Off-hand and Double-bladed Weapons

[Trentor]

I am new here, so it is entirely possible that these issues have been addressed. However, a brief perusal of the forums did not indicate to me that it had been discussed, so I will bring it up anyhow.

 

Playing KotOR, I noticed some rather grievous balance issues for off-hand and double-bladed weapons.

 

Off-hand weapons reduce the attack and aim reduction for the main-hand weapon by 2. This is a good thing. However, off-hand weapons are significantly weaker than "normal" weapons, which means that any benefit gained by the extra attack and aim is negated by the relative weakness of the off-hand weapon. Thus, in the end, using off-hand weapons results in poorer attacking than using two normal weapons.

 

I have a couple of ideas to fix this:

 

1.) Off-hand weapons are somewhat weaker than normal weapons, but set the main weapon's attack and aim reduction to -4/-4 (NOT added to the normal dual-weapon reductions). This means that using an off-hand weapon would give the main weapon the equivelent of the second-level double-weapon fighting feat for the main weapon.

 

This would have an effect similar to a lot of the accessories in KotOR that give second level feats to the wearer.

 

2.) Off-hand weapons are weaker than normal ones, just like now. However, the equipping of an off-hand weapon allows the character to gain dueling feat bonuses on the main weapon.

 

--------------

 

Double-bladed weapons, while looked really great, are worthless when compared to using two normal weapons. Take a double-bladed lightsaber for example. Not only is it weaker than two normal sabers, it can only hold half the crystals and has a critical hit range of 1! In the end, double-bladed weapons stink.

 

Here is one way to fix this:

 

To fix this, I think that double-bladed weapons should have a critical hit range of 3. Although they won't be able to hold as many powerups as two normal weapons, they will compensate for this by making critical strikes more effective. It would be a fair trade.

 

--------------

 

Basically, all I'm looking for are ways to make a lot of the weapons in the game actually worth using. As it is, off-hand and double-bladed weapons are simply not effective.

 

What do you think of my ideas?

[Darth Sirius]

I am new here, so it is entirely possible that these issues have been addressed.  However, a brief perusal of the forums did not indicate to me that it had been discussed, so I will bring it up anyhow.

 

Playing KotOR, I noticed some rather grievous balance issues for off-hand and double-bladed weapons.

 

Off-hand weapons reduce the attack and aim reduction for the main-hand weapon by 2.  This is a good thing.  However, off-hand weapons are significantly weaker than "normal" weapons, which means that any benefit gained by the extra attack and aim is negated by the relative weakness of the off-hand weapon.  Thus, in the end, using off-hand weapons results in poorer attacking than using two normal weapons.

 

I have a couple of ideas to fix this:

 

1.) Off-hand weapons are somewhat weaker than normal weapons, but set the main weapon's attack and aim reduction to -4/-4 (NOT added to the normal dual-weapon reductions).  This means that using an off-hand weapon would give the main weapon the equivelent of the second-level double-weapon fighting feat for the main weapon.

 

This would have an effect similar to a lot of the accessories in KotOR that give second level feats to the wearer.

 

2.)  Off-hand weapons are weaker than normal ones, just like now.  However, the equipping of an off-hand weapon allows the character to gain dueling feat bonuses on the main weapon.

 

--------------

 

Double-bladed weapons, while looked really great, are worthless when compared to using two normal weapons.  Take a double-bladed lightsaber for example.  Not only is it weaker than two normal sabers, it can only hold half the crystals and has a critical hit range of 1!  In the end, double-bladed weapons stink.

 

Here is one way to fix this:

 

To fix this, I think that double-bladed weapons should have a critical hit range of 3.  Although they won't be able to hold as many powerups as two normal weapons, they will compensate for this by making critical strikes more effective.  It would be a fair trade.

 

--------------

 

Basically, all I'm looking for are ways to make a lot of the weapons in the game actually worth using.  As it is, off-hand and double-bladed weapons are simply not effective.

 

What do you think of my ideas?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

quite good ideas in my opinion, but i think they are improving the weapons to make them worth using....well they are the long range weapons so i assume the rest are getting a polish to

[Trentor]

Thank you very much.

 

I guess you are right. I doubt that I am the first to bring this topic up, and these people seem to have been listening to fans quite well, so I bet something has been done. Or shall be.

 

But I had another idea for double-bladed weapons. Perhaps having a double-bladed weapon would eliminate any enemies' attack bonuses gained from sneak attacking from behind (because you've got a nice big poker stickin' their way). That's not much, but it's an idea.

 

Ah well. We shall see in a few months, shall we not?

[thepixiesrock]

I thought double bladed lightsabers where actually better in my opinion then two weapons considering there was some sort of glitch that I didnt need two weapon fighting to use it. If you think about it double bladed is better with the crystals because you still get two hits out of the double bladed saber. If you have the best crystal combination you get two hits with the best crystal combination where as with two sabers you would need two sets of a perfect crystal combination for it to work the same way. Plus you need two weapon fighting to weild them effectively.

[TSAdmiral]

I disagree. Sure double bladed held less crystals, but essentially each crystal in a staff will fuction twice, since it is a two handed weapon. With the crystals you save, you can give them to other party members so that the overally party is a lot more balanced. In addition, the standard lightsabers had less overall damage, with the only thing going for them being that of the critical range. Double bladed however always has high average damage and need not rely on "chance" attacks.

[thepixiesrock]

I disagree. Sure double bladed held less crystals, but essentially each crystal in a staff will fuction twice, since it is a two handed weapon. With the crystals you save, you can give them to other party members so that the overally party is a lot more balanced. In addition, the standard lightsabers had less overall damage, with the only thing going for them being that of the critical range. Double bladed however always has high average damage and need not rely on "chance" attacks.

 

Thats pretty much what I was trying to say give or take.

 

Thank you that is all...

[Errantry]

And naturally, if it looks cooler, it's bound to be harder to use. The double-bladed lightsabers weren't -bad-, especially if you had a high enough attack bonus to compensate for the penalty. Put crystals in that would negate the penalty, and they were pretty darn decent, with double the attacks and more damage than wielding a single lightsaber.

[KyletheSpeedDemon]

Yea, he is off on the double bladed weapons being less effective then 2 weapons. They are more powerful and with only slightly less attack, and I believe if that is if you are going with 1 normal saber and 1 short saber (weaker). For a combined attack difference of what...something like 1? Sorry, 2.

 

If you are going duel wielding and are not using critical strike I would recommend double bladed weapons. IMO, the most effective weapons in the game, especially for Guardians.

 

Double Blade Sabers do more damage then 2 normal sabers with the best crystals inserted. They have as many attacks per round as normals sabers and do more damage, the choice is obvious.

 

You won't miss anyway if you have your character built correctly.

 

4 crystals can be a bad thing as well, as you can invest the absolute best 3 crystals into double blade and those crystals will take into effect every attack a round. Where with 2 sabers you invest 6 crystals and obviously one setup will be slightly weaker then the other probably less attack or less damage bonuses or both.

 

The advantage to extra crystals is to use something like blaster deflection properties, but most of those properties are not needed anyway as you have feats and energy shields and other means to combat blasters.

[Zach Morris]

That is of course if you don't have the two special crystals on yavin. If you have those you need two different light sabers. And those two lightsabers are way more powerful than the double-bladed lightsaber.

[TSAdmiral]

True, but that's a late game exception, not the rule. Then again, you can place the HofG crystal into the double bladed and put your two most powerful crystals in, which may even exceed the double unique lightsabers in overall damage.

[KyletheSpeedDemon]

which I believe it does Admiral, HOTG w/2 best crystals owns! I prefer 2 sabers for the style more then effectiveness.

[Darth Sirius]

which I believe it does Admiral, HOTG w/2 best crystals owns!  I prefer 2 sabers for the style more then effectiveness.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

same here, but i dont mind 1 saber

[Darth Ravok]

hmm i kinda think that you sohuld have been able to put 4 diff crystals in just because the hilt is so damn big lol