I am trying the game with five melee characters (since i always went with all mages through M&M games and now i want something different).

My question is what's the best way to deal damage in melee for a developed Dark Elf, Vampire, Minotaur and Knight?

So far my thoughts are:

Knight - after some serious amount of investment Spear/Sword seems to outweight Sword/Sword due to Spear skill buffing damage... but it seems that it should be a really big investment because you waste 7+6+5+4+3+2 skillpoints just to allow wielding sword in offhand, that gives you absolutely nothing aside that (if i'm correct the bonuses from sword skill do not count when you use spear/sword, only spear skill, am i correct?)

Vampire - once again since as i understand dagger triple damage wont work if i equip Dagger/Sword i should go with two daggers and max dagger skill for max damage? Or will dagger triple damage still work if i equip sword in main/offhand?

Dark elf - Sword/Sword seems the best? Or does using master dagger in offhand/mainhand allows me to make critical strikes while having sword in another hand?

Minotaur - so far Balthazar's Axe seems the best and so maxing axe skill is the way (occasionally putting points in armsmaster). But is it so? Or should i go after having 1 handed axe in main hand and expert dagger in offhand?

Thanks for the replies!