Infje wrote:The US rules state: “You may only attack with one weapon at a time. The number of dice to roll depends on the weapon you are using”. Let’s say I’m the barbarian and I’ve bought the shortsword. This allows me the use of 2 combat dice. I start out with 3. Does this mean, when using the shortsword, I can throw one combat die less?
Correct. You must use the 2 Attack Dice of the smaller weapon, not the 3 Attack Dice of your starting weapon.
Infje wrote:If so, the only effective weapon for me to buy as an barbarian would be the the longsword or the battle axe. Is this correct?
Usually correct, but not in all cases. Daggers are worth purchasing early on as they allow a safe missile attack against a monster behind a trap. It is also possible to lose a weapon. The Rust Chaos spell and an Ice Gremlin's steal ability come to mind. Then the Barbarian would need to buy a new weapon, and available coin might be low enough at the moment that it would be necessary to settle on a Shortsword purchase. Finally, though it isn't purchased, Orc's Bane is also a step down in Attack Dice if you attack two Orcs in the same turn.
Infje wrote:Also, I can carry multiple weapons and switch between them?...
Though anybody may houserule here, there is no rule stating otherwise. Sjeng and Blackthorn already cited the governing rules. I'd like to stress it is important not to cheeze the switching restriction by allowing an attack with one weapon and a defense with another. Check out the Staff, Battle Axe, and Shield descriptions in the Armory: "You may not use a shield when using this weapon." "May not be used with the Battle Axe or the Staff." To reiterate Sjeng's comment, a weapon (or shield) must be switched on the Hero's following turn. Otherwise you would be wrongly using these restricted combos together.
I think you were already onto the switching principle when you quoted, "You may only attack with one weapon at a time." Here "a time" best refers to both attack and defense in order to agree with the Armory restrictions. Thus, attacking with a Battle Axe and then switching to a Broadsword and Shield in the reciprocal defense isn't allowed. Any change in a combat takes a round of turns to come up, be it a new attack or move, casting a new spell, breaking a previously cast spell, or switching eqiupment.
