Author Topic: Hoplite of the Roman Imperial Legion - Throwing Lance & Shield build  (Read 462 times)

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Offline WITCHCRAFT

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I've always wanted to make a spear/throwing shield user to mimic a late Roman footman. The throwing lance is visually similar to the pilum-type spears  that they used. The stats work too - a spear that is viable as both a ranged and melee weapon. Now that you can get 3 throwing lances for 2 slots and still carry a 2 slot shield, I can finally go for the build and items I had wanted to try. Here's my gear and build for level 30.

I know these aren't things a late Roman soldier would wear, but if you have any more realistic suggestions let me know. CRPG doesn't give you much to work with if you want a pre-medieval style in most cases.
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Not sure on boots. Rus shoes have the wraps like leather sandals do, but they don't really match with the body armor that well.

For the shield, a board shield or heavy board shield would work if I had a custom banner. None of the default ones fit my theme though, so I went with the long pavise because it matches the red body armor.

18 Strength
18 Agility

6 Power Strike
6 Power Throw
5 Shield
6 Athletics
6 Weapon Master

100 Polearm WPF
120 Throwing WPF


I was considering 18/15 with some Ironflesh, but I feel like I need 6 WM since I am splitting WPF between polearm and throwing. Can I make do with less? I've never done a hybrid thrower/polearm before. Or a pure throwing lance user. Or a thrower with a shield. Doing some testing with my STF, but any advice is appreciated.

Is it even possible to split throwing/pole/1H WPF at level 30 while keeping 6 PS and 6 PT? A small sidearm sword would be cool and authentic but I can't figure out how to make that work. If I went high-level it would be done easily but this is an alt that I plan to retire at 31.
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irl something shorted on the shuttle and laika overheated and died within a few hours of liftoff and for a brief while one could look up to the stars and see a light shooting across the sky that was actually a warm dog corpse slingshoting about the earth at thousands of miles per hour which was arguably humanity's greatest achievement so far

Offline Sari

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Looks like your trying to make a centurion. :D

Offline Macropus

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My wpp split suggestion:
One Handed: 57
Two Handed: 14 (from melee bonus only)
Polearm: 105
Throwing: 101

Since all 0-slot swords are very fast and since you're not going to use it too much, I believe 57 would be enough. And 105 in polearms is still plenty for hopliting.

As for the item choice, consider these:
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Offline Mallets

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I have a 21/15 Hoplite Thrower.  But I'm about to respec with the new patch.  Throwing Lance allure has worn off.  But to encourage you... I had a blast using Throwing Lances.  This is the first and only build I've had using a throwing weapon.  Think you'll have a blast as well!

(click to show/hide)

I really loved this build.  Was quite effective as well.  My gear was a little different.  I usually went with 3 Throwing Lances and an Elite Cav Shield.  I was going for more of the Greek Hoplite (round shield), over the Roman look.  Used the same chest armor.  Never took a side-arm weapon, because I didn't have enough WPF to spread around with 5 WM.  Plus the Throwing Lances were very effective in melee without the shield (when 4-directional attack was needed).  But with 6 WM, you may have enough WPF to put points in 1H.

Personally, I'd look to take around 101 Throwing if it's possible for you.  Always test with your armor.  I'd put 75 points, test.  Then 80, then 85.  And so on.  I think with my build, I needed between 90 - 95 WPF to be able to pick up Throwing Lances.  So I went with 101 to give me a little room.

Think about putting 101 Throwing, 99 Polearm, & 56 to 1H.  With the melee bonus you'll get:

One Handed: 67
Polearm: 101
Throwing: 101

Another viable weapon setup is to go with a set of Lances (3 ammo), a 1 slot shield, and a Spear (1 slot), and a side-arm sword.  May be higher upkeep with all that gear.  But this allows you to throw all 3 Lances.  You get a better melee weapon in the Spear, and you still get a side-arm sword.  Unfortunately, there's not really a gladius type weapon avaialbe.  The Broad Sword has the proper shape/thicknesss, but is way too long.  The Italian Falchion seems the perfect size, but doesn't have the tapered-point design of a gladius.

I've also went to battle a many a day with a War Spear, Buckler, & 2 Throwing Lances (now you can take 3).  Weak against range, but the buckler is just fine in melee.  War Spear is can be deadly.