That is the player not the build. You notice the bad str stackers and not the bad agi/balanced since they die quickly in 1 or 2 hits.
Encounter bad Str build: Fight; "man he isn't blocking. Why isn't he dead?!" 5 seconds later you move on with the conscious imprint of how bad that player was.
Encounter bad agi build: Fight; he missed a block and died. 1 second later you are running off again without a thought in your mind about how ~bad that agi player was~.
Even though both are the same bad player, one is one hell of a chore to kill.
lol
Also, if you think strength characters swing slow, Wake up.
i agree... fact is STR builds need less focus to play because can sustain a LOT more hits before dying (assuming STR build geared with a good 70-80 body armor).
but STR builds are not superior in every situation. just a positioning error and you get surrounded without escape. and a blunt/pierce gank will anyway kill you in a matter of seconds. so the situations are:
- in open maps with few cover (random plains, the various desert maps) STR builds must stick and form a good infantry line to avoid to end surrounded. positioning with 2 or 3 ath and heavy armor is difficult. no escape if a flank move will get you, no retreat also. in these maps, balanced builds and agi biased builds shine (18/21, 15/24).
- in closed maps / siege maps, STR builds really do the job. narrow corridors / rooms will cut agi builds their footwork down, is harder to being surrounded. if the brawl is tight (siege for instance) with standing still fighting without so much speed bonus give STR+heavy armor builds a lot of advantage.
also agi builds with medium armor are really tiring to play. you need to stay 100% focused to avoid being 1shot by a xbow, or 1-2hitd by a STR tank. but is easier to get away from a gank, is easier to flank, easier to change position and to go help teammates.
after a lot of time as a 2h, i tried all kind of builds. from 12/27 to 33/6 almost all combinations. the best compromise i found is 21/18 with 17kgs armor. i have 63hp (22str and 3IF) with 72 body armor. i can stand a beating from 6-7PS cut weapon players. usually i survive 4 1h warhammer hits or 3 bec hits or 3 morningstar hits, 5 high tier cut weapon hits, several warbow bodkin arrows in the chest, 3-4 jarids...
so i suppose a STR 30/9 build with 80+ armor is quite hard to kill with cut weapons. morningstar do the job anyway. usually i 2hit STR builds with 2 overheads (hitting the face) or 3 max 4 hits when aiming the chest.
and yes. the only reason go for AGI is athletics. STR builds need to have less profiency because a STR guy with a longsword and 10-11PS have a way higher DPS than an agi bias build with a +3 DGS or a +3 poleaxe.
often i play the 2h morningstar without putting that much effort and i still do the job. when i play my ps5 cav/pikeman with light armor and 50hp, if i get distracted just a second or a random flying stuff hits me, i'm dead.