Neverwinter Nights - The People's Republic

[Fve Crathva]

Base damage doesn't matter so much. The difference in average damage between a 1d4 kukri and a 1d8 longsword is just 2 points, or 4 points on a critical. Maxed out for criticals (Imp. Crit. and Keen, no WM levels), the kukri gets a critical on rolls of 12-20 (40% of the time) and the longsword gets a critical on rolls of 15-20 (25% of the time). With no other bonuses, the kukri does an average of 2.8 damage on every hit, and the longsword does an average of 5 damage on every hit. But once you've got a +6 bonus to damage, the kukri does an average of 11.2 damage per hit (at full STR bonus) and the longsword does an average of 12.5, and the damage gap continues to decrease as the damage bonus increases.

But on top of that, the kukri is a Tiny weapon, which means that even Small characters can dual-wield a pair of kukris without losing attack bonuses from holding a light weapon in the off-hand. It also means that any feats they take that apply to a single weapon type (like the Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, and Improved Critical feat paths and the WM favoured weapon) are applied to both weapons.

All that said, there are better weapon choices if you're a Medium or larger creature.

SP

[Jamski]

There are better choices for Small creatures as well - they get to use rapiers and scimitars as two-handed weapons

-Jam

[duke o' york]

Jam, can you not just halve the randomness of monster encounters, or double the number that appear? I remember wandering about the area that has the snow wolves in for ages so I could make a killing from selling the fur.

[Snotty]

I thought you didnt crit every time you rolled a crit?

[Jamski]

Nope, you have to roll again to "confirm" the crit

ANKHEGS are the most awesome thing in NWN ever. Poor old Ajantis and Khalid running from hole to hole, and Imoen standing in the middle firing off arrows, while I cast Cure Light Wounds like mad, with Ankhegs popping up and down all around. I like.

-Jam

[duke o' york]

[downright evil]How about having them cured every time they return to their hole?[/downright evil]

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Fve Crathva
Base damage doesn't matter so much. The difference in average damage between a 1d4 kukri and a 1d8 longsword is just 2 points, or 4 points on a critical. Maxed out for criticals (Imp. Crit. and Keen, no WM levels), the kukri gets a critical on rolls of 12-20 (40% of the time) and the longsword gets a critical on rolls of 15-20 (25% of the time). With no other bonuses, the kukri does an average of 2.8 damage on every hit, and the longsword does an average of 5 damage on every hit. But once you've got a +6 bonus to damage, the kukri does an average of 11.2 damage per hit (at full STR bonus) and the longsword does an average of 12.5, and the damage gap continues to decrease as the damage bonus increases.

But on top of that, the kukri is a Tiny weapon, which means that even Small characters can dual-wield a pair of kukris without losing attack bonuses from holding a light weapon in the off-hand. It also means that any feats they take that apply to a single weapon type (like the Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, and Improved Critical feat paths and the WM favoured weapon) are applied to both weapons.

Take that Diss.

[Fve Crathva]

Originally posted by Jamski
There are better choices for Small creatures as well - they get to use rapiers and scimitars as two-handed weapons

-Jam

Dual-wielded kukris do a base of 2d4 + up to 1.5×STR per round at first level (split over two attacks, of course), and a two-handed rapier does a base of 1d6 + 1.5×STR per round at first level.

At 9th level, with Imp. TWF, Dual-wielded kukris do a base of 4d4 + up to 3×STR at BAB 7/7/2/2, and a two-handed rapier does a base of 2d6 + up to 3×STR at BAB 9/4.

Of course, in the real world the dual-wielded kukris are less likely to hit a tougher opponent, but that's when your halfling is suppose to step back and fire arrows at the bad guys while the Big People take all the damage.

SP

[Jamski]

Your comparing 4 attacks/round vs 2 attacks/round doesn't tell the full picture of level 16 (assuming Fighter BaB) with haste. Then we compare 7 attacks/round with 5/attacks round. The rapier just gets better and better:

More likely to hit = more likely to convert critical chances into actual criticals.

And on those criticals STR is multiplied by 3 (in effect as 1.5 x 2 = 3)

Sure the kukris look good around the low teens, but as you level higher they become more and more useless. Untill we get to the Dev Crit realms anyway. But for both Halflings and Gnomes with their -2 initial STR, Dev Crit won't be coming along until about level 33.

-Jam

[Fve Crathva]

Fair enough. What happens when you have two +5 kukris instead of just one +5 rapier (by the way, are enchantment bonuses applied to criticals?)?

SP

[Dis]

Originally posted by DrSpike


Take that Diss.

it's still a girls weapon

[Jamski]

Fair enough. What happens when you have two +5 kukris instead of just one +5 rapier (by the way, are enchantment bonuses applied to criticals?)?

No, they're not. You'd increase the chance of getting hits and get more crits that way though. The maths is mindbending.

-Jam

[Fve Crathva]

In the absence of easy math, judgement must be based on style. I think the kukri is the clear winner here.





SP

[ColdWizard]

Ogre + greatsword = win.

Too bad I messed up Glurk

[duke o' york]

I'm tempted to have a halfling or a gnome with a halberd, or at least one of the long pointy weapons. Does anyone have any relevant experiences/feats?