It seems weapons types aren't that well balanced in IWD2, I mean, there are many types of one weapon and very little of another. For instance:

+ Bastard Swords / Great Swords (many)
+ Longswords (way too few, excluding the Holy Avenger)
+ Maces (medium)
+ Spears (some)
+ Short swords (some little more)
+ Hammers (many)
+ Daggers (many)
+ Quarter Staves (medium)
+ Morning stars (a few)
+ Flails (a few)
+ Bows and Crossbows (many)
+ Axes (medium)
+ Rare / Artifacts (nothing?)

The same applies to armour types. There isn't that much choice. I remember when I played IWD 1, that had that nice random item generator, that made playing somewhat more attractive when looting things.

I agree, except with the case of Armor. There are tons of different armors. I also think that Axe's are way overpowered, but who am I to say what is what?

I agree with you in the armours issue. But I forgot CLUBS on my list (a few)

artifact is artifact for god's sake, it is not going to come in dozens. none is acceptable, 1 is your luck.

as for weapons, I dont know why there isnt many long swords around. but I suppose weapon types are varied base on religion, region and history

I've completed IWD2 once and am just about to start the Fields of Slaughter with my 2nd party.

I don't have much negative to say about the weapons. The random item generator seems to be OK to me thus far. I've downloaded a supposedly complete list of items in IWD2 and there certainly seem to be plenty of every class of weapons.

There are certainly are plenty of light armors. There don't seem to be lots of high grade heavy (i.e. plate) or medium (i.e. chain) armors. However, what there is deos seem to be more than good enough.

eL_PuSHeR, you forgot halberds from your list (although spear and halberds are both "polearms" ;) ). I've come across some nice halberds in my 2nd time thru. Actually, I've been paying more attention to 2handed weapons the 2nd time thru once I learned that all 2handers get a 1.5 STR bonus. My paladin has been using the Halberd of the North for quite a while as his primary weapon. Very nice weapon.

I haven't found there to be many bastard swords. The few I have seen are decent. However, I never bothered with them becase I wasn't about to spend a feat point to become proficient when there's so many other weapons that my tanks could use without having to waste the feat point.

Yes, I forgot halberds, too. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I am currently at the last battle and I have got one or two very cool halberds by now. Unfortunately I haven't spend that much specialization points on polearms, either.

you may be forgetting that iwd treats many dissimilar weapons as the same, ie longswords & scimitars are large swords.

also looking at your list the "simple" weapons seem more common, as they should be imo. a balanced party should have little trouble equipping magical weapons & gear.

armour is a different story, from cruising the bis boards, i learned that the heavier armour types were left out by accident, and will be patched back in. so the field is thin in the heavy armour dept.