Doing more damage with two weapons

[veinslayer]

on the topic of dual wielding i think penalties should only apply in a rock-scissors-paper format. for instance, if a 2-handed weapons person fought a dual wielder, same level, the dual wielder'd have the advantage because they are quicker, hower if a duel wielder fought a sword-n-shield the sword and shield would have the advantage because thethey'd have better def. and more accurate attacks. if you havent noticed, in real life ppl fighting with 2 weapons have more finesse but also are more frantic, ppl with a single 2 handed weapon are more controlled yet have a low guard. ppl with a 1 hander w/ shield are controlled and have finesse. the big sword cuts the shield, the twinblades counter the bigsword, and the shield repulses the twinblades.

[Ilirion]

Now that is difficult... I think it should depend, as many have said. If you wield two claymores, the only thing you would manage to do is slow your-self down and almost no damage as a result. Claymores should be 2-handed. Broadswords should be used with a shield or with a smaller weapon. Only truly skilled in sword fighting should try to dual-wield. Smaller weapons than both of these should be dual-wielded if you want, some taking higher skill. It all depends on size, weight and skill. I think that's about as much as I can argue.
I would gladly take two broadswords on me if I had the skill 

I would also argue that there should be some skills that lead to others. Maybe if you had 10 on the sword skill you could wear a dagger on your off-hand, than at 15 or 20 you could wear a small sword, and after that the same weapon. Just as a Two Handed skill should allow you to wield medium weighted weapons with 2 hands for more damage, then heavier weapons, and then extremely heavier weapons, as battle hammers.

[ouch]

I just forged myself 2 claymores and while huge for a dwarf, they actually fit in my krans giant hands quite well and look like they should be 1 handed for krans. When wielding daggers they look like a couple of short icepicks or screwdrivers...

The point is the limitation shouldn't be placed in the weapons profile but placed in the species of the character's.

this will really apply later when you go to impliment things like bows and crossbows. I really can't see a kran haveing the dextierity to pick up an arrow and knock it with those giant fingers they have. Well if they had thier own oversized bow and arrows maybe...

Simularilly a dwarf might be strong enough to handle a claymore but thier hands might be too small to actually control it.

So yeah, don't characterize the weapons, characterize the characters...