Choosing weapons

[BustaMo]

I can see range playing some sort of factor at times. You don't want to give a main healer a short range weapon when you really need her back out of the way healing others so that person doesn't get trampled on like a midget.

[James16]

With me i had bascht an vann with swords. They run up to the enemy an attack it with that an then i have fran posted up at the back of the battle casting support an curative magic an occasionally attackin with the siliver bow. Im only at (SPOILER)ester sandsea wen ur headed to that kings tomb to get ashe's proof of her birth right.

[Dell]

I can see range playing some sort of factor at times. You don't want to give a main healer a short range weapon when you really need her back out of the way healing others so that person doesn't get trampled on like a midget.

Then, just heal your character from where your main healer are. It's the same, front or back, if enemy want to hit you, he/she can go and catch you. And that's why I prefer same (all) job to everyone, at least, when my healer is silenced/dead, I have another healer.

[BustaMo]

Yes but the enemy is most likely to hit your character who is front and center, say Basch with a sword hacking away at it, then say Fran who sits back about 10 meters shooting arrows from a distance. It'd be smarter to have Fran heal, than Basch who should be focusing on attacking and chiseling away at the enemies HP.

[Zeromus_X]

So you have variety. xD And what El Bandito and others said. Games don't always have to be about having the absolute best stuff at all times, you can have some variety too. Jeez.

[Dynast-Kid]

I haven't read all of the posts in this thread so sorry if this has been said already but:

You've gotta think about what will work best in different situations.

For example, let's take the dagger, Chopper. Sure there are stronger daggers, but Chopper is the only dagger which can cause (very useful) status effect Sap on hit.

[Croyles]

While I'll agree some of the weapons are just pure crap (measures and handbombs, wtf?)

I remember the Hornito being excellent, its a handbomb and I equipped it for Balthier and he didnt have to change weapons for liek 15 levels.

[Del Murder]

Well I'd assume there will be some great weapons of different types you can't buy in shops, and therefore can't give to everybody, so there's that.

Is the License board set up so that you can easily give everyone whatever the 'best' weapon type at the time is? I just started so I don't know, but it seems to me that unlocking Spear 1 would lead to Spear 2, etc. and that would take you away from things like Gun 2, Axe 2. Of course if you just hardcore level you can unlock them for everybody, but that's tedious.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Yes but the enemy is most likely to hit your character who is front and center, say Basch with a sword hacking away at it, then say Fran who sits back about 10 meters shooting arrows from a distance. It'd be smarter to have Fran heal, than Basch who should be focusing on attacking and chiseling away at the enemies HP.

Also I seem to notice the monsters liking to attack those who are doing more damage and are closer too. I remember once, (SPOILER)I summoned Belius (or w/e his name is) and the boss was targetting him, but Fran go too close so he switched to Fran, but as I had her move away, then belius attacked him, he immediately switched focus onto him. I've also have had monsters switch to Fran when she was closer in for she did high damage using magic.

[Spammerman]

Well I'd assume there will be some great weapons of different types you can't buy in shops, and therefore can't give to everybody, so there's that.

Is the License board set up so that you can easily give everyone whatever the 'best' weapon type at the time is? I just started so I don't know, but it seems to me that unlocking Spear 1 would lead to Spear 2, etc. and that would take you away from things like Gun 2, Axe 2. Of course if you just hardcore level you can unlock them for everybody, but that's tedious.

actually, its only partially like that. Spears lead to spears, but if you only go the spear path, eventually it cuts off, and sips a block, so youll have to get the new weapon then go on.

[Sapiens]

I think everyone missed the point of my question. I was asking if there was any statistical reason not to just use the best weapon all the time.

I believe someone addressed your request for statistics here. If I understand the post correctly, different weapons are better for different characters based on their stats, as well as the role they play in your party (e.g. giving a healer a ranged weapon so that monsters with close-range AoE don't hurt them).

[The Unknown Guru]

I usually give Vaan a dagger. Specifically, Main Gauche. That thing gives him about 40 evade including the shield. I like the speed-based damage, too.

Right now, Balthier has a gun. Sirius with the Aqua Shot is doing about 500 damage at lvl 19, and it has range.

Fran has a bow, but she mostly casts/heals.

Basch has an axe/hammer. I feel lucky.

(SPOILER)Ashe has a rod/staff. I don't know why.

Penelo has whatever she needs at the time. Right now, it's a sword, because I like having the Shell Shield on her.

[Ashley Schovitz]

Well I'm only up to The end of Leviathan and I plan to make my characters as so

Vaan: Uses daggers, swords and blades with shields
Penelo: Uses Daggers, Bows & Arrows, and staves
Basch: Uses swords, and axes with shields
Fran: Uses staves, javelin, Bows and Arrows
Balthier: Just guns
Ashe: Swords with shields

I looked in my strategy guide and they sem to classify, poles, staves, and rods seperately, they must have their own differences.

Swords, ninja swords, and blades aare also seperated along with hammers, maces, and axes seperated what's the difference between all of them?