Been having a good look at how the Parameter bonus works and how it adds damage to you weapon. Understand it now. I also notice that the parameter bonus is taken into account when you view your weapon stats in the game anyway!! There is a '+xx' figure alongside your weapons base damage figure. So all good.
I'm building my character mainly on strength now so think I'll grab the Butchers Knife from Man-eater Mildred (if i can find her in the Blighttown Swamp)
A +15 Butchers Knife has a base damage of 225 with an 'A' Strength Parameter Bonus. With strength around 30 or 40 I should be getting an attack rate of between 360-400 from that knife in a single hand 
Ok that's enough of that . On with the game 
mildred's easy to find, if you can make it to the swamp in human form you'll get invaded straight away, if you're not human then keep the wall to your left and follow it until you see a tunnel, there's a bonfire inside so you can regain humanity then mildred will invade as soon as you leave the fire
i'd recommend the black knight halberd (dropped by black knight near darkroot basin bonfire, there's a couple more that drop them but are later in the game unless you fancy going into the tomb of the giants now
) you'll need over 30 strength (can't remember the exact amount) to one hand it but it's a great weapon that deals tons of damage, combine it with the eagle shield and you can more or less tank the whole game
