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[MetalGear]

So far most of my adventurers got their brains punched out by some random night critter on their first quest. One guy actually lasted through 4 quests (3 of which involved killing just animals) and finally got completely annihilated by some goblins. So, far I've been trying to use sword+shield, but is there a better way? Maybe get high throwing, high agility, shitload of knives and ZA WARUDO the f*** out of everything? Use a randged weapon? Hammers? Pikes? So, what do you guys think is overall the best weapon?

[Kiktamo]

It really depends on what you want your combat to be like. If you want to decapitate and remove limbs swords/axes are the way to go if you want to break bones and inflict pain I'd go with hammers and maces. If your opponents organic(bleeds has a brain etc) then a spear/pike is a good choice that can get some instant kills if used properly. I've not used throwing so much but it's apparently effective. Ranged weapons would be good but you can't currently perform aimed attacks with them.

Ultimately putting stats into fighter helps a lot with any weapon and allows some good combat opportunities(look for the '!'). I like swords myself to start but I end up losing my weapon eventually so I use what ever I find available. Fighting with your teeth can be useful as well or using your hands/feet. Wrestling can disarm your opponents which is useful .

[Eagle_eye]

My personal preference is the halberd, or a sword with creatures too small to wield a halberd. Both can stab and slash effectively, and once you get to legendary swords/axeman, you can chop off heads with ease.

[Yoink]

The best weapon to use is the one in the hands of the guy you send charging in ahead of you...
More seriously though, I usually go with swords... Partly because I'm obsessed with them in real life, and also because they're very versatile. They can slash, like axes, severing bits and cutting people in half, but fighting an armoured foe you can slip the point of the blade through their armour, tearing organs to bits.
Just me, though. Axes are quite good, too.

[Funk]

The best weapon to use is the one in the hands of the guy charging at you...

fixed it

[MoonLightBird]

Axes and swords are good for any situation. The others have a problem with running in to things you can't kill because the weapon type. (Bronze Colossi vs spear for example)

[dood_]

The best weapon to use is the the hands of the guy charging at you

fixed it

au contraire

[Valdus]

So far I've become rather fond of halberds (uses the axe skill) since they have very good slashing and stabbing abilities, and scimitars if I am using swords.  Scimitars seem decent at stabbing but in my experience they rival axes in limb-removing capability.

I'm also a huge fan of throwing weapons.  You can throw arrows/bolts and they are as effective as shooting them from a crossbow/bow but I felt that was a little bit gamey so I stick to throwing actual weapons.  I keep the various copper knives from night creature lairs and spears from anything I fight to use as thrown weapons.  If you can find them, mining picks are more than capable of getting one-hit kills when thrown.

[Cannabust]

My favorite weapon is a steel halberd as it has the smashing power of a macer or hammer combined the deadly limb slashing of the axe.

I'm also a hug fan of throwing weapons.  You can throw arrows/bolts and they are as effective as shooting them from a crossbow/bow but I felt that was a little bit gamey so I stick to throwing actual weapons.  I keep the various copper knives from night creature lairs and spears from anything I fight to use as thrown weapons.  If you can find them, mining picks are more than capable of getting one-hit kills when thrown.

This, throwing is hella usefull and will give you that first strike in any battle, as well as giving you the opportunity to disrupt any bowman or crossbowman.

Also picks are <3 and will destroy skulls and shred hearts when thrown.

[GrizzlyAdamz]

Picks are god.
/thread


-edit
post scriptum-
do your research
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=53571.0
http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/DF2010:Weapon
(^^^ notice the pick's stats relative to other weapons in that one....)

[Uzu Bash]

Cross-training all weapons makes a stronger character, but I always fall back on the whip/battle-axe combo, with throwing daggers for an attention-getter. It really depends on the quality of weapons you come across, though.

[Shrugging Khan]

It's always good to be able to use a crossbow, so you can give your opponents a disadvantage before they even have a change of hitting you.
Carrying a shield around to deflect ranged attacks is also smart, since you can always drop it before wielding a large weapon, and pick it up again afterwards.
Being able to wrestle is also very valuable - a quick choking and a good strike to the brain will do most enemies in very quickly.

As far as melee weapons themselves are concerned, I suggest you go with a halberd. It's by far the best weapon for severing limbs reliably, has tremendous strength, and offers an auxiliary stabbing attack.

[GrizzlyAdamz]

Doing some research !!Science!!, 10v10 dwarfs, 5 paces apart, with steel picks vs steel halberds and no skill, (can't give them skill for mining, so it wouldn't be fair). I allow 20 seconds irl after the battle for dwarves to bleed out.
Unarmored:
Trial 1: 3 Minerdwarfs surviving
Trial 2: 9 Minerdwarfs surviving
Trial 3: 4 Minerdwarfs surviving
Armored (Full bronze, no shields):
Trial 1: 9 Minerdwarfs surviving
Trial 2: 3 Minerdwarfs surviving
Trial 3: 4 Minerdwarfs surviving
Armored (Full steel, no shields):
Trial 1: 10 Minerdwarfs surviving, 1 Axedwarf surviving...(they refused to attack him, and he is missing.....eyes, ears, cheeks, a nose, both arms, most of his teeth, and everything else is bruised/fractured...dunno why they don't finish him off)(actually, I took control of the poor guy, and they were just wailing away at him w/o moving. He bled to death eventually.)
Trial 2: 9 Minerdwarfs surviving
Trial 3: 7 Minerdwarfs surviving

Exact armor given:
breastplate
helm
gauntlet
gauntlet
high boot
high boot
greaves

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

/vindicated

[toupz]

Every weapon is good, it depends on your fighting style and how you expect to wound your enemies, i'd say try em all and see which weapon fits better to your character.

[Bricks]

All you've demonstrated is a single situation under which picks have an advantage.  Granted, they are very good, and miners make tremendous companions.  The penetration ability of weapons with small contact areas is incredible, which is why I've grown fond of whips and scourges.

There is no "best weapon."  With enough skill, you can make just about anything work.  It's best to focus on a small range of weapons that covers a variety of situations - stabbing, slashing, bludgeoning, strangling...