I 've gotten Mazzy decked out @ AC-7 (still in chapter 2) I learned that if you give her the dagger of returning she can keep a good shield equiped...

But what is the best short sword for her? or should I get her another weapon?

Her sword, the sword of Backstabbing or the +4 sword you finds at the second attack of Bodhi's lair.

Doesn't she already come with the Sword of Arvoreen? I would think that it would be the best sword for her since it was gifted to her by Arvoreen.

There are some good short swords out there: the Short Sword of Backstabbing is obviously one, but there are some good +2 swords - try Arbane's Sword of Agility, which you get from a random slaver fight whilst travelling in Athkatla.

Sure, when you give her a throwing dagger she has a very good AC and can wield a shield - but that's not really imortant. When fighting in melee there are just a few shields that offer better protection than single weapon style, and that becomes even less important in the exansion when THACOs drop low as enemies almost always hit then.

Mazzy is an excellent char the way she's composed. I have always preferred to play her with shortsword/ single weapon style and shortbow. She can have a decent AC with a decent armor, like when using a full plate with a ring/ cloak of protection or stuff like that.

There are plenty of good shortswords around, making Mazzy a very effective melee char and with the tuigan, gesen's and tansheron's bows she'll be a formidable archer till the end of SoA.

IMO giving her daggers would be inefficient proficiencywise, not adding any additional punch. I'd rather invest the prof slots in a blunt weapon.

Good to see some folks out there sticking up for the plucky halfling lass.

I had her in my first party, and only my first - I always like to to try new NPCs and to build my party on the basis on Alignment. Mazzy's attitude only really sits with a Lawful Good bunch I think. But I remember fondly how she could tear up the opposition from a distance, and close on them equally as effectively.

She comes in for much criticism, but I think she is a cleverly made NPC.

The blunt weapon advice is good, though I preferred to dual wield. If she needed extra AC for a given situation, I'd equip her with a shield temporarily.