Off hand weapon choices while levelling

[dunklezhan]

Ok, if you're going TWF, even if not Tempest, you're going to end up at 80% offhand proc rate. This question isn't about that (Edit: at least, I think it isn't but I am probably wrong. See the last paragraph). This is about the lower-mid levels when you may not have all the feats due to low BAB/Dex where you've got 40-60% rate at best - especially at the 40% range.

When at this range, is it worth bothering about weapons with special effects on them, or are you better of just going for the highest + you can get to make sure when it procs, it hits?

Before the nerf, I went all out to make sure my AA ranger for example had twin sets of whatever he was using - twin nicked scimmies, Twin fires, Twin Ices, twin Metallines, Twin strength/Con damagers etc. Those double up special effects made quite the difference. My bags, of course, they are as full as a politician's wallet!

I have a whole tab dedicated to weapons (including probably quite a limited range of bows because having got the Nicked Bow and the Silver Bow which between them seem to cope with ever situation I use them in, I've been spending all my money on melee weapons instead)

Anyway. Moot point for the ranger, I've already bought all the stuff. But my up and coming Rogue - I'd just started the process of doubling up the weapon types when it occured to me it might be a bit pointless.

Has anyone done the math/testing? What are the recommendations if so at 20%, 40% and 60%? Am I right that once you reach 80% and 100% you're probably as near as dammit the same as you were before the nerf (in which case doubling up still makes a lot of sense)?

[~Cavalier9999]

My impression is that off hand is just going to miss more often than the main hand and that is it. So, offhand is just less bang for the buck.

Look at it this way, if you are going to budget x amount for weapon sets, it makes sense to invest more heavily in the main hand. If money is no object, buy top of the line for both hands.

[nibel]

A good seeker/sneaker off-hander is nice because those bonus works even on the main hand attack. Sure, if you have agro, the sneak attack bonus dont sum up, but a free +2 to hit and +3 to damage on the moments you dont have agro is great. Nicked Shortsword is a great off-hander until lvl 6 or 8.

[Aeneas]

Using two weapons before you have at the very least, ITWF, is a waste. Chances are you have the ability to get your AC to a nice spot with a shield and would do better to take a great deal less damage at those low levels than have an extra attack possibly hit something 20% of the time. So take the feats as soon as you can, but in my opinion, don't bother twf-ing until you are able swing that offhand at least half the time.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Using two weapons before you have at the very least, ITWF, is a waste. Chances are you have the ability to get your AC to a nice spot with a shield and would do better to take a great deal less damage at those low levels than have an extra attack possibly hit something 20% of the time. So take the feats as soon as you can, but in my opinion, don't bother twf-ing until you are able swing that offhand at least half the time.

I agree. I brought my TWF rogue up through the early levels S&B. She didn't get hit much with the AC she could muster and no "to hit" penalty for TWF, which helps the DPS at low levels where you still can miss.

[LeLoric]

As mentioned before a good sneak attack like nicked shortsword (ml2) or garos malice (ml5) is good early on as it helps the mainhand and negates the attack penalty if you have no aggro. A good seeker could help here too not any named items of those early on but probably pretty cheap on the ah. If your strength is decent get a vertigo weapon or if you can fit in stunning blow early a weighted weapon. These are fairly easy to land if you have a weapon and a decent strength. Parrying is another ok one as it gives +1 to saves and ac. These are best in light weapon form so you aren't gimping the to hit too much. A heroism pot will counteract the to hit penalty as long as you have a light weapon in the off hand and the first twf feat.