Dual Wield

[Nahara]

I don't think it'd be that hard to give the gladiator's second job the ability to equip two swords instead of a sword and shield.

I highly doubt this, simply because of the amount of stats on the swords. A main-weapon and shield combo is supposed to be roughly equal in stats to a two-handed weapon, with the main weapon supplying most of your stats while the shield supplies the rest of it. To put some fake numbers to it, think of the main weapon as holding 70% of your stats while the shield holds the remaining 30%. If you were suddenly able to equip two main weapons, you've now got more stats working in your favor than any other class or job.

The only way I could see dual-wielding working stat-wise is if it was like the PGL: you only equip one weapon, which has the all of the appropriate amount of stats on it, but you're shown as wielding one in each hand.

[Friore-Kun]

That is exactly the point and thought I was wanting to get across

[TouchandFeel]

I agree with what some others have posted.
With the current classes, I don't see dual wielding swords happening since class and weapon are linked in this game as it would require a new class.
Dual wield via paired daggers/short swords would most likely be implemented with a Thief class which could potentially evolve into Ninja and Dancer as jobs.
As far as parrying daggers as off-hand items that potentially increase parry instead of block, I could see that being implemented with a Fencer class that could evolve into Red Mage and Runic/Mystic Knight Jobs.

[Tzain]

If memory serves...... Back when version 1.0 was released, Shields were their own class that leveled independently, so any tank had to level their weapon (one handed sword/dagger) and a Shield (provoke, shield slam, etc: All the tanking skills were in there). A player could equip a second weapon (dagger) instead for more slots to attack with since I *think* there was something with the cooldowns that made it advantageous (maybe it was TP generation, the system was all screwed up back then). Since skill point gains were shared between the two weapons, you'd basically level a tank at half speed.



It was changed to just bake Shield skills into the GLA class. (which really made things a lot better)



that's the origin of the sword/shield/dagger thing (or at least how my addled brain remembers it). I often think they would have been better off just making the sword and shield a matching set like pugilist weapons (which means that yes, you would have a shield made from Ifrits skull.. BadAss). Would have cut down on the confusion and complication, but it seems that old design still shows it's ugly mug every now and again. So clearly, when it comes to dual wield weapons they're much better off going with a single item than having to collect two drops.



On a side note. Thief with dual wield has always seemed really dumb to me.....How are you supposed to be stealing things when you have no free hands? Thieves used small knives to cut the purse strings of a mark and make off with their coins (thus terms like "Cutpurse"), you'd need your other hand available to catch the purse. I really don't think Dual Wielding weapons is nearly as common or useful as fantasy games would have us believe. That being said, an Escrima stick using class would be pretty darn cool.



Personally, I'd give the Thief class a Kukri blade, stylish and functional.

[MaethusXion]

DPS Gladiator= Gunshields.

Dual Wielded Gunshields