Not surprisingly (it is a tribute to the diversity of the game) I've seen recommendations to go two handed for extra damage, and other people saying they removed this skill to learn 1H with shield because the defense was so much better.
Obviously there is the other question of whether to go slash, crush or pierce. Most weapons are randomly generated, but some are fixed - I've gotten some really nice 1H hammers early on and somehow <smile> sharpening a hammer is as good as sharpening a sword.
To add to the issue, it is not at all impossible that one template works better in chapter one and a different one is best later in the game.
I've replayed chapter one half a dozen times and have no definitive opinion. So I'll start another thread and ask for the current state of the art - what are your opinions about the best weapons to learn skills for, and does this change (other than through random luck of getting a particularly great weapon) after chapter 1.
My own thinking is that chapter 1 enemies are mostly melee and the 2H weapons require too much strength and agility (if sharpened) for use until higher levels so 1H and shield works best - possibly with a crush specialty. Later on 2H comes into its own when enemies attack with magic and doing major damage fast can outweigh blocking physical attacks with the shield e.g. with a certain shaman. But I haven't gotten far enough to have much of an opinion past chapter 1.
