1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

POLL: Favorite Underappreciated Weapon

Discussion in 'BG2: Throne of Bhaal (Classic)' started by Aldeth the Foppish Idiot, Dec 8, 2005.

  1. Aldeth the Foppish Idiot

    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot Armed with My Mallet O' Thinking Veteran

    Joined:
    May 15, 2003
    Messages:
    12,434
    Media:
    46
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    This is the poll promised from the similarly-named thread. Some basics of why certain things were included or not. First of all, things that are generally agreed upon to be very useful (such as stalkwalker's examples of Belm and Daystar) are not included because they are by definition not under-appreciated. I also didn't include any missile weapons in the list, because they are a completely different category of weapon. Many under appreciated weapons have utility as an off hand choice, or just carried in a weapon slot, but thrown weapons are all actively used (and prevent you from dual wielding) so things like the Boomerange Dagger and Azuredge are out. I also didn't include specialty weapons that are good against a specific type of creature. Yeah, Flametongue is great when you're fighting undead, and the Dragonslayer long sword is obviously very useful when fighting dragons, but are much less useful otherwise. Anything of greater than +2 enchantment is also eliminated.

    So that means we have a list of 9 inculded in the poll (with a brief description of what it does if you forgot).

    If you can't settle on a single choice, I've allowed the option of picking 2 (9 is a whole lot of options after all).

    Poll Information
    This poll contains 1 question(s). 49 user(s) have voted.
    You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

    Poll Results: Favorite Underappreciated Weapon (49 votes.)

    Favorite Underappreciated Weapon (Choose 2)
    * Mauler's Arm (+2 mace, raise strength to 18) - 20% (10)
    * Namarra (+2 long sword, silence 15' radius) - 6% (3)
    * Gnasher (+2 club, +2 splinter damage per round) - 10% (5)
    * Ilbratha (+1 short sword, mirror image) - 20% (10)
    * Arbane's Sword (+2 short sword, haste) - 35% (17)
    * Kundane (+2 short sword, extra attack) - 27% (13)
    * Stilletto of Demarchess (+2 dagger, chance to stun) - 10% (5)
    * Unicorn Spear (+2 spear, immunity to charm and confusion) - 8% (4)
    * Sarevok's Sword (+2 2-handed sword, heal 1hp per successful hit) - 10% (5)
     
  2. Silverstar Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Veteran

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    4,050
    Likes Received:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    Ilbratha, I say, it is a must to have for kensais or any other fighters who wish to survive, why, horrific Abi Dalzim's hurled at you via smarter liches can not damage you if you are mirror imaged! It helps kensais exceptionally well, by the time mirror images are gone, all enemies of a fierce kensai are already dead. :D
     
  3. Truper Gems: 8/31
    Latest gem: Skydrop


    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2004
    Messages:
    263
    Likes Received:
    0
    You forgot Arbane's Sword's immunity to hold and stun, but I voted for it anyway ;)
     
  4. kuemper Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2005
    Messages:
    8,926
    Likes Received:
    8
    I voted for Gnasher, simply because those splinters are priceless against 'Skined' mages or druids.
     
  5. Susipaisti

    Susipaisti Maybe if I just sleep... Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    1,800
    Likes Received:
    19
    I went for two swords - Arbane's and Sarevok's. Gnasher is probably more useful than Sarevok's sword, but it's not my favorite. With the Sword of Chaos it's not so much the weapon itself for me, but the satisfaction of having it early on while everybody else still uses normal or +1 weapons.
     
  6. shadow lurker Gems: 17/31
    Latest gem: Star Diopside


    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2005
    Messages:
    987
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm the only one who voted for the Unicorn Spear?
    Oh well, it'd be because I make it then never use it since I've got better stuff by then.
     
  7. Aces Gems: 19/31
    Latest gem: Aquamarine


    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2002
    Messages:
    1,169
    Likes Received:
    0
    Arbane's Sword
    Unicorn Spear (great for Jaheira)
     
  8. Shrikant

    Shrikant Swords! Not words! Veteran

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2003
    Messages:
    2,620
    Likes Received:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    My favorite 2 of the 9 mentioned are:
    Sarevok's Sword: It ensures that the secondary tank is available at short notice to take the heat away from the sheild bearer.
    Arbane's Sword: I really like its immunities and haste is good to have.

    About the other weapons.
    Mauler's Arm - I am not really interested in getting this weapon for someone who has 1 attack/round. Still Aerie might get it (arcane self buffs anyone).
    Namarra - Silence is not a spell I much like considering every mage and his familiar cheese anyway.
    Gnasher - I didn't know it punched thru Stoneskin, still FoA is more easily acquired.
    Ilbratha, Kundane - Both these weapons are useful, just not top 2.
    Stilletto of Demarchess - A dagger at the frontlines, not my style.
    Unicorn Spear - I'd much rather wear the helm thank you.
     
  9. omnigodly Gems: 17/31
    Latest gem: Star Diopside


    Veteran

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2004
    Messages:
    944
    Likes Received:
    2
    Stiletto. Just because it's the only one my party uses and Imoen is still carrying it around!!!
     
  10. Drew

    Drew Arrogant, contemptible, and obnoxious Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2005
    Messages:
    3,605
    Media:
    6
    Likes Received:
    190
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm a bit partial to arbane. Match it with ilbratha and a decent potion and your fighter will have a pretty decent chance against illithids and such.
     
  11. Malovae Gems: 18/31
    Latest gem: Horn Coral


    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2002
    Messages:
    1,049
    Likes Received:
    1
    Mine went to Arbane. Staff of Curing wasnt there :( Considering I used it for almost all of a SoA game i thought it would have fit the bill as being useful in many encounters... oh well hehe
     
  12. The Magpie

    The Magpie Balance, in all things Veteran

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2005
    Messages:
    2,300
    Likes Received:
    25
    Gender:
    Male
    From the list, Arbane. I find the ease of acquisition combined with Haste/day and Hold & Stun immunity more useful than Kundane on a warrior's off-hand, although Kundane would probably be a more sound choice for a 1 attack/round character. Although I use Ilbratha's mirror image quite a bit, I can't bring myself to select a weapon I never use to attack with as my favourite. Unicorn's Spear is useful for a pure Druid, but lacks for a Warrior. The Spear weapon class was severely underpowered in both BG games, and this is probably the sole example to be worth using at all, at least until the grand ToB item-a-thon.
     
  13. Aldeth the Foppish Idiot

    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot Armed with My Mallet O' Thinking Veteran

    Joined:
    May 15, 2003
    Messages:
    12,434
    Media:
    46
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    @Mal - isn't the Staff of Curing +3? That's why I didn't use it in the list. If it is a +2, then my bad, and sorry about that.

    There are actually two spears worth using in SoA segment of the game, the Spear of the Unicorn, and the one you get from the fish king. It wasn't included on the list, seeing as how it's +3, but it has an effect that it adds an additional 10 points of damage per hit, so for that fact alone, the extra 10 points is almost like getting an extra attack per round (especially if you hit twice in the same round) as you would with another two-handed weapon.
     
  14. Death Rabbit

    Death Rabbit Straight, no chaser Adored Veteran Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2003
    Messages:
    6,103
    Media:
    1
    Likes Received:
    241
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm surprised so few people like Namarra. It's usually one of my first stops of the game if I'm playing a character who wields long swords. It's easy to aquire, and is an excellent aquisition for the early stages. Not because of the silence once per day (though that's nice, I suppose) but for the damage. It's a +2 weapon, but it does 1d8+4 damage. If memory serves, the enemy who carries it (The Crypt King) isn't too challenging.

    @ Aldeth - The spear you get from the Fish King is The Impaler. It does 1d6 +10 damage, though I've never really been sure how that works. You'd think that the damage would 11-17 base damage per hit, but I found myself scoring hits that did less than 10 with it, so if someone could explain how the damage works I'd appreciate it. Maybe the +10 is added seperately?
     
  15. kuemper Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2005
    Messages:
    8,926
    Likes Received:
    8
    /uses Namarra's special ability on Death Rabbit :evil:

    It's Backbiter +3, Aldeth. The only weapon worth the curse, imo.
     
  16. Aldeth the Foppish Idiot

    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot Armed with My Mallet O' Thinking Veteran

    Joined:
    May 15, 2003
    Messages:
    12,434
    Media:
    46
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    @ keumper and DR - The Impaler is not cursed - you're thinking of the +4 spear you can get by Ust Natha - I think one of the creatures imprisoned in one of the facets of that imprisonment cube thing carries it.

    @DR specifically - I've always noted that whenever you get a hit with the spear, you get 2 damage statements - the first one is variable and could very well be less than 10, if for example, you don't have much of a strength bonus. The second one is always 10 damage (unless said creature has a resistance/immunity to the damage). I think it is done that way because the +10 is not calculated in with a critical hit, which would in effect make it +20. That's the only reasoning I can come up with as to why it is in two separate damage statements (just like elemental damage is separate from what you get on a critical hit).
     
  17. Felinoid

    Felinoid Who did the what now?

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2005
    Messages:
    7,470
    Likes Received:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Yeah, it's a special effect like the splinter damage from the Gnasher or the elemental damage from FoA. In this case it's just 10 piercing damage.

    :nono: Don't lie, kuemper. Impaler is the one you get from the fish king (SAHKNG02.CRE), and Backbiter is NOT worth the curse; it hurts you every time you hit something. :grr:

    No, the Backbiter spear is +3, but that is where you get it. The only +4 spears are the Spear of Withering (4 additional poison damage) and Ixil's Nail.

    [ December 09, 2005, 16:58: Message edited by: Felinoid ]
     
  18. starwalker Gems: 16/31
    Latest gem: Shandon


    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2005
    Messages:
    891
    Likes Received:
    0
    Somebody would have to check what it's extra enchantments rate it at but combat bonus wise the staff of curing is only like +1 or +2.
     
  19. Death Rabbit

    Death Rabbit Straight, no chaser Adored Veteran Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2003
    Messages:
    6,103
    Media:
    1
    Likes Received:
    241
    Gender:
    Male
    Never said it was - you be loopy, foo. The Backbiter is the cursed one, and I always sell it immediately. I find the Impaler is the only spear in the game worth considering other than the Staff-Spear, but that counts as a staff. Good for mages early on. And it's purple. Good for gay mages, too. No wonder Zxar was carrying it.
     
  20. Aldeth the Foppish Idiot

    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot Armed with My Mallet O' Thinking Veteran

    Joined:
    May 15, 2003
    Messages:
    12,434
    Media:
    46
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    Always remember, whenever I do something really stupid - like credit a statement to you that you never said - the lesson, as always, is I'm an Idiot.

    While I feel inclined to reference the above idiot-related comment, maybe I'm not THAT big of an idiot, and we're just talking about different staffs. I was under the impression that the Staff of Curing is the one you find in the Graveyard District. I'm specifically thinking it's the staff you get from the tomb where the priest is trying to find a home for the orphan. I thought that's where you got the Staff of Curing, and I was pretty sure it was +3. If that's NOT the staff others seem to be talking about, then we're not even talking about the same thing. (Which in hindsight only further proves my idiocy, and indicates that I should have referenced the above idiot-related comment.)
     
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.