

there are a number of +3 shortswords in BG1

and well you can throw some daggers.

Blades can only stick one point in profs and get profs every 4 levels like a thief right? you get level 40 thats 10 points you can only stick one point in, plus the level 1 points.

pretty sure you get like 8 weapon types. you use whatever.

Opens game up. looks like 14 points for 1 point in every 1 handed weapon and 3 in two weapon fighting. you get 2 points at start and 10 points leveling to 40. so 12 points thru BG2 meaning you won't be able to stick points in 2 weapon types.

so...do all the one handed weapons except clubs and uh. god knows. point is, you won't gimp yourself because you'll have one point in nearly everything.

[Weizen1988]

Originally posted by red255:

Blades get use Any item (and epic spike traps because they are thieves) as such the wakashi thats monk only grants them +1 APR if you want an offhand APR weapon. and nobody without UAI can use it and you can't backstab with it. sold in the copper coronet bonus merchant.

uh. Use any item encompasses alot of things. the Paladin only Bastard swords are pretty good.

there are a number of +3 shortswords in BG1

and well you can throw some daggers.

Blades can only stick one point in profs and get profs every 4 levels like a thief right? you get level 40 thats 10 points you can only stick one point in, plus the level 1 points.

pretty sure you get like 8 weapon types. you use whatever.

Opens game up. looks like 14 points for 1 point in every 1 handed weapon and 3 in two weapon fighting. you get 2 points at start and 10 points leveling to 40. so 12 points thru BG2 meaning you won't be able to stick points in 2 weapon types.

so...do all the one handed weapons except clubs and uh. god knows. point is, you won't gimp yourself because you'll have one point in nearly everything.

Forgot all about UAI, and how many profs i end up getting, so fair enough.

[Tasi]

For BG 1 I would go long swords (as @abbyzero suggested). Picking also ranged weapon (short bow or crossbow) is an option (or possibly short swords for later BG 1). On the other hand you can start building your two weapon proficiency if you will not invest to these other weapons.

For BG 2 I would go katanas (Celestial Fury is really fun to use with it's stun effect) and after scimitar/wakizachi for +APR (as @red255 mentioned).

Since Blade does not have that high THAC0 I do not mind to shift to hammers (not much "Blade", right?) once Crom Faeyr is available for it's permanent strength boost (and following THAC0 increase).

[red255]

Originally posted by Weizen1988:

Forgot all about UAI, and how many profs i end up getting, so fair enough.

I just know if I take fighter to 13 then thief to 39 I get ALOT of prof points. I believe 11 from thief and 8 from fighter. for a grand total of 19 points. meaning i grandmaster several weapon types.

[Weizen1988]

Originally posted by Tasi:

For BG 1 I would go long swords (as @abbyzero suggested). Picking also ranged weapon (short bow or crossbow) is an option (or possibly short swords for later BG 1). On the other hand you can start building your two weapon proficiency if you will not invest to these other weapons.

For BG 2 I would go katanas (Celestial Fury is really fun to use with it's stun effect) and after scimitar/wakizachi for +APR (as @red255 mentioned).

Since Blade does not have that high THAC0 I do not mind to shift to hammers (not much "Blade", right?) once Crom Faeyr is available for it's permanent strength boost (and following THAC0 increase).

Isnt celestial only a +3? Wont that leave you unable to hurt end game creatures? Though I guess in spite of the name blade, you are still just a bard, if I want to fight I should be shooting magic probably.

[Tasi]

Originally posted by Weizen1988:

Isnt celestial only a +3? Wont that leave you unable to hurt end game creatures? Though I guess in spite of the name blade, you are still just a bard, if I want to fight I should be shooting magic probably.

Yes. It is +3. It means there are very few monsters immune in SoA and there are few more in ToB. That is also reason for Crom Faeyr:

Originally posted by Tasi:

Since Blade does not have that high THAC0 I do not mind to shift to hammers (not much "Blade", right?) once Crom Faeyr is available for it's permanent strength boost (and following THAC0 increase).

so for end game bosses you will have +5 Crom Faeyr.

[red255]

not the biggest fan of Crom, but I suppose EE adds more belts of STR 19 to offset the loss of all those strength boosting gear you spend to make the hammer.

My PC starts with 18 STR and gets 1 in BG1 and 1 in BG2 for 20 STR. which is -3 THACO +8 Damage

Andguduval is 22 STR for -4 + 10

Blade's UAI can equip Clerics +1 Str 5% magic resist rings to get it to 24 STR
-6 thaco +12 damage

and Crom is 25 for -7 +14

First part of the game you get some Draw upon holy might uses. easily knocking your strength up

Late game Rasaad's ToB quest gives you a headpiece that casts Righteous might to shoot you up to 25 STR and max damage.

and the class is called a BLADE not a HAMMER.

[Tasi]

Originally posted by red255:

and the class is called a BLADE not a HAMMER.

take a look what I have written here (I have underlined that text for you):

Originally posted by Tasi:

Since Blade does not have that high THAC0 I do not mind to shift to hammers (not much "Blade", right?) once Crom Faeyr is available for it's permanent strength boost (and following THAC0 increase).

Originally posted by red255:

Andguduval is 22 STR for -4 + 10

You get upgraded Angurvadal +5 with permanent strength boost much later in the game then Crom Faeyr. Until that point Angurvadal +4 is only 22 strength for 60 seconds.

Originally posted by red255:

Blade's UAI can equip Clerics +1 Str 5% magic resist rings to get it to 24 STR
-6 thaco +12 damage

and Crom is 25 for -7 +14

Angurvadal +4 will set your strength to 22 (for 60 seconds only until you will upgrade it much later in the game to Angurvadal +5 which makes that bonus permanent). If you equip that cleric ring it will increase your strength to 23 (THAC0 -5; damage +11) , not 24.
Moreover, you need to take that ring from your Cleric (=you will loose bonus cleric spells) and again: that option (getting that ring) is available later in the game.

Originally posted by red255:

First part of the game you get some Draw upon holy might uses. easily knocking your strength up

You can not have Crom Faeyr before you will permanently loose access to Draw upon holy might so that comment of yours is irrelevant at all. It is always: first part of the game I have Draw upon holy might, and after I loose access to it I will get Crom Faeyr.

Originally posted by red255:

Late game Rasaad's ToB quest gives you a headpiece that casts Righteous might to shoot you up to 25 STR and max damage.

Headband of the Devout is (as you have mentioned) later game item (ToB). Moreover it will give you strength boost only once per day. There is also question if there is any other better item to use in your headslot (I believe there are).

Overall, without that small error you have made (ring +1 strength will kick you to 23, not 24) your approach is definitely an option. Still, I would prefer Crom Faeyr. Personal taste I would say.

[Weizen1988]

Im probably going to end up using mostly swords, but i likely will keep crom around just so I have a blunt weapon so im not just helplessly whacking at some monsters doing nothing. Im still back in BG1 right now, so options are a bit limited and i find i mostly use bows until I can get the bard armor next chapter.

[red255]

Originally posted by Tasi:

Originally posted by red255:

and the class is called a BLADE not a HAMMER.

Overall, without that small error you have made (ring +1 strength will kick you to 23, not 24) your approach is definitely an option. Still, I would prefer Crom Faeyr. Personal taste I would say.

you know you can equip 2 rings right? One from Amonen and one from Vic I guess. if you can't get 2 from amonen.

using the machine of lum the mad Failure 100,000 XP to get to level 24. then dumping the cleric.

before EE you could just remove the cleric from your party to get extra rings.

[Tasi]

Originally posted by red255:

Originally posted by Tasi:

Overall, without that small error you have made (ring +1 strength will kick you to 23, not 24) your approach is definitely an option. Still, I would prefer Crom Faeyr. Personal taste I would say.

you know you can equip 2 rings right? One from Amonen and one from Vic I guess. if you can't get 2 from amonen.

using the machine of lum the mad Failure 100,000 XP to get to level 24. then dumping the cleric.

before EE you could just remove the cleric from your party to get extra rings.

Well, I did not know that trick. Thanks.
To be honest it sounds to me as exploit in contrast to valid option of simply wear hammer instead of blade-type weapon for Blade kit (bards are supposed to be able to use any weapon type).

[Kettimmy]

For Bg 1 i personally always go for drizz't's weapons so scimitar's ftw nothing beats twinkle