Kobold Rogue/Poison Master

[random]

I've decided to see if I can create a truly effective rogue character using piercing spells to make poison a more viable alternative against higher level monsters. In order to maximize the innate advantages of the kobold race, however, I'm hoping someone will clarify the whole issue of one-handed weapons.

I know some weapons can be wielded one-handed or two-handed, but how exactly does that work, and how do I know if the weapon is being used as a one-handed one (to get the innate bonus from being a kobold?) If I only have one weapon (say, a long sword, which can be either 1 or 2 handed) wielded, does it default to 1 or 2 handed, and does it matter whether I have dual wielding turned on or off? If I have two swords wielded but dual wielding turned off, does the primary weapon automatically become a 1-handed weapon? What if I have dual wielding on...do both weapons qualify as 1-handed or does 1-handed require you to be wielding only one weapon? Does it matter if the off-hand weapon isn't a sword (say, I want to wield a powerful dagger for its bonuses?)

And is that +25% to swords if they are 1-handed a training bonus, an effective skill bonus, or what?

Thanks for any answers and advice.

[Variaz]

You get the Kobolds bonus to swords if you wield only swords that aren't ALWAYS two-handed. So for example, you will not get any bonus for wielding a Claymore. However, if you wield a single Katana with both hands, you WILL get the bonus.

Also, it only works with swords, not daggers, which are considered a separate class of weapons.

The bonus is a skill bonus that is equal to 25% of your base skill. So it counts as a skill bonus, it doesn't affect your base skill.

[random]

Okay, thanks a lot.

This does raise the question of how the game decides whether swords that can be wielded either 1 or 2 handed are being wielded 2 handed. If I'm holding a long sword, how does the game decide it's being wielded with 2 hands rather than 1?

[Variaz]

If you wield a long sword alone, it is still technically one-handed. But you get +33% bonus to damage if you wield it alone. In 0.4, this bonus applies only to weapons that be wielded with either one or two hands. (they are called "COULD2H" in the k_info)

In 0.5, the bonus has been expanded to apply to both "COULD2H" and "MUST2H" weapons.

[random]

Okay, so if I understand correctly, the "COULD2H" really doesn't mean much of anything right now since they default to 1H when applying bonuses and the like?

Back on the topic: I've just met the requirements for Elemental Knight and have, of course, chosen Poison. I'll develop that to class level 10, then start on rogue/shadow stalker, getting Rogue's Weapons Mastery if I can find a decent short sword, and the Art of Poisoning. (Though I will admit being tempted by the Kensai's abilities with 1H swords, that seems like taking the easy way out when my purpose was to build a rogue-ish poison expert.)

Incidentally, does Art of Poisoning stack with an Elemental Lord's piercing or is it a completely separate roll?

[Variaz]

Both abilities are treated separately.