What are the best/worst weapons for Weapon Focus/Specialization

[Winterclaw42]

The first character I made for P:K was a paladin, and knowing how important hitting things is, I gave that character both the exotic weapon mastery and the weapon focus for bastard swords, so I could sword and board. Then the other day I was reading on the boards how there weren't really any good bastard swords in the game or long swords for that matter.

That got me to wondering, what are the best and worst weapons in the game for picking a weapon focus or specialization for? Unlike a PnP game where a GM might let you switch weapons on a level up, you are kind of locked into your choices with no idea if those choices are going to pay off in the end.

[chaylafaysky]

At the moment there are no lists of weapons (with properties) included in the game, anywhere... I've asked already... so it's nearly impossible to say...

You'd have to play through the whole game... find what weapon you think is best, then create a new character, and specialize that character with that weapon in mind.

The best weapon that I currently know of, is a +5 holy ultrasonic glaive... it's in Pitax though, so takes a while to get to it.

[Winterclaw42]

Originally posted by chaylafaysky:

At the moment there are no lists of weapons (with properties) included in the game, anywhere... I've asked already... so it's nearly impossible to say...

You'd have to play through the whole game... find what weapon you think is best, then create a new character, and specialize that character with that weapon in mind.

The best weapon that I currently know of, is a +5 holy ultrasonic glaive... it's in Pitax though, so takes a while to get to it.

Okay, well it stinks not knowing what to pick because we lack a friendly DM, but my Paladin of Shelyn is going to love that thing.

[Romana]

Well, that question is entierly reliant on which weapon is the most plentiful and least plentiful. I can be as good as I want with, say, a Falcata (A great weapon base), but if I can't find better than a +2 Flaming Falcate why would I want to go with that when I could maybe get a +4 Keen Scimitar? (hypotheticals)

I don't know which weapons are the most plentiful and least, if item crafting was in the game the question would be realtively moot (In which case, it's a matter of "Which weapon is the best base". The answer is usually either Longsword, Scimitar, Rapier, Greatsword, Longbow, and sometimes an exotic weapon). So the best weapon choice is the one that both has the best avaible enchantments, and is the most powerful in its respective build. The worst weapon is the one with the least powerful enchantments avaible, and with no reasonable function, and is a gimmick weapon.

[omegazeda]

Unarmed are the wrost weapon in game, unless u playing Monk.

[chaylafaysky]

Originally posted by Winterclaw42:

Originally posted by chaylafaysky:

At the moment there are no lists of weapons (with properties) included in the game, anywhere... I've asked already... so it's nearly impossible to say...

You'd have to play through the whole game... find what weapon you think is best, then create a new character, and specialize that character with that weapon in mind.

The best weapon that I currently know of, is a +5 holy ultrasonic glaive... it's in Pitax though, so takes a while to get to it.

Okay, well it stinks not knowing what to pick because we lack a friendly DM, but my Paladin of Shelyn is going to love that thing.

Amen... I started over the day before yesterday, and remade my character specifically to focus on, specialize in, and master the glaive with the Aldori Defender (fighter) class... (free counterattacks every time an enemy attacks me, is awesome... plus, since it has reach, I get a free attack every time an enemy approaches me, I just had to take the feat that gives me more than one AoO per round, now I'm handing out free AoO attacks like they're candy)

[AzureTheGamerKobold]

there really are no bad weapons weapon focus and weapon speialization are pretty much good for what ever weapon you are using BUT are a few great weapons to consider.

1: Scimitar: 18-20 x2 crit ange means you have a MUCH higher chance to crit then with most weapons, built up with keen and other feats and you can become a crit monster.

2: Falacha: this one is new to me, but it's got a 1d8 19-20 x3 crit range but is an exotic weapon but the fact it has a good threat range AND x3? that's crazy good

3:Scythe: 2d4 x4 crit range, now this is one of those weapons that does less damage then a great sword or great axe BUT the x4 crit damage makes up for it.

those are like my top 3 fav melee atm... but are tons of good ones, the bastard sword, rapier(great for finess warriors and rogues) dwarven war axe, and the great sword and great axe all are great weapons. If you want a scimitar but two handed you cant beat the estoc or falchion.

[wulfster42]

I would actually take another track here and look at which weapons get the most bonus from focus/specialization.

For instance, two handed weapons already get a ton of base damage, more damage from strength (alot more if your a two weapon fighter etc), and more damage from power attack (again I think you can double that bonus damage as well)

Weapon focus works great on all weapons....it's a straight bonut to hit...so you generally can't get too much.

Weapon specialization though is just +2 damage each....which makes a MUCH larger difference for low damage weapons (like a dagger) especially if you dual wield them.....versus 1 much larger weapon.

I would say it makes a bigger difference for 1 handed weapons with a shield as well for instance.

Also it's a nice bonus for ranged attacks (even composite bows) as they don't generally do as much damage and it's harder to boost that damage (since they use dex to hit and strength for damage).

Weapon specialization on a bow can be a significant damage increase in your output. Toss on a bards song for +4 damage, along with buffs like bulls strength (or a strength item later on), haste and rapid shot...and you can destroy stuff before it even gets to you (especially if more then one is targeting it).

Medium shields have no max dex bonus to AC, along with Fighters bonus to max dex in armor...allows for VERY high max ac with a decent dex. Composite bows meanwhile are fairly similar in damage to many 1 handed weapons (not as much but close). They have the disadvantage of needing dex to hit, but high dex on fighters actually works well due to the fighter armor +4 to max dex bonus (A chain shirt for instance allows for +8 dex ac (26 dex) and leather armor is up to 12 dex ac (34 dex)...which lets you actually have say leather armor +4....(getting 18 dex from the armor and your ac alone.

So yeah, weapon focus/specialization probably does more for single handed weapons, or bow weapons then two handed weapons.

[chaylafaysky]

Originally posted by AzureTheGamerKobold:

3:Scythe: 2d4 x4 crit range, now this is one of those weapons that does less damage then a great sword or great axe BUT the x4 crit damage makes up for it.

The fighter class's weapon mastery ability increases your crit multiplier by 1... so you can get the x4 to x5 on the scythe, using the improved crit feat to get 19-20 at x5 is beastly... just sayin... I have a character built around the scythe... It's a great weapon... I just do not know if there is a good one in this game...

[Insanity_184]

For two handed I went great axe and bastard sword on Amiri (for her oversized sword)

It’s good to have some blunt so maybe mace or hammer.

For slash good old long sword probably has lots of variants. Also rapier.

In the end they said you will find variants of every type. Though no one has seen the “most powerful” weapon so no one knows. Just keep a varied amount of weapon damage types on hand.

[Sir Texas Sir]

I would have expected more swords but my best long sword is +1. There are the items in the shop but as for loot the anti troll war axe is good and I got a heavy mace that does both cold and electric damage. Danka made me a +1 wareaxe with a special anti good skill to it. Next time he visits I’m going to get him to make a long sword or armor piece.

[AzureTheGamerKobold]

Originally posted by chaylafaysky:

Originally posted by AzureTheGamerKobold:

3:Scythe: 2d4 x4 crit range, now this is one of those weapons that does less damage then a great sword or great axe BUT the x4 crit damage makes up for it.

The fighter class's weapon mastery ability increases your crit multiplier by 1... so you can get the x4 to x5 on the scythe, using the improved crit feat to get 19-20 at x5 is beastly... just sayin... I have a character built around the scythe... It's a great weapon... I just do not know if there is a good one in this game...

oh yea i forgot about the crit boost and it's a good question BUT considering jaethal is a companion and uses a scythe i'd assume they would put some good ones in the game.

[wulfster42]

Originally posted by chaylafaysky:

Originally posted by AzureTheGamerKobold:

3:Scythe: 2d4 x4 crit range, now this is one of those weapons that does less damage then a great sword or great axe BUT the x4 crit damage makes up for it.

The fighter class's weapon mastery ability increases your crit multiplier by 1... so you can get the x4 to x5 on the scythe, using the improved crit feat to get 19-20 at x5 is beastly... just sayin... I have a character built around the scythe... It's a great weapon... I just do not know if there is a good one in this game...

I'll touch on this really quick. If I remember right keen and improved crit do not stack, and both double the initial crit range, so the bigger the crit range initially the better.

Meanwhile a +1 to crit actually is more useful the lower the initial crit multiplier was. If it was a x2 crit multiplier and it goes to x3...that is a 50% increase in damage. But, if it's a 4x crit multiplier and it goes to 5x, that is a 25% damage increase.

What does all that mean?

Well if you have a weapon that only crits on a 20 and you get +1 crit multiplier and +1 crit range. That means you have a 5% increase in chance to crit and a 25% increase in crit damage.

If you have a weapon with a 18-20 crit range and x2 crit multiplier and you get +1 crit multiplier and +3 crit range. That means you have a 15% increase in chance to crit and a 50% increase in crit damage.

Basically you get less from them with a scythe then a Falchion (think Falchions where the 2 handed 18-20 x2 weapons (might be 19-20 x3..but think there is an 18-20 x2 weapon just don't remember the name).

18-20 becomes 15-20 crit range, you crit 25% of the time (and depending on enemy ac's y ou might not even HIT with rolls under 15 anyway. Also x3 crit multiplier....often will kill things in 1 hit anyway (after bonuses etc are all applied). Which is another reason why it's generally better...you may be wasting a ton of damage with the x5 multiplier...and getting them way less often (10% chance versus 25% chance).

So consider that before choosing your weapon to specialize in.

[Yograin]

There are very few daggers but I have found 3 Kukris in the +3 range. (no +3 class dagger yet)

[Darkfireslide]

I have no idea if it works but you can apparently hire Artisans for your Kingdom that can make magical items and weapons and armor by request. My incompetent advisor failed the quest to recruit one twice now so I can't confirm if that's how it works but perhaps it's possible to get any Weapon? Maybe something to check on a second playthrough...

[a weird person]

jut say what the best weapon is, stop writing tractates xD