Weapon choices

[Estie]

So I have two good weapons and cant decide which one to use. What would you pick ? a) halberd b) quarterstaff c) both and carry as swap. None of the defensive properties are relevant.

the Halberd of Silost (5d5) (+14,+22) <+3>
Dropped by Uvatha the Horseman at 2800 feet (level 56)

+3 dexterity.
Slays demons (powerfully), undead, dragons, animals.
Branded with weak lightning, acid.
Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, nexus.
Provides protection from fear.
Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
Prevents paralysis. Blessed by the gods.

Combat info:
5.0 blows/round.
Average damage/round: 354.5 vs. creatures not resistant to
lightning, 438 vs. creatures not resistant to acid, 604.5 vs.
demons, 438 vs. undead, 438 vs. dragons, 354.5 vs. animals, and
271.5 vs. others.

the Quarterstaff of Artar (5d9) (+8,+16)
Found lying on the floor in a vault at 4850 feet (level 97)

Slays undead (powerfully), dragons (powerfully), demons
(powerfully), trolls.
Provides resistance to cold.
Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
Grants the ability to see invisible things. Sustains your life
force.

When activated, it creates a frost ball with damage 50.
Takes 208 to 230 turns to recharge at your current speed.
Your chance of success is 96.2%

Combat info:
5.0 blows/round.
Average damage/round: 834 vs. undead, 834 vs. dragons, 834 vs.
demons, 561.5 vs. trolls, and 289 vs. others.

Edit: I am a HE paladin.

[Grotug]

hah, interesting. I would carry both for sure, but I love slaying undead and dragons of the right type: with that kind of damage to dragons you can slay all dragons except annihlation, sky and many colored (and maybe not balance/chaos if you don't resist those) all other dragons are pretty much open season. They are great for easy exp gain as well as good drops. Obviously the quarterstaff is only useful for those two targets, but those are the bread and butter of the end game; for me they are huge.

The quarterstaff is overall a better weapon, but since the Halberd does good damage against acid it will have its uses.

Overall, if I had to choose between the two I would take the bigger diced quarterstaff.

Your race/class combo would probably effect my decision as well (I'm not sure what yours is).

[Pete Mack]

838 damage/turn is definitely worthwhile as a swap, even if it has neither slay evil nor a brand and is therefore less useful as an all-around weapon. You can knock down ancient dragons in 2 or 3 turns, and most Wyrms in 5. That is spectacular. (That said, don't skimp on double resistance.)

[Estie]

Same again, with my HE rogue I cant decide between:

the Two-Handed Great Flail of Ruthis (8d6) (+7,+8) <+3>
Found lying on the floor at 3150 feet (level 63)

+3 dexterity.
Slays demons, giants, trolls, animals, evil creatures.
Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.

When activated, it creates a frost ball with damage 160.
Takes 196 to 240 turns to recharge at your current speed.
Your chance of success is 90.0%

Combat info:
5.0 blows/round.
Average damage/round: 565.5 vs. demons, 565.5 vs. giants, 565.5
vs. trolls, 406 vs. animals, 406 vs. evil creatures, and 246.5 vs.
others.

the Great Hammer of Ethrum (10d1) (+10,+29) <+5, +1>
Dropped by Mughash the Kobold Lord at 2700 feet (level 54)

+5 strength.
+1 intelligence.
Slays undead (powerfully), dragons (powerfully), demons
(powerfully), giants, orcs.
Branded with lightning.
Provides resistance to cold, dark.
Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
Grants the ability to see invisible things. Prevents paralysis.

Combat info:
5.0 blows/round.
Average damage/round: 390.5 vs. creatures not resistant to
lightning, 500.5 vs. undead, 500.5 vs. dragons, 500.5 vs. demons,
390.5 vs. giants, 390.5 vs. orcs, and 280.5 vs. others.

[Sky]

the flail. eventually you'll enchant it higher in damage.

[Estie]

@Sky: That and the reason why the hammer is competing at all is its str bonus; so after a couple of !str, it will fall behind.

So I used the flail, until I found this upgrade:

the Bastard Sword 'Mardgan' (12d4) (+12,+10) <+5, +2>
Found lying on the floor in a vault at 3350 feet (level 67)

+5 dexterity.
+2 attack speed.
Slays dragons (powerfully).
Cannot be harmed by acid.
Slows your metabolism.

Combat info:
7.0 blows/round.
Average damage/round: 1291.5 vs. dragons, and 375.9 vs. others.

Now both flail and hammer are ditched.