The Tavern

So that lovely +10 sword of Jihad (weapon) {holy, *Rage rN+ EV+3 Stlth-} that I found on d:5? Not so good when you rush off to join Ash to mitigate the *Rage and only then discover you can't curse a holy weapon...

Doesn't matter. The sword is a great weapon (other than the *RAGE) and doesn't require that much skill to use effectively. Keeping your weapon uncursed is something people sometimes do with ashe anyway so that they can use rods, swap to a ranged option (Probably a blowgun, because throwing is the best ranged option anyway), ETC. This should also let you switch to a flameing long blade for hydras if you want to. It is not like ashe gives penance for not cursing everything.

My first 15 rune win was with an Ash woshipper that found a sword of Jihad. I ended up cursing everything except my weapon slot. Switching weapons was just far too useful in the extended game.

All you lose out on is the skill bonus for swords but if you're already at decent skill for them you won't notice a difference.

I almost never curse my weapon. I cant even think of a time that I have actually, aside from earlier version when sometimes weapon cursing was the only option to gain piety.

I always try to curse my weapon because it's still the best way to get piety with Ash in early game IME.

Does cursing the weapon give more piety than armor of jewellery?

I have no idea! But you probably don't have any jewellery in early game, for your armour being bound you need a bunch of aux slots which you probably don't have either, and a weapon binds one or even two hands with one scroll.

You don't need to curse it, as the lack of skill boost is made up for by the power of the weapon. What you do need is clarity, which you'll have very soon. Just pump long blades to 12, and you're set!

it upsets me that this is true.