Facts of Quality

The Quality of an item determines it's effectiveness in blocking damage.  As the Quality degrades from Excellent to Good to Average and finally to Poor, the amount of damage the weapon can effect reduces by a few points each step.  Low-grade weapons (like a Durbin Rapier or Trophy Greatsword) can never achieve high quality even if it's been fully repaired, but can still lose the little effectiveness it has just like the better armor.  The best weapons (like a Noble's Rapier or Rillanon Greatword) can be repaired to the highest quality weapon, but usually at an high expense.

Improving Quality and Repairs

Any weapon which isn't the best Quality can be converted to the highest grade by applying Quality resins.  By using this method, you can purchase (or loot!) low-grade weapons and improve them.  Applying Quality resins will not, however, increase the State of Repair.  There are 3 ways to repair weapons:  1) let a merchant do it, 2) apply a Resin of Repair or 3) let a mage cast Craftsman's Touch during combat.  It's usually much cheaper to repair high-grade weapons with resin rather than at a shop.   Weapons which have been fully repaired will bring the best price when sold.

Loot Index

Lugging loot around Krondor and the countryside can get cumbersome if you aren't selective about what you pack away in inventory.  Beside's that, too much weight will adversely affect a character's Encumbrance and their ability to do damage, block damage and dodge attacks.  Weapons which pack the best gold-to-weight value (Loot Index) are the high-grade daggers, shortswords, rapiers and simitars.  Some of the worst are warhammers and axes.  Unless you plan on making a lot of trips to the merchant, steer away from lotting extremely heavy weapons.
 
Evaluating Weapons in Combat

By determining what type of weapon (if any!) that an enemy is holding, your party may be able to win a battle much easier.  For example, an adversary using a Rillanon Greatsword should be avoided and attacked from a distance with Fire Oil or spells rather than hand-to-hand.  Use Evaluation to your advantage when planning an attack.

The Master's Recommendations for Equipping Weapons

(Enchanted Weapons listed are the best that occur with relative frequency.)

A PLAN TO BRING OUT THE BEST

 

Choice	James	Jazhara	William	Kendaric	Solon
Preferred Enchanted	Vanguard	Miller's Dagger	Deathblade	Miller's Dagger	Wrath of Astalon
Good Enchanted	Argent	Izmali Poison Dagger	Life Bane Blade	Catalyst Dirk	Hammer of Fire
Preferred Standard	Starblood Simitar	Highcastle Dagger	Rillanon Greatsword	Highcastle Dagger	Hammer of Prayer
Good Standard	Noble's Rapier	Free City Dagger	Royal Greatsword	Free City Dagger	Warhound Warhammer