Weapon Choices for Evil Half-Orc Fighter/Thief

[New Moon On Monday]

If I play one more game of Baldur's Gate, it will be an evil run since I have never done that. Gorion's Ward will probably be a Half-Orc Fighter/Thief, because I think there are not a lot of great Thief candidates in Baldur's Gate II. (Not excited about Hexxat; Jan Jansen is great but I think he has been a member of my party ever single time I have ever played.)

It is not obvious to me what weapons to focus on as an Evil Half-Orc Fighter/Thief. Though I will start with Baldur's Gate I, I am more concerned about preparing for Baldur's Gate II. Likely companions there will include Korgan, Viconia, and Edwin in Shadows of Amn; picking up Sarevok in Throne of Bhaal; and probably keeping Imoen to see if there is an "evil path" or her.

I don't know if I should care about backstabbing. Stealth is going to be the last place I invest thieving points, so at best backstabbing will be an occasional possibility that will require the aid of invisibility. But as things get harder in BGII, more bosses are just immune to backstabbing; backstabbing minions and goons doesn't seem that exciting. So generally, I do not think it is important to focus on a weapon that I can use to backstab.

(Edit: If I wanted to backstab- going with quarterstaves to eventually use Staff of the Magi would be an option? Using Staff of the Magi would be the functional equivalent of being able to Hide in Plain Sight.)

Crom Faeyr is is a great weapon. But an Evil Half-Orc Bhaalspawn is going to have a signifcant strength without equipment. I'll be entering Baldur's Gate II with Strength 20. Crom Faeyr isn't available until after the return from the Underdark; at that point it isn't much of a longer wait to add +2 Strength in Bhaal's Domain and +1 Strength at Watcher's Keep for Strength of 23 without equipment. It seems Crom Faeyer would be better of in Korgan's hands (despite the fact that a Dwarf named Bloodaxe should rightfully be using an axe).

Gorion's Ward will not be in the tank role (seems like Korgan fits that in BGII), so thrown weapons seem to be a good choice. So maybe Axe for Azuredge (available early in BGII), or Dagger for the Firetooth dagger (a little bit better than Azuredge in most situations, but not available until reaching the Underdark). (Edit: Can't use Azuredge until I can Use Any Item, so really Firetooth is available before Azuredge.)

It's tempting to take Two-Handed Sword to eventually use Carsomyr (first HLA will probably become available taking on Watcher's Keep after SoA has eneded). It's so good against mages, and there are plenty of mages in Throne of Bhaal. There are also plenty of good two-handed swords available before I could use Carsomyr; and when I pick up Sarevok, he can't use Carsomyr anyway.

I could also consider some sort of two-weapon set-up, and with that I'd have to figure out a great combination. Scimtar allows Belm (or eventually Ninjato of the Scarlet Brotherhood) in the off-hand; Short Sword allows Kundane in the off-hand. I'd have to decide what to go with in the main hand; there are plenty of choices that will not conflict with other party members. I'll leave hammers for Korgan; I don't anticipate Viconia as a frequent melee participant, so she does not get priority for weapons.

[Armanz]

Imho a Fighter/Thief would be a prime candidate for the stun Katana

[The Great Cornholio]

Shortswords for BG1. Add Katana points. Celestial Fury + Kundane for SOA. Add Longswords for those battles where +3 isn't enough.

Or start with Longsword and stay there. You'll have Blackrazor for TOB.

If you dont care about backstabbing you could even do Flail of Ages.

I didnt care about backstabbing with my dwarf F/T, just wanted Celestial Fury + Spike Traps + pickpocketing. Might be my favorite character.

[New Moon On Monday]

Is the Flail of Ages still bugged, such that enemies who are immune to poison are completely immune to the Flail of Ages after the poison head is added?

[red255]

as a fighter/thief you get use any item, you can use Carsomyr. If you want to backstab there are longswords, the Final quest in SoA gets you a pretty good longsword.

theres a monk only +1 attack per round +3 weapon you can buy in the copper coronet. scimitar class. pretty nice weapon for Use any item.

so I guess I would go Spectral Brand and the scarlet ninja-to.

Now a Fighter Dualed to thief gets a CRAP ton of weapon profs. a fighter thief gets less but can only put two points in.

so do whatever, not like you are tied down to one thing. but yeah, Spectral brand and scarlet ninjato is my vote.

[ReoHays]

Celestrail Fury(Katanna +++++), then Two wepon fighting style +++ and then Long swords, You want Greater wirlwind and Backstab modifier for round and Timestop trap. Get the Shadow Dragon Armor and then you will be a GOD

[The Great Cornholio]

Half orc has to multi F/T so he cant get ***** in anything. Also if hes starting in BG1 there is no Katana for a while.

[Fluke]

There is a katana for sale in the inn in prologue for 600 gold. Steal gem up stairs so you can afford it.

Sorry thought i was in bg1 forum

[Zotliatlicor]

Take Dual wielding. Start with Logswords. Take Katana, Scimitars, and Quarterstaff. You can backstab with Quartestaff, and you will get a Mage one with Invisibility at will, and you can use all mage staves after you get use any item.

You will have both Belm (scimitar) and the Kundane (wakizashi) that give extra attacks.

As standalone The +3 Stun Katana is the Superior weapon for a very very long time, for a thief. dont dismiss Backstabbing as a thief, it is a core feature and very very useful. Ok not against undead but it will do wonders for you throughout the game.

When it works you can sneak up and one shot a myriad of enemy targets

[The Great Cornholio]

Kundane is a short sword.

[New Moon On Monday]

I still haven't started it yet, so I'm still thinking about it.

I can get specializations in multiple weapons, but I don't think I want to have multiple styles. My number of weapon proficiencies is finite, and I'll be getting them slower than a single-class fighter. So I probably won't mix one-handed and two-handed melee weapons.

I have four weapon slots to start. I'll be up to six total weapon slots at Figher 6/Thief 7 (128,000 xp). I'll have eight weapon slots at Fighter 12/Thief 14 (2,000,000 xp). That's around the time I'll be deep in the Underdark. The ninth weapon slot will come at Fighter 15/Thief 17 (3,500,000 xp), probably in Watcher's Keep.

Specialization in a melee weapon is 2 slots, specialization in a thrown weapon is 2 slots, specialization in a fighting style is 2 slots. If the primary purpose of using two weapons is to use Belm or Kundane off-hand to get an extra attack for the main hand, then a 3rd slots in Two-Weapon Fighting isn't necessarily a high priority, and in that case, perhaps Specialization or Proficiency in the off-hand weapon isn't a high priority. I can use Belm or Kundane and get the extra attack even if I don't have proficiency with those weapons.

Using the Staff of the Magi would be tempting- the invisibility effect is pretty much the functional equivalent of Hide In Plain Sight. But I wouldn't be able to use it until very late game until I've finished BGII proper and I'm in Watcher's Keep or Throne of Bhaal. At that point, so many opponents, particularly bosses, are immune to backstab and/or see through invisibility.

[Zotliatlicor]

Originally posted by The Great Cornholio:

Kundane is a short sword.

yes i meant the monk only scimitar that adds an attack. sry

[Etxxu]

Originally posted by Zotliatlicor:

Take Dual wielding. Start with Logswords. Take Katana, Scimitars, and Quarterstaff. You can backstab with Quartestaff, and you will get a Mage one with Invisibility at will, and you can use all mage staves after you get use any item.

You will have both Belm (scimitar) and the Kundane (wakizashi) that give extra attacks.

As standalone The +3 Stun Katana is the Superior weapon for a very very long time, for a thief. dont dismiss Backstabbing as a thief, it is a core feature and very very useful. Ok not against undead but it will do wonders for you throughout the game.

When it works you can sneak up and one shot a myriad of enemy targets

But in SoA backstab is really a good thing? I mean, the strongest enemies are mages and they ussually are so protect from everything that...

Im asking from ignorance to know, i ussually take a lot of mages with breach, thrusth spell, spellstike, Ruby of inversion, etcétera, etcétera, because of *#*#*#*#*#* mages bosses

[Zotliatlicor]

It is possible to Solo the game as an Assassin, so yeah, Backstab is a valid option. Mages often get their defences up "after" they are hit or otherwise engaged in combat. Going up invisible and getting in a backstab can kill them outright or if not leave them at near death HP.

The Magic Damage of certain Weapons bypass a lot of resistances, Like the +2 Cold Damage done from Varcona + 2 Long Sword., the various damage from Flail Of the Ages, the +3 Fire Axe and so forth. This can be exploited big time.

Backstab looses effect later on in the game, but by then you have access to HLA, and Rouge has some pretty interesting ones that deal with Assassinations.

[Etxxu]

Originally posted by Zotliatlicor:

It is possible to Solo the game as an Assassin, so yeah, Backstab is a valid option. Mages often get their defences up "after" they are hit or otherwise engaged in combat. Going up invisible and getting in a backstab can kill them outright or if not leave them at near death HP.

The Magic Damage of certain Weapons bypass a lot of resistances, Like the +2 Cold Damage done from Varcona + 2 Long Sword., the various damage from Flail Of the Ages, the +3 Fire Axe and so forth. This can be exploited big time.

Backstab looses effect later on in the game, but by then you have access to HLA, and Rouge has some pretty interesting ones that deal with Assassinations.

Woooooooow, i didnt know that... But against Irenicus a solo thief or even a sólo F/T can still? I mean because you cant attack first un stealth mode

[Zotliatlicor]

Originally posted by New Moon On Monday:

I still haven't started it yet, so I'm still thinking about it.

I can get specializations in multiple weapons, but I don't think I want to have multiple styles. My number of weapon proficiencies is finite, and I'll be getting them slower than a single-class fighter. So I probably won't mix one-handed and two-handed melee weapons.

I have four weapon slots to start. I'll be up to six total weapon slots at Figher 6/Thief 7 (128,000 xp). I'll have eight weapon slots at Fighter 12/Thief 14 (2,000,000 xp). That's around the time I'll be deep in the Underdark. The ninth weapon slot will come at Fighter 15/Thief 17 (3,500,000 xp), probably in Watcher's Keep.

Specialization in a melee weapon is 2 slots, specialization in a thrown weapon is 2 slots, specialization in a fighting style is 2 slots. If the primary purpose of using two weapons is to use Belm or Kundane off-hand to get an extra attack for the main hand, then a 3rd slots in Two-Weapon Fighting isn't necessarily a high priority, and in that case, perhaps Specialization or Proficiency in the off-hand weapon isn't a high priority. I can use Belm or Kundane and get the extra attack even if I don't have proficiency with those weapons.

Using the Staff of the Magi would be tempting- the invisibility effect is pretty much the functional equivalent of Hide In Plain Sight. But I wouldn't be able to use it until very late game until I've finished BGII proper and I'm in Watcher's Keep or Throne of Bhaal. At that point, so many opponents, particularly bosses, are immune to backstab and/or see through invisibility.

Well, you already know that you cannot be a master of all weapons, so it boils down to how you want your F/T to be. I never focus on ranged weaponry on my protagonist anymore, it is simply too booring for me. I have an exception where i play a Wizard Slayer that focuses on Grand Mastery in Ranged.

I only think it makes sense to take weapons that are already in the Rouge's pick list, for Back stab. Back stab is a major factor in all of SoA. You can backstab Mindflayers and Beholders. But of course there are many many good (insanely good) options to use, and the UIA is a killer ability to open up many new venues of play. A thief with Carsomyr ? yes please.

The Dual is two slots (the third is not needed for a long time, and can easily be nr 9 in your list). Dualling makes you a lot stronger in combat, on behalf of your defense. Choice.

You only ever need 1 Star in a weapon you "know" you will use in the Offhand, as Offhand only gives 1 extra attack. So 1 star in Scimitar give you extra attack with any scimitars (as you also get with no stars, but then you will likely miss more) but with Belm you get two attacks. Big important feature of the Offhand.

And once you dual wield weapons that have "on-Hit effects", the effectiveness really start to rise up.

If you have the extra traders (i think you do) there is a flail +3 that adds 25% resistance to all Physical damage. Reason enough for me to have 1 or 2 stars in Flails.