Randart trident worth switching for?

[MrDizzy]

I'm playing a Gargoyle Fighter of Oka at the moment.
My plan from the start was to go single-handed long blade with shield.

I'm down to Lair 2 and the best long blade I've found is a +4 unbranded long sword.
However, I did take an artefact trident from a spriggan on Lair 1:
the +7 trident of the Crawling Thing {venom, Str+6, Int-3}

I really like the Str+6 bit, so I'm considering changing to polearms.
Problem is, I already sunk a shedload of XP to train long blades to 15 (meant to turn it off at 14, but forgot).

So, what do you reckon. Is it worth writing off that XP and training polearms?

Other skills are:
Fighting 12.1
Short Blades 10.0 (due to cross-training)
Armour 6.0
Shields 6.0
Evocations 2.7
Invocation 2.1

[VeryAngryFelid]

The trident is not good for switching that late, also it is not much better than long sword even at min delay.

[MrDizzy]

OK. Thanks. I'll just use it for fighting hydras then.

[TheMeInTeam]

Definitely wouldn't switch with that much investment, and certainly not for a comparatively weak polearm long-term. It's not like you got a +9 demon trident of elec or something.

With that amount of cross training in short blades you can straight up use daggers at min delay (quickblades too, though doubt there are good ones at this point). It's usually worth carrying a dagger of venom or draining, possibly lightning if they turn up. These have a lot of output/utility in addition to long sword until you find a good long-term sword.

[svendre]

Next time train maces and cross-train axes on Garg fighter of Oka, you'll like it better.

I agree it's not worth switching to that trident in your current game. There is one edge case that isn't huge, but you could swap to it if you train throwing just for the str bonus (but still don't train polearms) Not really a terribly great thing but possible to milk it a tiny bit.

[VeryAngryFelid]

Also switching weapons in general is a bad idea with Oka unless you get an end game weapon early enough. Eventually you will be gifted a great weapon in Long/Short Blades category.

[MrDizzy]

OK, so Oka just gifted me a +2 triple sword of holy wrath
Should I ditch my shield and go for the big stick?
My shield is just the +0 shield I started with, but I've invested a bit in shields skill - it's now at 8.3.

[MrDizzy]

Next time train maces and cross-train axes on Garg fighter of Oka, you'll like it better.

I normally do go for either axes or m&f with melee characters. I also normally go two-handed.
Just thought I'd try long blade + shield for a change of pace.

It's been pretty slim pickings though.
The only one-handed long blades that have turned up have been a few unbranded long swords.
And no shields have turned up in this game at all (hence why I'm still using the one I started with).
Normally, with axes or m&f I'm spoilt for choice.
Haven't done Orc or Elf yet though - might get something interesting there.

[VeryAngryFelid]

I'd still use a 1h long blade unless you have 20+ levels in it. +2 is not great enchantment and holy is the worst brand in 3 rune game.