When to stop using a "light" offhand?

[Fizwick]

I'm a STR-based rogue, and have been lured into the cult of the Khopesh (and am very satisfied so far!).

My question is, at what point should I stop using a short sword in the offhand and accept the penalty for a 2nd Khopesh? So far it seems like hitting with my main hand is far more important than a small increase in damage to my offhand. Conventional wisdom seems to be that at some point I'll have a high enough attack bonus to hit regardless, but I'm unsure as to when that may be. Any advice?

Also, I thought about OTWF, but don't think I have room. Feat breakdown is:

1 - Toughness
3 - TWF
6 - Khopesh
9 - ITWF
12 - IC: slash
15 - GTWF
18 - Power Attack

[unbongwah]

Sometimes we learn by doing, grasshopper.

1. Attack w/dual khopeshes (or rapiers or whatever you're specced for) with PA on. Are you having trouble hitting? If "no," keep attacking; if "yes," go to step 2.
2. Try holding still when you attack rather than spazzing around to avoid the -4 to-hit penalty for moving. Are you still having trouble hitting? If "no," keep attacking; if "yes," go to step 3.
3. Switch off PA. Are you still having trouble hitting? If "no," keep attacking; if "yes," go to step 4.
4. Switch to a light offhand weapon (e.g., short sword). Are you still having trouble hitting? If "no," keep attacking; if "yes," go to step 5.
5. Try fighting something easier, d00d.

[Fizwick]

Mmm, algorithmic solution, tasty.

I suppose my initial hesitancy stemmed from the fact that khopeshes are pricy on Ghallanda, and this is my first time character. But, your method would work with dual clubs just as well, before I invest my life savings in another blade. Thanks for the input, sensei.

[unbongwah]

You're welcome. Although I did forget to list all the other things you could do to boost your to-hit, like using the highest + weapons you can find, getting buffed up with spells & Inspire Courage, etc. And naturally as a rogue you want to flank enemies whenever possible: mostly for the SA dmg, of course, but also for your flanking to-hit bonus (+2 base, more w/rogue SA Accuracy and/or Halfling Cunning enhs).

Basically, though, while you're still learning how to play DDO, it takes practice & experimentation to figure out which mix of weapons & tactics to employ against which enemies. Usually I start a fight in max-DPS mode and if I'm having trouble hitting, I "downshift" tactics - sacrificing DPS for higher to-hit - until I find just the right compromise between the two. With enough gameplay under your belt, you'll probably start memorizing which mobs have the highest AC, who's SA-immune, etc. and adapt your tactics accordingly.

[dragonruler]

Just wondering but do you want to stay pure rogue?

[Rydin_Dirtay]

Any advice?

What unbongwah said, plus I tend to keep a "When I Really Need To Hit" weapon set around, which consists of the highest +to hit weapons I can find. If I'm getting a lot of MISS, I can switch to it. Naturally, I take things like DR into consideration, but...at low levels, it can be helpful against a mob with high AC, to have a weapon set like this around.

I like unbongwah's #5.. "Fight somethin else d00d" I have been there man...

[Fizwick]

Just wondering but do you want to stay pure rogue?

Yes, I plan on it. The capstone looks too juicy to pass up.

I tend to keep a "When I Really Need To Hit" weapon set around

This seems like good advice too.


I also think "THOU SHALT NOT EVER MISS" is pretty deeply ingrained in my psyche. There's nothing I would hate more in the tabletop than whiffing round after round; whole minutes wasted, instead of a fraction of a second! And MMO-wise, capping to-hit almost always takes priority over any other DPS consideration.

[Propane]

Keep any eye for for some Divine Power Clickies on the AH... they should last just over a minute and give you nice boost to your BAB. Boots, googles, etc have them starting at lv 9 or so...

They come with up to 5 charges per rest..

[Irinis]

Sometimes we learn by doing, grasshopper.

1. Attack w/dual khopeshes (or rapiers or whatever you're specced for) with PA on. Are you having trouble hitting? If "no," keep attacking; if "yes," go to step 2.
2. Try holding still when you attack rather than spazzing around to avoid the -4 to-hit penalty for moving. Are you still having trouble hitting? If "no," keep attacking; if "yes," go to step 3.
3. Switch off PA. Are you still having trouble hitting? If "no," keep attacking; if "yes," go to step 4.
4. Switch to a light offhand weapon (e.g., short sword). Are you still having trouble hitting? If "no," keep attacking; if "yes," go to step 5.
5. Try fighting something easier, d00d.

"You must spread some rep around..." Bah.

[dogonovo]

Fixed that for you Irinis =)

[Leval]

I like to have a destruction weapon ready for those high AC-targets, and after one hit swapping back to something else.

-4 AC for 1 minute is nice, and everyone in the group profits.

[malicia]

Mmm, algorithmic solution, tasty.

I suppose my initial hesitancy stemmed from the fact that khopeshes are pricy on Ghallanda, and this is my first time character. But, your method would work with dual clubs just as well, before I invest my life savings in another blade. Thanks for the input, sensei.

Save your cash man. Level up with whatever you can get your hands on. The difference between rapiers and khopesh is pretty minor. Khopesh is better, but believe you me you can kill stuff with other weapons too.

Wait it out, grind out your greensteel khopesh', spend your coin on better things.

Edit: and yes as been stated, destruction, greater heroism scrolls or clikies, and divine power clickies will see you a long way