I've generally interpreted book rules as forbidding two shortswords, but I think there are enough literary and cinematic examples to at least raise a reasonable doubt.

Of course, it is Goat's call, and I'm only offering an opinion. If it were my call, though, I'd probably give the ranger a free (-2, -4) counter-bonus, which would remove the penalties for sword and dagger, and leave a penalty of (-1, -2) if the ranger used two shortswords.

I tend to divide weapons into main-hand and off-hand categories. I don't have a list or anything, but it feels pretty intuitive to me. A character using two weapons is allowed to use a main and off-hand weapon, or two off-hand weapons without additional penalty. Using two main-hand weapons results in another -2 penalty for the second of them.

Short swords, daggers, hatchets, clubs, etc are all off-hand. Longswords and the like are main-hand. Without checking the weapon list, I believe there would be very few exceptions if one said that d6 damage and lower is off-hand and d8 and higher is main-hand.

As a side-note, a short sword is not just a shorter version of a longsword. Where a longsword is weighted toward the blade to assist in swinging and does its damage with its edge, a short sword is weighted toward the hilt for better control as it is a thrusting weapon. Its edges are not usually especially sharp as it does its damage with the pointed tip.

You can see how a skilled swordsman might take advantage of both weapons at once, but it's a little more difficult to imagine someone using two short swords with much grace.

STABSTABSTABSTABSTAB!!!

I don't really hold them to that, though. They're just swords that do d6 damage.

So Joshua could use two +1 short swords, both benefiting from his specialisation, or one +1 short sword and one +2 dagger

And to think, parents were worried about the corrupting influence of this game on their little darlings.

Mell has two Cure Moderate Wounds. I dont know whether he would use one on the Half-Drow. He might.

From what he wrote earlier I got the distinct impression he's with Morlan on this issue. I don't think he'd waste a big spell on this wretch. Your healing music idea is good, though. Joshua will also benefit at the same time.

I thought that was a fair compromise.

Maybe he will not be so bad. Shame nobody prepared Charm Person today.

Oh wow, I just realised, losing the online AD&D books means I have no idea what my kit does. I know Joshua was going to get to make sleep potions, cast Charms that allowed no saving roll and make flying potions. But I dont know when.

Talk to Larenil when he's back. He has a good range of AD&D resources that you might be able to tap into.

Was that the Wizard's Guide, Gordon? I should have the .pdf

yeah, it's in there as a wizard kit.