Horse 2hander

[Vexus]

Soooo I got sick of being on foot doing same shit for months and I needed a change so I thought on trying a cav who uses 2h but still viable on foot and atm I'm trying this build:

Strength: 18
Agility: 18

Skills to attributes: 2

Ironflesh: 6
Power Strike: 6
Athletics: 5
Riding: 6
Weapon Master: 6

Two Handed: 146

What do you people think? Should I lower IF for some shield skill and maybe 1 more point in athletics or it's fine like this?

[KaMiKaZe_JoE]

I would suggest the shield skill--shields are extremely helpful when you're on horseback. If and when your horse gets stalled you can turtle up and, hopefully, deflect incoming attacks while you wait for the horse make its escape. Using just a 2h weapon, you would need to manually block those attacks, which would suck--a shield, however, BLOCKS ALL! A shield also protects you against missile attacks, which is helpful both when you are stalled out, and when you're on the move. Think escaping from horse archers.

That shield may also come in handy on infantry maps. Many two handers carry a cheap shield around in case they need to survive some ranged bundle of sticksry.

Of course, you can function perfectly well without a shield, particularly when fighting other cav... the down block is magical, truly. When dismounted, your extra IF/athletics might come in handy.

It's up to you, really. It comes down to whether you would prefer increased survivability on horseback, or better performance in melee combat.

[Gurnisson]

You need that last athletics. Skip one WM or one IF

[Vexus]

The thing is while a shield is great atm my weapons are a heavy bastard sword to use on horse and a highland claymore on foot so 4/4 slots there's no decent 2h with 1 slot so unless I use the bastard for both cav and on foot don't know about the shield.

As for the athletics I could spare 1 IF for 1 athletics character still lvl 27.

[Teeth]

Use a heavy bastard both on foot and on horse, will save you a lot of upkeep and it's pretty good on foot. I believe carrying a shield next to your 1h/2h doesn't matter for swingspeed when you're on a horse anyway.

[Vexus]

Yea using bastard sword without the shield still uses 1h animations sadly.

Ok I'll put a point or 2 in shield now the thing is should I spend 1 or 2 in shield? (Either leather covered round shield or round cavalry shield unless you suggest something better in that difficulty range)

[Ronin]

Try 1 difficulty shields for a while, if you think it's not enough go for 2 maybe?

Btw as far as I know about 1/2handed weapons, when you use them with shield they are 1 handed without a shield they are 2 handed weapons. So they use only one proficiency at one time and it depends on the usage of shield not hands. I figured out this when I was playing as a 1handed cavalry in singleplayer Mount & Blade. My one handed prof. was about 230, and two handed was about 90. There was a significant speed difference between my two swings with and without a shield. I am not sure this still applies to the current version, but you may test it yourself in singleplayer. A valuable information to keep in mind...

Also 1/2handed weapons are for 1handers more than 2 handers, I think. 1handed wapons with a secondary mode are, however, for 2 handers.

[Jarlek]

No reason to put 1 or 2 in shield. If you want decent shields, get 3 shieldskill. That's where the decent shields are and that's what you need to make the 1/2 shields useful. If you can't get 3 shieldskill, drop the shield.

And about 1h/2h on horse and with shield. Whenever you use it with a shield you use 1h wpf and gain an approximate 30% speed and damage reduction. When you use it on a horse, you use 2h wpf (unless you use a shield), even though the animation is the same. When you use it on a horse, you also got an approximate 30% speed and damage reduction. This does NOT stack with the one from a shield so it's the same to use it with a shield, on horseback or both at the same time. What I suggest is to use it with a shield on horse and without on the ground. Taking it out when there are archers shooting at you ofc.

Yea using bastard sword without the shield still uses 1h animations sadly.

You talking about on horse? Yeah, it will always use 1h animation for swinging on horse. Only weapon that doesn't is the Hafted/Long Hafted Blade. On foot it uses 2h animations for everything unless you use a shield.

Also 1/2handed weapons are for 1handers more than 2 handers, I think. 1handed wapons with a secondary mode are, however, for 2 handers.

No. No, they aren't at all. 1h/2h weapons really only works for 2handers. 1handers CAN use it with a shield but the 30% penalty is too big. You are already slow enough from the shield and you also lose range from the animations. 1h/2h weapons are really only 2h weapons, but can let 2h cav use them with a shield without being penalized.

The ones with secondary modes are not for two handers btw. They are best for 1handers and people with 2h SIDEARM. No sensible 2h would use it as their main weapon. There are most of the time better 2h weapons available. Although they are still fully usefull as looted weapons/strat weapons/ emergency weapons.