what should i use for my fighter? is it better to use a 2hnd wep or maybe dual weild?

That depends entirely on your level, your skill sets, your preferred playing style, and where you plan to use the weapons. The way I see it, the difference between dual-wield and a big 2H is the difference between death-from-a-thousand-cuts, and death-from-hulk-smash.

true. im going for more of a tank fighter, so would a 2hnd wep be good for that or should i go 1hnd and a sheild?

Depends a little on what you're doing. I tend to use the big 2H for level grinding, and then switch to 1H and shield for boss farming, if the boss has a lot of angry henchmen (Balzack for example). If you want to be able to deal lots of damage, the 2H is your weapon. If you are content taking longer to kill, but also living longer, then grab a shield.

sweet thanks for the advice

I basically switch up between the two...I played my first 12 levels with a 2H Hammer but decided to experiment with a 1 handed hammer and shield. I love the faster weapon swings and doesnt seem to be any different than wielding a beast hammer with "grandma" speed. The damage output seems to be the same but maybe its just me....

I have used many builds in each class. For my fighting style, I go for high dps (damage per second). Mage strengths are elemental, the high Int gives high dps in whatever discipline is specialized. Fighters, and rangers(IMO) do more damage with melee or (piercing, crushing and slashing as long as they match) than with elemental bonuses.

So, to make a long short, I prefer a weapon with melee dps and a % melee bonus such as skulliosis or death by the slice.

Does the Attack Rating have any bearing on the actual effectiveness of a weapon or combination?
I generally test a weapon or combination's effectiveness by taking it into a melee and seeing how long I last, or by number the of Health Potions I use. It's hardly a reliable or calculative test, so does anyone have a more conclusive way of gauging the effectiveness of their weapon choice?

Cheers

Well, your attack rating is a player-based number, so it doesn't directly affect your weapon or its attacks, if that's what you mean. But, yes, if your attack rating is too low, you will miss more. The general rule for 1h'ers is about 100-125 attack rating per level, a bit more for slower 2h'ers.

This isn't strictly reliable either, but you could do timed runs of boss encounters. That way you have an identical enemy layout, and you can develop a pattern of behavior that reduces variables to a certain extent.

For example, I've been farming Rotgut for quite a few levels. By this time, I know what to expect, how the encounter will go, and about how much time it will take me. Any changes in character set-up that result in significant changes in the time a run takes then become pretty apparent.

I have found that I like the weapon that hits first and keeps on hitting. I use a 2hander if i can find a fast and damaging one, but seems to be better with the 1 hander and ludicrous speed range. Event thought the damage is not all that great.

I'd say dual wield because you would get more stats. Also, it attacks quicker, allowing you to use skills quicker and do more damage.

I'd say dual wield because you would get more stats. Also, it attacks quicker, allowing you to use skills quicker and do more damage.

That's really not true. Damage is scaled and balanced to weapon speed. For example, the slower a weapon hits, the harder it hits. Likewise, the faster the weapon, the lighter the damage. Generally speaking, it all boils down to a combination of using what works best against what you're fighting at the time and personal preference.