24-15 is really as far as you want to go with strength builds. Unless >level 31, then 27-15 might be an option.
the rest is mentioned so i skip that part but with 3 shield skill:
your shield will break every round, bolts will just fly trough it.
So most of us 1h shielder guys go for 21 / 15 or 18 / 18.
I have tried all kinds of shielder builds over 15 gens and I always seem to fall back on
21str
15agl
7 IF
7PS
5shd
5ath
5Wm
146 1 handed
Ramses and Cyber certainly are hell on wheels for getting kills as shielders.
Kick slashing is something you can deal with pretty easily with proper practice. I recommend that if you have a problem with kickslashing that you practice with moving to the side of opponent rather than directly at them and hitting them from the side. Kicking on the lead is far more difficult than kicking when someone runs directly towards you. With time you should learn how to dodge kicks without moving directly to the side of them (something best practiced on native against kickslashers). This is because most kick-slashing techniques depend upon the following:
They usually have at least two or three 'support' guys with them what gives them the opportunity to fight the opponents 1 vs 1.
A strength shielder with 8 power strike, relatively long weapon and big shield is in 1 vs 1 good against everyone except high agi kick slashers.
They usually have at least two or three 'support' guys with them what gives them the opportunity to fight the opponents 1 vs 1.
A strength shielder with 8 power strike, relatively long weapon and big shield is in 1 vs 1 good against everyone except high agi kick slashers.
But once you get seperated from your pack, or those guys get killed, a str build shows its weaknesses. Many 2handers/ polearm guys have 8 and more ath, you are too slow to chase rangers efficiently, and melee in a 1 vs x is difficult.
When you want to go on your own, flank, kill rangers and stuff, I think a relatively fast build is the better choice. You better have two weapons with you though.
Elite Scimitar against light armored opponents, and steel pick or flanged mace against tincans.
You probably wont get so many kills, but keeping a whole group of enemies busy for a while, killing some and injuring some more might be more fun than sticking with the mob all the time.
In the occasions that i still play in eu1 or any larger server i almost always go solo and never have any support guys with me, unless we are playing together with a big Fallen team, can't speak for ramses.
I don't see why you think that a high strength shielder is good in 1v1 though. What high STR gives you is more dmg and hp, this should help out a lot more when in a middle of a battle where you might need your dmg to kill off opponents faster or IF to survive some unexpected hits. High agy shielder seems to have all the advantages in 1v1.
I do agree with you that melee 1vsx is easier with fighting multiple opponents aswell. High STR build imo just has the advantage of managing to kill opponents off with fewer hits turning the battle and tank more dmg. ( which can both be really important )
yedrellow: Kick slashing is a problem for a 1h, no matter how much you practice agains't it, specially with a STR build and heavier armor. You might be able to avoid kicks of many people and actually get to their side and hit them, but better players won't let you do that. With good 2h or polearm players i usually either try to keep a balance of trying to stay out kick range, and inside 1h weapon range which can be a real pain, specially if i have a str build so they are faster then me, or just completely facehugging them in which case i need to hope that they miss their kicks.
Look I understand why you may think kick-slashes are impossible to avoid, but it really is a footwork issue that can be worked on, regardless of low athletics. If you personally have a problem with kickslashes then it is something you can work on. Jump in a native duel server with a fighting pick and you should eventually learn how to deal with kick-slashing. If you're unwilling to practice on native, duel with a 40 reach hammer on your local crpg duel server until you learn how to avoid kicks. If you are facehugging them, then of course you're going to get kickslashed, but that doesn't mean that it is impossible to close distance. I am personally quite capable of dodging and punishing kickslashers of all qualities that I have encountered. With lower athletics it becomes harder, but really, the same principles can be applied to dodging and otherwise avoid kicks.