Dual Wield at a Distance

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Is there a reasonable way to make use of missile weapons with a Dual-Wield PC?

I'm about to start the BG series for the second time, with a neutral/evil-ish Thief or F/T (tough choice! Multi, for both benefits but fewer thief points? Dual in BG2, after kits? Swashbuckler the whole way? I won't be soloing), and the missile weapon problem has stumped me.

It's such a hassle to pause the game, remove the off-hand weapon, and equip a missile weapon each time. Chrs with shields can use slings and darts, so why can't dual-wield'ers?

Missile weapons are so useful in BG1 (and, oddly, I'm finding in ToB, too) that I'm considering skipping the dual-wield in favor of a two-handed sword so I can use a bow with going nuts.

Suggestions on ways around this, or useful builds for a T or F/T?

Thanks.

 

missile weapons such as bows cannot be fired without using two hands but things like throwing knives, daggers, axes and hammers should be allowed (but they're not)

if you're a pure thief, make short bows or throwing daggers a priority (2 attacks)

if you're a fighter thief/swashbuckler, what are you doing with a ranged weapon anyway - you should be in the thick of it

 

I do plan to be mostly a melee fighter, but it's often helpful to have a ranged attack. My last Dual-Wield PC was the only in the party who didn't, and he just stood around in those cases, unless I was willing to do the whole Inventory page switches.

 

Why not go single weapon style? Might not be as good as a shield or two weapons, but I just think it's cool. Then you can use whatever ranged weapons you want!

 

Go with a thrown weapon/shield combo, or (if you like backstabbing) a quarterstaff and bow combo.

I personally love darts in AD&D, but you find the Tungian Bow so early in the game that the 3 attacks/round are easy to come by.


I agree with your complaint, though. I think it sucks that you can't dual weild, for instance, a melee aze and a boomerang axe. I hate having to pause as well.

 

The only way to "dual wield at a distance" is to cast a spell like Melf's Minute Meteors when you have an offhand weapon equipped. You get to attack with the offhand weapon as well at long range. This bug may have been fixed away by now. Otherwise you may not equip any weapon that may be fired or thrown (even if it is configured for melee) when dual wielding.

 

I have encountered this silly problem before as well, and it really aggravates me -- some of the logic behind weapon prohibitions escapes me.

For instance, I cannot see how a person could use a shield at all effactively while loading a sling. Trying to load your sling one handed would result in a lot of dropped bullets.

How about Throwing axes? you could hav easily be carrying a sword or anything for that matter in your left hand and throw a series of axes at the opposition using your right, but the rules say no.

For that matter, there really should only be one quick weapon slot open for everyone in that if I'm using a bow, it's going to take me a few seconds (during which time I will be very vulnerable) to switch to my 2 handed sword. It does make the game a little easier, though . . .