Weapon/choice for fighter/mage

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Yes, it's one of those beat the dead horse topics again.

So, I'm planning to make a half-elf, good, fighter/mage, and run him through BGTutu and all the way to ToB, and I can't decide on what weapon proficiencies I'd like him to have.

So far, I think I'll allocate my first 6 points like below, with justifications:

1. 2 points in flails - for the Flail of Ages, bludgeoning and elemental damage
2. 2 points in axes - for Axe of the Unyielding and Azuredge
3. 2 points in dual wielding - 3 points feels like a waste for a mere net gain of +2 THAC0

A fighter/mage can reach levels 24/20 (less if in a party), so the maximum number of weapon proficiency points obtainable is 12.

I'm wondering what to do with the remaining 6 points. Long swords and short swords don't appeal to me much, and putting points in scimitar/warhammer seems like a waste just for Belm/Crom.

I was thinking, perhaps putting 2 points each into quarterstaves and two-handed weapon style for the Staff of the Magi.

Any suggestions would be welcome!

 

I know you said you don't like them too much, but there is a lot to be said for the variety of long swords.

The staff of the magi is pretty good, but the damage output isn't especially great, and it makes things harder for your primary mage/sorcerer.

 

I'd mainly use the Staff of the Magi for its dispel on hit effect. Of course, it'd be a real hassle to keep having to unequip my offhand weapon to use it.

I know there's many great long swords throughout the game, but I don't know.. they just give me a "meh" feeling. Still, they might be worth it just for Daystar, Flametongue, Angurvadal and the Answerer.

Looks like I have to re-consider my stance on the matter..

 

Since you're going through Tutu, I'd take long swords first, and axes later on. Axes you mentioned will become available a lot later than that big variety of swords. Varscona, for example, is available almost immediately in Tutu.

I don't know if you're going solo or not, but some kind of missile weapon will surely come in handy nevertheless. Although sword/bow-combination is probably is the most usual and/or boring . Putting points to scimitars for Belm only doesn't seem very reasonable, warhammers could be more useful IMO.

 

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet in favour of long swords is that they tend to have more useful enchantments when wielded off-hand than axes do. Since the majority of your attacks are from the main-hand weapon, it makes sense to have it as FoA. However, the Axe of the Unyielding (and any other like it) feels a bit wasted getting only 1 attack each round. I personally feel a weapon along the lines of the Equaliser (for the mind protection) would actually be more useful. Plus good swords are more plentiful.

 

I wouldn't choose the starting weapon proficiencies for BG based on weapons you won't get in it.

 

Hmm, I chose flails and axes simply because of when you get those weapons - Flail of Ages will be just fine until I get the Axe of the Unyielding in late ToB. I didn't really think of what I was going to put in my offhand.. probably the Defender of Easthaven early on, and any other immunity-granting weapon later. I don't really have to put proficiency points into longswords if I'm going to use them in my offhand just for immunities; -2 vs -3 THAC0 seems very negligible IMHO, especially since it'll only ever have one attack per round ever.

Proficiency points spent in axes will allow me to use throwing axes as well, with the strength bonus added to damage, I believe they'll hit harder than arrows or bolts.

kmonster: That's precisely why I didn't consider putting points into katanas at the start. Perhaps they're worth putting some into later though.. You can get magical flails and axes in BGTutu, so I don't think it's too far of a stretch to assign them as starting proficiencies.

 

My advice would be not to dual wield, for two reasons. Firstly, if you really are going to put only 2 stars in it, the penalty is significant. Look at it this way: your Flail of Ages will be hitting as if it were +1. Secondly, the greatest benefit of the Azuredge is being able to insta-kill undead at range. Unless you are ok with pausing the game and reshuffling your inventory each and every time you want to make use of it as a throwing weapon, you're better off using a shield. Besides, the nicest set of immunities provided by something you can put in your off hand may well be the Shield of Harmony.

 

You're right, truper. Sorry, my earlier post was incorrect, 2 points in dual wielding would give me a 0/-4 penalty, rather than a 0/-2 penalty with 3 points.

Thanks for reminding me about the Shield of Harmony, that is indeed a very nice shield just for the immunities.

 

Hi Strife,
What weapons for F/M?
Guess it depends if you want to powerplay or roleplaymore. For powerplay, flails and longswords I would say, and hammers (for crom freyer).
But then I guess it's really up to you and your preferences. Once I took a F/M and made up some story that he never uses some types of weapons but focuses one type only (If I remember my rule was that he would only use staves and darts). Basically if you roleplay like that it makes it more difficult for sure, but it's pretty fun I thought. Up to you my friend

 

As with all things in life, there's rarely a case where you can get your cake and eat it.

I suppose I'll just have to accept that no matter what choices I make, there are going to be trade-offs, and stop thinking about making the "perfect" character, and just play the damn game already.

Thanks for all your suggestions, people.

 

My preference is:

** Short Bow
** Staves
** Two-handed weapon style
** Spears
then more in short bow. Darts would be good instead of the short bow.

 

T2Bruno: are there that many good spears in the game, besides the Impaler, which you get close to the end of ToB, if I'm not mistaken?

And um.. multiclass fighters can only put 2 points in any weapon proficiency, so I don't see how you're going to put "more into short bow"..

 

I think you're confusing the Impaler with Ixil's Spike. You get the Impaler in the Saghuin city. Before the Impaler, you could use the Spear of the Unicorn, from the Druid Grove.

 

Strife, my mistake. I was also including the possibility of dual class when it clearly not discussed.

Impaler is one of the best weapons in SoA. Before Impaler the Staff of Rhynn would be the weapon of choice for that build. The final shift would be to the staff of the ram in ToB (but I would primarily make the character a missile weapon user).

 

Truper: you're right.. I meant Ixil's Spike.

T2Bruno: From my limited experience, it seems melee damage is far greater than missile damage. With the number of spells that can protect a fighter/mage in melee.. it seems a waste to build him as a missile weapon user.

In fact, I wouldn't even put points in ranged weapons for a fighter/mage..

 

You have your style and I have mine. I do not put a mage on the front line, not even a fighter/mage. Their specialty is dealing damage from a distance -- a bow is a natural extension of that. It is true that bows are not as dominant in BG2 as they were in BG1, but they can still deal an incredible amount of damage in a round. I primarily use missile weapons in BG2 as disruptors for spellcasters.

 

@T2Bruno: To each his own but Fighter/mages are first and foremost front line fighters. They're one of the best tanks in the game alongside blades and barbarians. Protection from magical weapons gives you 24seconds of uninterrupted damage dealing and near immunity to physical damage. then you've got all the other fun spells to boost your combat prowess.

That being said you can have a melee focused fighter/mage deal respectable ranged damage with axes and daggers that can be thrown. i remember seeing a thread sometime back that had a kensai focussed on throwing daggers outperforming an archer in attack and damage. can't remember which dagger though.

I think sword (or axe) and board is a fairly solid approach through all the games: ac is vital in BG1 thanks to the low thac0 everyone has and shields get progressivly better through the games providing immunities.
axes and longswords provide some of the better weapon choices in bg1 and in bg2 you've got azure edge or axe of the unyielding to 1hit kill most things.
plus dual wielding can always be picked as and when you need it and the better offhand choices are long swords so nothing is really lost.

Startup:
2 - Axes
2 - Longswords

Then dual wielding, warhammers and flails depending on what become available.

 

T2Bruno: You have an interesting take on how to play a fighter/mage, perhaps I'll try it out sometime.

Pseudospawn: Thank you for your suggestions.