Ranger - can they have 2-weapon fighting in this game?

bariumdose · Post by **bariumdose** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:00 pm

I read the user manual and it says that a ranger can have two-weapon fighting, but I'm assuming this is an error?

DaveO · Post by **DaveO** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:16 pm

Only an extra attack, but definitely NOT two weapon fighting. The manual is unfortunately in error. Rangers do get a racial fighting bonus that is better for a multiclass character in my opinion.

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:19 am

Despite the manual, there is no two-weapon fighting. As I heard it, the programmers didn't have time to deal with the graphical issues, so the in-game simulation of two weapon fighting is that rangers get an additional attack per round when using a one-handed melee weapon and no shield.

myrophine · Post by **myrophine** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 7:21 pm

Wow thats news! I might have to drop an AC point and grab some extra attacks. that makes them quite powerful at lower levels (relative).

myrophine

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:45 pm

Yes, they can be quite an offensive powerhouse with a blunt weapon in the Vale. However, like in IWD2 but to a lesser extent, you have to be careful that they don't get into a tactical situation where they are the main focus for enemy attacks. They can still use "two weapon fighting" in heavy armor, but a magical shield can take significant points off your AC, leaving a ranger a bit more vulnerable than your standard tank.

Also note that there is no extra damage bonus given to two-handed weapons, so there's not much point other than overall party weapon diversity not to use a one-handed weapon and a shield.

myrophine · Post by **myrophine** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:52 pm

Is that true about 2 handed weapons? (neglecting the extra .5-1 extra avg base damage)...

What about quality of MAGICAL weapons? In BG for example I think the 2 handed weapons (magic versions) were extra powerful giving reason to wield them..

In my party I think I only have the bard and druid wielding 2 handed melee weapons, but if I find nice magic bucklers that might change.

myrophine

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:20 pm

Yes, that's true about the 2-handers. IWD2 required me to alter my weapon choices.

The quality of magical weapons is about the same between one- and two-handers. There's no Greataxe of Flame here. IWD1 weapons tend to have less secondary abilities than some of the weapons available in IWD2 (especially HoF), but the power balance between IWD1 weapons is quite even.

2 characters using two-handers is about right (although I hope your bard isn't using its melee weapons much: a bard is THE support character, not much of a damage dealer in and of itself). If your druid is using spear (not staff), you will eventually find some excellent, non-random drop spears.

Edit: I have never found a magical buckler. However, Fighter/Druids can use metal armor and shields, which is just one of many reasons to favour a F/D over a straight druid.

myrophine · Post by **myrophine** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:31 am

Cool! I never noticed my druid was allowed to wear heavy armor (after she got her fighter abilities back I guess).

And as far as the bard goes he mainly sings, runs, and ocasionally casts.

IWD1 is a lot harder than IWD2 in my experience. I go up a staircase and 20 cold wights come charging! Thats when I found out that thorn spray sucks (hey it does 6d12 in IWD2?!) Each wight took 3 pts of damage

Ahh.... still waiting for that day when I will be POWERFUL

myrophine

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:35 pm

Try Wall of Moonlight instead.

That fight just begs for multiple Webs, too. If you did some thieving in Kuldahar, you should have two Rings of Free Action, allowing your tanks to run wild among the helpless enemy.

That was a fun fight on HoF.

Entangles, Webs, Slow, WoM, Recitation, Prayer, Curse, about 5 Spike Growths, Fireball, Skull Trap, Sunscorch and Alicorn Lance galore, etc. etc.

DE lvl 3 is harder than it could be because of the lack of access to magical ammunition. You have to take most stuff down with melee weapons or spells.

On the plus side, where else can you hit 20+ enemies with one fireball?

Have you run into the blast skeletons yet?

myrophine · Post by **myrophine** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:17 pm

Blast skeletons?! That doesn't sound good!

I haven't gotten the chance to play in awhile. Maybe I'm intimidated by the cold wights still.

I haven't done any thieving yet (hate reloading...) Well I'll have to look up who has what on gamebanshee sometime and steal some goods.

myrophine

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 12:43 am

Cold wights actually aren't bad once you get a few strategies down to control their numbers. Two fireballs will take care of most of a large group. This is also the best spot in the game for Agannazar's Scorcher.

Do your thieving from named NPCs in the Vale.

myrophine · Post by **myrophine** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 12:56 am

If I am remembering...the vale had only the auril priestess and kresseleck as named guys? Should I steal from them?

Or did I miss some NPCs?

myrophine

Endugu · Post by **Endugu** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:20 am

I thought the extra attack worked only with a longsword or shortsword, not with every onehanded weapon. At least I think I remember the manual saying so.

Does this also mean that a cleric/ranger would get an extra attack with her mace?

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:58 pm

Oooops. That should read named NPCs in Kuldahar. Sorry for the confusion.

Yes, the extra attack works with every one-handed weapon. Cleric/rangers are mulching machines with that extra attack, especially against their species enemy. Some form of undead is generally the best species enemy.

Endugu · Post by **Endugu** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:32 am

Well, I just tested this - and it doesnt work. :/

I gave my elven ranger (3) a longsword +1 and a mace +1.
Her character screen says she's got 2 1/2 attacks when equiped with the sword, but as soon as I put the mace in her hand, she can only attack once per round (same with a spear or other weapons).

Im confused now...what am I doing wrong?

Is this an Icewind Dale / Heart Of Winter discrepancy, like the ranger/cleric spelllist is? Im playing with HoW and Trials of the Luremaster installed.
Or does the char screen not show the number of attacks correctly?

myrophine · Post by **myrophine** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:25 pm

I don't know why it could be? I was pretty sure I was getting extra attacks with the ranger and blunt weapons, but I will check and post again later...

myrophine

Is it a dire mace? I don't know if they have those in IWD, but maybe.

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:54 pm

[QUOTE=Endugu]Well, I just tested this - and it doesnt work. :/

I gave my elven ranger (3) a longsword +1 and a mace +1.
Her character screen says she's got 2 1/2 attacks when equiped with the sword, but as soon as I put the mace in her hand, she can only attack once per round (same with a spear or other weapons).

Im confused now...what am I doing wrong?

Is this an Icewind Dale / Heart Of Winter discrepancy, like the ranger/cleric spelllist is? Im playing with HoW and Trials of the Luremaster installed.
Or does the char screen not show the number of attacks correctly?[/QUOTE]

Strange. I'm fairly sure it's not a discrepancy, mostly because I'm playing with HoW/TotL too, and I have a lvl 9 ranger/cleric getting 3 attacks/round with maces (1.5 for specialization, + .5 for attaining lvl 7, + 1.0 for being a ranger attacking with a one-handed weapons).

Is your ranger specialized in both longswords and maces? That could account for some of the loss, but it's still weird - a ranger wielding a one-handed weapon it is not proficient with should still get minimum 2 attacks/round, albeit with a significant penalty to hit.

Endugu · Post by **Endugu** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:44 pm

D'uh! You're right!
I forgot the ranger has two profiency points in long swords, no wonder she could attack more often with them.

Thanks for pointing this out!

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 8:17 pm

You're welcome.

I often start (have started, as I generally don't play a pure ranger anymore, it's R/C all the way) a ranger off with specialization in a blunt weapon instead of specialization in longswords. It means you have a guaranteed melee juggernaut against the skeletal undead in the Vale; taking out skeletons with arrows and swords is labour-intensive in comparison.