TomeNET

(7.5a) Start-up blows/round table (BpR)                                         
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Since 4.7.3 the client allows you to see your BpR with lightest existing
weapons of each of the four classes already during the character creation
process, when you distribute your stat points, so you no longer need to study
this table in detail anymore to find out what STR and DEX you'd like to pick.

Here is a table, showing you some BpR numbers you can expect your newly
created character to have, depending on certain combinations of class, STR,
DEX, given for both, lightest possible weapon and startup weapon:
(Don't forget that some classes can dual-wield, adding an extra +1 BpR on top!)

Note: 'Light' weapon may refer to as low as 3.0 lb (varies depending on STR
      and DEX - any weapon that weighs at most 3.0 lb will definitely work).

Class           STR     DEX     Light weapon    Startup weapon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warrior         17      18/10   2               1
                18      10      2               1
                18/10   all     2               1
                18/30   all     3               1-2 (depends on weapon)
                18/40   18/10   4               2
                18/50   all     3               2
                18/70..110 all  3-4             2-3 (depends on weapon)
                18/80   18/10   3-4             3   (depends on weapon)
                and for spears (no special treatment, just weight related):
                18/40   18/10   3
                18/70   10      3
                note: there are more break points, too many to include all,
                mainly at STR 18/10, 18/20, 18/50, 18/60 and at DEX 18/10.

Istar           -

Priest          18/10   10      2               1
                18/50   10      3               2

Rogue           15      18/10   2               2
                18/10   10      2               1-2 (depends on weapon)
                18/10   18/50   3               3
                18/20   18/10   3               3

Mimic           similar to priest, also:
                18/30   18/10   3               2
                and for polearms (spears):
                18/70   10      3

Archer          -

Paladin         18/10   10      2               1
                18/20   10      2               1-2 (depends on weapon)
                18/30   10      3               2
                18/20   18/10   3               2

Ranger          similar to priest, also:
                18/50   10      3               2-3 (depends on weapon)
                18/30   18/10   3               2-3 (depends on weapon)

Adventurer      similar to paladin, also:
                18/30   18/10   3               2-3 (depends on weapon)

Druid           -

Shaman          similar to priest
Runemaster      similar to rogue
Mindcrafter     similar to ranger
Death Knight    same as paladin
Hell Knight     same as paladin
Corrupt.Priest  same as priest

So if you're playing a melee-oriented characer, make sure you start with at
least 2 BpR (in some cases you might have to buy very light weapon and discard
your starter weapon to achieve this)!

If you think it's strange that 'Mimic fights similar to Priest' keep in mind
that this is not about actual melee potential, but rather about some sort of
'blows/round improvement curve' displayed by a class. If a class is busy
studying other things in parallel (magic), its learning curve gets less steep.
This, however, doesn't determine its final performance, which is actually
given by the 'Max. base blows/round' shown further above, and other parameters.