Hoplite Viable?

[1slander]

Considering going HOPLITE next retirement just for something different. 

Have people tried this alot and is it viable?

Probably go hybrid Polearm/Throwing - Using say the battle fork with a huscarl shield and jarids.

Seem gimp? 

[balbaroth]

well , id say if your good with polearms , its viable , but i can count my fingers with 1 hand the number of succesfuls hoplites

[Patricia]

Hoplites are a support build/class more than anything else, in team, the enemy will HATE you but alone you're not much of a problem.

[EponiCo]

It's a funny way to play.
But you have two problems, obviously only one attack direction and also the short range thrust glance. You need an ally around to take care of people that get to close, you can support him with stabs in turn.

[WaltF4]

Considering going HOPLITE next retirement just for something different.

Prepare to be underwhelmed.

[Gorath]

Fun - Very
Viable - No (any average player will counter your hoplite by downblocking forever thus rendering you useless)

[1slander]

Prepare to be underwhelmed.

LoL

Prob pass on Hoplite

[Formless]

Civilian does really well as a hoptile.  Walt F4 is also very good as a hoptile.   

[Nemeth]

As was said, hoplite is support more than anything. You need a buddy who you will be runing around with and augment his attacks with your stabs. It is very effective if done well. If you find yourself alone against someone, your only chance is to put shield on your back and play classic polearm dude. I would suggest warspear, as it has no penalty with shield and overall is very good polearm.
But yeah, you really need to pick someone on your team and stick with him. If you're part of a clan, it would be easier to do some coordinated stuff which would make you shine.
I wouldn't say hoplite is not viable. It is, just very hard to pull off as it doesn't depend on you how well you will be doing.

[ManOfWar]

Patch raped walts effectiveness

[KaMiKaZe_JoE]

polearm+sheild works well. I went full-on hoplite with my first character, although I wasted points in 1h weapons. I also didn't try throwing.

But over all it was amazingly fun, especially on crowded maps that force phalanx type combat/cluster fucks. Like the bridge maps. 1 on 1 combat is difficult, however you can beat the average player with a little skill. Many underestimate polearm+sheild users.

[Zanthos]

Patch raped walts effectiveness

I'd still say he is quite effective. WaltF4, Civilian, Noobie, Ozymandius, Suuuper(sp?)... all still quite effective with it. It's all about support and the right scenarios. You won't be scoring a lot of 1 hit kills but you will do plenty of damage and annoy the hell out of enemies and stun them (opening them up for a friendly to kill). Some are better at 1v1 than others as well.. especially if they drop the shield.

[Tigerclaw]

I play a hoplite/one-hand/thrower hybrid most of the time, and I find that it works quite well. I use a war spear when fighting in a group with teammates, and generally switch to my niuweidao when I fight alone, and throwing comes in handy versus archers and two-handers. So while I'd hesitate to go as a pure hoplite, hybrid hoplites work very well, especially if you give yourself a backup melee option.

[1slander]

may try to 15 then just reroll if i hate it

[Civilian]

My build as a Hoplite with late decision to go into throwing.

Age   45 [30]

Strength   15   
Agility   21   

Polearm   152
Throwing   30
   
Power Strike   5   
Shield   6   
Athletics   7      
Power Throw   5   
Weapon master *   6

Viable - No (any average player will counter your hoplite by downblocking forever thus rendering you useless)

This is why I went into throwing. People who play defensive against a Pure hoplite tend to be more difficult to kill.