Radiance II - Khopesh, Kukri or Scimitar?

[Ricter]

I've got enough mats to make my first Greensteel weapon, which is going to be a Radiance II. However, as a STR-based Rogue, I've got a few options for weapons, and I'm a little unsure as to what I should pick. Here's what I understand:

Khopesh - The dps choice, but fewer crits, therefore slower Radiance.

Kukri - 18-20 crit range, but is the most flexible weapon, as it can be wielded in the off hand with no penalty by either STR or DEX based Rogues.

Scimitar - Higher crit range means faster Radiance procs, but worse crits and damage.

Another concern of mine is flexibility - I'm looking at TR'ing, which means I might end up an entirely different build. The Scimitar is more flexible in what builds can use it. However, if STR-based Rogues get nerfed or just don't work out at 20 like I hope, suddenly the Kukri looks like a much better choice, so I don't have to remake a fresh Radiance II.

Thanks for your time in reading this.

[Dr.Goodspeed]

If you're pretty close to TRing and you're not absolutely sure you're going for Khopeshes again I'd take the Scimitar.

[Gnorbert]

Make a rapier then. Good crit profile and works well as finesse or str based.

[binnsr]

Do you have a plan for the TR? If not, I'd recommend waiting on the Rad II weapon until you have thought that out a bit.

Alternately, you could make a Radiance II light hammer! :)

[Chai]

Which imp crit did you take? slash or pierce?

You could always plan your TR then decide as well.

[Draccus]

Radiance is all about the crit range. The faster you get the crit, the faster your DPS jumps to the "great" level and the less damage you take from the mob.

You really only have three decisions to make:

1. If you have IC: Pierce, make a rapier.
2. If you have IC: Slash, make a scimitar.
3. If you have IC: Bludgeon, reroll, select pierce or slash, and see options 1 or 2.

[ahpook]

Assuming that you took imp crit: slash and are not going to switch to imp crit: pierce, thus ruling out the rapier.

Stick with the scimitar or kukri. The higher crit chance is more important than the higher crit multiplier as that does not affect radiance. The most important thing is to get them blind so you get your SA in.

Kukri offers additional flexibility should a better main hand weapon come up and you can't afford Oversize TWF so that is a good option. It also has the advantage of being finessable if you end up TRing that route. The slightly lower dmg dice is insignificant compared to the SA dmg anyway so it is not a bad choice. However either would be completely fine.

[Gnorbert]

based on your uncertainty the Rapier is the clear choice (and also switching to imp crit: pierce along with it)

Rapier is a strong weapon type for either Str or Dex builds. Any build you make on a TR that would want a RadII weapon will be able to use it. Whereas the other choices will all limit your build options in some way.

[Ricter]

Imp Crit: Slash was my choice.

Thanks for the input so far.

[krud]

I had the same quandry on my str based human rogue mutt. I went khopesh. I was told that you swing often enough to make the blindness proc often enough with a khopesh. I was pierce specced from the time wops ruled, but am now switching back to slash/khopesh user. The dps on non-sneak attacks does seem to help.

A lot depends on how often you see yourself going toe-toe by yourself against mobs. If you solo a lot or like to fight mobs by yourself, i'd say scimitar or kukri. If you do a lot of good guild runs, or let others grab aggro first, you can afford to go khopesh for more dps. The slower radiance proc will be offset by the fact that others will be holding aggro.

Given an uncertainty about TRing into something different, I would make a kukri. Khopesh kinda limits you to needing a way to get extra feats (human, or ftr/mnk splash). Kukri is both finessable, light, and has the good crit range. Decent slashing weapons to go with it seem easier to come by. Scimitar would be my second choice if I were uncertain about my character's future. Just make sure you gather up enough supporting weapons to go along with your rad2, so you'll have something to use with it when you re-level.

[Razcar]

I'm going Rad II kukri and khopesh Min II on my new Str rogue. My Dex rogue has two rapiers, one Rad II and one Min II. He was a wop rapier user before the nerf.

[Ybbald]

However, if STR-based Rogues get nerfed or just don't work out at 20 like I hope
You're not going pure rogue to lvl 20 are you? The rogue capstone sucks and there is no reason to go pure rogue. Many builds take 13 lvls for acrobat II, crippling strike, and improved evasion. The highest you should go is 18 lvl of rogue for assassin III. Then you have 2 lvls for fighter or barbarian. I would go fighter for the 2 bonus feats

[Draccus]

The highest you should go is 18 lvl of rogue for assassin III. Then you have 2 lvls for fighter or barbarian. I would go fighter for the 2 bonus feats

By taking only 18 rogue levels, you lose a d6 of sneak attack damage. I'm not sure what feat you'd take to gain a d6 of damage so I'd say that 19, not 18, is the highest you should go.

If you're an assassin, each rogue level you don't take is a drop to your assassinate DC as well.

Of course, I went to 20...twice...so take my opinion for what it's worth!