Draft:Dagger
| ) | |
| Base damage rating | 6 |
|---|---|
| Base hit bonus | +12 |
| Normal attack type | Thrusting |
| Hands | 1 |
| Julie's price (Au) | 10 |
| Weight | 10 |
The dagger is a cheap, light first weapon: Julie's sells an identified, uncursed +0 dagger for 10 Au. Its accuracy is good for the price, and its low weight makes it convenient to keep as a spare after finding something stronger.
A small weapon with two useful openings
Selecting a normal attack while holding a dagger gives a thrust, which adds a Dexterity-based hit bonus. A Dexterity-heavy character can use this to connect more reliably while saving money for armor and food. An epee costs 100 Au and offers three more hit points at the same damage rating; a 100 Au spear adds four damage points but loses two hit points compared with a dagger.
There is a less obvious option for a strong new character. The starting combat sequence contains a cut, and simply equipping the dagger does not replace it. That saved cut receives extra Strength damage, making an equally enchanted dagger deal the same raw damage as a club strike with two more hit points and less weight. Explicitly choosing the dagger's normal attack changes it to a thrust; make that change for the Dexterity benefit, not because a thrust is always better.
The dagger also lets you select riposte, a defensive counterattack costing two maneuvers. It does not attack on its own: the opponent must miss an attack at the defended location, and your counterattack still has to hit. A lunge is another two-maneuver option, but is not unique to daggers or thrusting weapons. See Melee attacks for controls, defenses and the broken ! default shortcut.
Randomly found daggers may be enchanted or cursed. A cursed dagger is still called dagger, so its familiar name is no assurance that it is safe to wield. The shop copy is the predictable option when you need a weapon immediately.
For an opening route, see Your first weapon.