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How does dual-weilding work?

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Klorox
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How does dual-weilding work?

Post by Klorox »

I understand how it works at low levels, but what happens when you start getting addition attacks per round?

How many attacks are made with the primary hand weapon, and how many are made with the offhand weapon?

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Siberys
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Post by Siberys »

Extra attacks from a high base attack are always made with the regular hand.

Meaning, lets say you have 4 attacks with two weapon fighting and ambidexterity. You will make 3 attacks with your main sword and 1 attack with your off-hand sword.
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Claudius
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Post by Claudius »

I think the game caps the total number of attacks you can get...

so eventually the second hand merely gives you a high AB attack

example a 11th level Ranger with no strength or dexterity bonus wielding normal weapons no feats(I use this to wash all the complications out):

gets 11/6/1 AB attacks with a spear

but

gets 9/9/4/-1(minus might turn into positive 1?) with dual wielding shortswords

Note: that the 2 main attacks are at -2 due to dualwielding but they are the high AB attacks and will probably hit anyways. You still get the trailing attacks (at a -2 penalty for dualwielding).

If IWD capped the # attacks at 3 you would only get 9/9/4 for the shortswords (no final attack). I think it either caps it at 4 or 5???

claudius

Edit: dual wielding is quite powerful at level 1 for a Ranger. By the end of the game it is inferior in power to a 2 handed weapon for sure. Also, a dual wielding rogue might get 2 sneak attacks if using long weapons (otherwise they turn when your in their radius) earlier chronologically since the second weapon hits almost right after the first.
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Siberys
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Post by Siberys »

It caps at 5 attacks if you have dual wielding, as fighters get 4 attacks naturally.
Listen up maggots, Mr. Popo's 'bout to teach you the pecking order.
It goes you, the dirt, the worms inside of the dirt, Popo's stool, Kami, then Popo.
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silverdragon72
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Post by silverdragon72 »

.

dual-wielding is better as it seems on the first look in IWD2:

- ok your attacks are capped to 5, but at that point the off-hand AB is much better than the "never-hit-besides-rolling-a-20"-AB you have on the 5th attack otherwise!

- there is not even one good shield in IWD2!

- there are some very powerfull off-handed weapons available (permanent spell effects & CHA-boni! - damage is not the main reason for an off-handed weapon!)

- some 2-handed weapons can deal more damage, but you only get magical boni from *ONE* item and not from *TWO* this way - and melee damage isn't that important in HOF anyway!

.
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