Best weapon choice for a halfling

[Vorpodu]

I am currently a using a 2x claid. Now as a halfling of course my AS is going to be lower so should I stick with it or go for a higher enchant that won't hit as hard? Like a perfect lance? I figured since it's harder for me to hit anyway the weighting of the claid will make the hits count. Plus there is ranged DS to consider which sucks with a pole and I won't be wearing plate for a while and my HP is lower. Thoughts?

[Whirlin]

I am currently a using a 2x claid. Now as a halfling of course my AS is going to be lower so should I stick with it or go for a higher enchant that won't hit as hard? Like a perfect lance? I figured since it's harder for me to hit anyway the weighting of the claid will make the hits count. Plus there is ranged DS to consider which sucks with a pole and I won't be wearing plate for a while and my HP is lower. Thoughts?

With the high DEXAGL of a halfling, lances are definitely the way to go.
Ranged DS will be a concern with any TH build, whether it be polearms, THW, or ranged.

I have an excel spreadsheet for simulations of your weapon versus alternatives available here: https://gswiki.play.net/Whirlin%27s_Weapon_Comparison_Spreadsheet
My own rule of thumb based on running a stupidly large amount of simulations is that a claid is worth about +4x. So, you should look to replace it with at least a 6x lance (perfect of course would be a huge bonus!)

[Vorpodu]

Thanks for the info! I thought poles were extra bad against ranged with like an additional -20 DS or something?

[khorpulent]

+1 for lance.

Polearms actually give you a small (+15, I think?) DS bonus compared with THW. But yeah, any weapon choice that takes a shield out of your hand makes you weaker against ranged. But who gives a shit about arrows when you're wearing plate and have redux?

Another fun option is TWC, since a halfling have the AGI/DEX to swing two heavier weapons at once. Double morning stars is a pretty cool build. Double falchions/handaxes works nicely too.

[Warriorbird]

Armor resistance puncture helps even more.

[phalen33]

One thing to think about is if you are going to set your stats for cap or not. Running into this problem myself with my two elf warriors who are 19. If you set your stats for cap then your agidex will be 39 at level 20. Which is enough to swing the claid at 5 seconds. You won't hit 53 agidex for 5 seconds with a lance until 46. That of course is without enhancives.

So you might want to hold on to the claid until you have the stats for the lance then fixskill. Unless you don't mind a 6 second round time or you have a bunch of dex agi enhancives. Could also look at using a battle axe or two handed sword if you want to hunt undead at all.

[Whirlin]

In the parry DS equation, polearms gain a flat DS boost of like, +15 (I don't have the wiki open)... but they also have a lower per-rank contribution versus THW... the TL;DR of the equations is the difference is relatively negligible, especially at cap, may be a small benefit at lower levels. I don't know about any specific ranged modifiers on their DS between those two styles.. Honestly, everything two handed except runestaves basically sucks for ranged DS.

Agree with everything Phalen said regarding RT as well.

[Axhinde]

I wonder what deciding factor played a role when considering agidex as the RT reducing factor. For smaller weapons it makes sense, but not for bigger weapons. Picturing a halting swinging a weapon twice their size faster than something with the strength that should be required to wield it in the first place seems funny.

[Vorpodu]

Well I'm currently only 9 trains, hopefully I'll be at least 18 before the 30 days is up. Probably set stats for 50 or so cause I don't know if I can personally live with a negative strength modifier as a warrior. So I'll have the agi/dex sooner. I'll prob look for a 7x perfect lance.

[Axhinde]

Well I'm currently only 9 trains, hopefully I'll be at least 18 before the 30 days is up. Probably set stats for 50 or so cause I don't know if I can personally live with a negative strength modifier as a warrior. So I'll have the agi/dex sooner. I'll prob look for a 7x perfect lance.

Good news is you have until level 20 now. No restrictions based on time anymore.

[Vorpodu]

Oh no shit? Well that's awesome

[Jeril]

I think TWC is a great way to go for halflings. You have the agi/dex and you get a great bonus with hamstring, plus you can also double dip your wspec bonus. Using polearms you'd see a negative 20 to your rolls with charge if you used it against something of average size, getting worse the larger things got and better the smaller they got I believe. That being said play around and see what is fun for you. You can make anything work, I've seen just about everything.

[RichardCranium]

Latrinsorm and I played with a dual wield warrior build back in the day that utilized both pmastery and emastery.

[Androidpk]

Good news is you have until level 20 now. No restrictions based on time anymore.

wut????

[Wrathbringer]

wut????

It's true.

[Androidpk]

I don't believe it.

[Axhinde]

I think TWC is a great way to go for halflings. You have the agi/dex and you get a great bonus with hamstring, plus you can also double dip your wspec bonus. Using polearms you'd see a negative 20 to your rolls with charge if you used it against something of average size, getting worse the larger things got and better the smaller they got I believe. That being said play around and see what is fun for you. You can make anything work, I've seen just about everything.

Only thing with Halflings is the negative STR bonus will restrict their off-hand weapon type, and won't be able to swing anything that doesn't have a 3 second base RT, meaning anything larger than a short sword is a no go.

[Axhinde]

I don't believe it.

I have an 19 sorcerer and a 15 wizard I haven't played in over a month, and they are still on accelerated conversion. It warns you once you get to 19.5 or so and won't let you gain any experience until you confirm stats/skills.

[Androidpk]

I have an 19 sorcerer and a 15 wizard I haven't played in over a month, and they are still on accelerated conversion. It warns you once you get to 19.5 or so and won't let you gain any experience until you confirm stats/skills.

That's pretty awesome.. when did they make the switch?

[Gizmo]

That's pretty awesome.. when did they make the switch?

Somewhat recently, it's a great change

[Ososis]

1/13/17 on the officials
Hello Elanthia!

New characters will no longer receive a 30-Day Fast Skill Migration period. Instead, all characters will now receive fast skill migration until they reach level 20. In addition, when you have almost reached level 20, you will now be required to confirm that your skills are set to your desired values. You will not be able to earn any additional experience until you have given this confirmation. Enjoy!

GameMaster Cyraex

This message was originally posted in Game Design Discussions, General Discussion about Gemstone IV. To discuss the above, follow the link below.

[khorpulent]

Only thing with Halflings is the negative STR bonus will restrict their off-hand weapon type, and won't be able to swing anything that doesn't have a 3 second base RT, meaning anything larger than a short sword is a no go.

Is this only true with a negative bonus? With my halfling rogue, I could swing two handaxes in 5 seconds and ambush in 6. Only thing was that I had to keep the heavier weapon in the right hand, as the TWC formula penalizes you for having the heavier weapon in the off-hand, or something like that.

[Axhinde]

Is this only true with a negative bonus? With my halfling rogue, I could swing two handaxes in 5 seconds and ambush in 6. Only thing was that I had to keep the heavier weapon in the right hand, as the TWC formula penalizes you for having the heavier weapon in the off-hand, or something like that.

I mean to say without penalty. I'm not 100% if they mean actual weapon weight or base RT when they refer to heavier weapon.

Halflings OP

[Tyronebiggums]

I mean to say without penalty. I'm not 100% if they mean actual weapon weight or base RT when they refer to heavier weapon.

Halflings OP

I think it refers to the weapon size/base RT, not the physical weight of the item.

[Alashir]

Thrown/hurling imo

[khorpulent]

To answer my own question:

To use an off-hand weapon without penalty, you must have the following strength bonuses:

Off-hand Weight Minimum Strength Bonus
3 pounds +5
4 pounds +20
5 pounds +35


So you make a good point about the problem of the halfling's strength bonus and TWC. If you set your STR at 62 to max at cap, it's level 69 before you even hit the +5 STR bonus to negate the penalty for a 3 pound weapon. Of course, you'd probably want STR enhancives anyhow as a halfling warrior.

[Jeril]

To answer my own question:

To use an off-hand weapon without penalty, you must have the following strength bonuses:

Off-hand Weight Minimum Strength Bonus
3 pounds +5
4 pounds +20
5 pounds +35


So you make a good point about the problem of the halfling's strength bonus and TWC. If you set your STR at 62 to max at cap, it's level 69 before you even hit the +5 STR bonus to negate the penalty for a 3 pound weapon. Of course, you'd probably want STR enhancives anyhow as a halfling warrior.

Something else to consider is that while there might be a penalty with the agi/dex of a halfling, you may not really notice it anyway.

[Trump]

agi/dex doesn't shave RT off of two weapon attacks does it? I know it does for ambushing.. curious what about encumberance?

[Jeril]

agi/dex doesn't shave RT off of two weapon attacks does it? I know it does for ambushing.. curious what about encumberance?

It will take rt off for both. Down to their minimum rts, of course.