Next Gen 1hander build

[oohillac]

My current build is a very enjoyable "hoplite."

15 Str
21 Agil

3 IF
5 PS
7 ATH
7 SHI
7 WM

1-h    140
poles 107

I notice a huge difference between ~110 WPF and 140.  I always take WM and get my WPF to or above 140.

Very fast, and having a nigh-invulnerable shield is handy for teamplay.  Of course, a PS-heavy build will favour solo players more I expect.  My high agility is very useful when I play with other Fallens: Circling opponents, jabbing with spear, and covering retreats.

(click to show/hide)

Being a plain 'ol 1-h with no other weapon skills was a little dull for me.  I've also ran 2h/1h-shield builds for a few generations. Use the shield for archers/crazy situations, and bust out the GS for when high power is needed.  That build was strength-based (21-18), but the long 2h made up for the lack of footwork.

If you have previously played the 18/21 variations, I don't see why you shouldn't try the str-heavy. Perhaps do a STF alt first.

[Arn_Magnusson]

How about this one:

    Strength: 21
    Agility: 18

    Skills to attributes: 8

    Power Strike: 7
    Shield: 6
    Athletics: 4
    Weapon Master: 6

    One Handed: 154

I played that build. You can use every shield, with armor lower than 25 kg (all) you shouldn't feel slow with 4 ath, it also makes your swings hard and fast.

[Vodner]

ManOfWar uses a 24/15 build, and does very well with it. I prefer having more ath, but 24/15 is definitely solid.

Just be careful. The lower your athletics, the better you have to know the range of your weapon.

I would recommend getting one more point of shield so that you can use the huscarl. Even if you don't normally use one, being able to pick one up off the ground after having your shield break can easily save your life vs ranged opponents. There's nothing more frustrating than getting shot up while standing next to a shield you can't use.

[BaleOhay]

I think I have done 10 generations of 1h/shield and still I am not sold on any one build.

Generally I stick to the 21/15 great all around build. Live long and move decent while still hitting hard enough to kill

Last gen I went 24/12 I did not notice I hit that much harder and I also did not feel I was that much slower then the 21/15 so really a style decision

I have also gone heavy in either direction with 27-30 str or 27-30 agilty felt like a one trick pony both directions.

I think this gen i will try thr 18/18. It was my very first build when i started playing the game (granted I was a thrower hybrid) so it might be time to give it another shot.

Ohay

[Kherr]

I tried nearly all from balanced, agi based and str based. Personally I like str based builds most.
Imho it depends on:
 - playstyle (preferring 1:1, clusterfucks ...)
 - environment (open field, narrow castles, ...) -> battle/siege
 - length of the weapon (if the weapon ist short, you have to move to reach the enemy...)
 - weapondamage (e.g. piercing pick does not need a lot of str to deal damage)

Imo 5 shield is good. So you can use every widely used shield including huscarl. So I would go 24/15.

[Laufknoten]

I think this gen i will try thr 18/18. It was my very first build when i started playing the game (granted I was a thrower hybrid) so it might be time to give it another shot.

The 18/18 build is viable, but good only with a mw weapon imo. I choose it as my favourite build, because of the 6 ath and 6 shield skill.
I think the 21/15 or 24/15 builds are the best. Those builds with a mw elite scim and a good shield are just easy-mode, every noob can get a lot of kills with this setup.

[rustyspoon]

This has always been my favorite.

18 Str
21 Agil


6 PS
7 ATH
6 SHI
4 WM

1-h    138

It's a fantastic dueling build, but not that great for battle as teammates will fuck you over and over again. 1 hit in the back by a teammate and a str crutcher will 1-shot you.

If you're going the no shield route (which I recommend) this is the build I use.

18 Str
21 Agil


6 PS
6 IF
7 ATH
4 WM

1-h    138

You're hilariously fast and can take a good beating.

[CrimsonPigII]

oh man im now caught right in the middle and need to decide

im now at 15 str and 15 agil - i can lean either way or go 50/50 again?

However i feel the gist of the feedback is a more str based character so i can really damage whilst keeping a resonable level of aths and wp...ive always played high agil but now next gen as sword and board.

decisions decisions....

[ponyboy]

Well I think I'm going for:

24str
15agi

6if
8ps
5ath
4shield
111wpf
(71hp)

My only reservation about this build will be to see just how much i feel the slower swing speed, we'll see.

And im trying to trade for a +3 italian sword, which seems impossible ;/

[rustyspoon]

oh man im now caught right in the middle and need to decide

im now at 15 str and 15 agil - i can lean either way or go 50/50 again?

However i feel the gist of the feedback is a more str based character so i can really damage whilst keeping a resonable level of aths and wp...ive always played high agil but now next gen as sword and board.

decisions decisions....

What's interesting to note though, with the exception of ManOWar most of the best shielders don't use strength heavy builds. Dan goes 18/18, I think Saul does 18/21, Balb last I heard was 18/24. (but who knows 'cause he could be level a million by now)

Str just doesn't scale well with 1h weapons. Especially when you get to the higher armor values the difference between 8 ps and 6 ps is barely there. If you can combine speed bonus and held attacks well like the above players do, you're fine and your added athletics can get you out of some tough situations. Str just works better with weapons that have a high damage value as ps increases are percentage based.

[ponyboy]

True.  Or maybe ill do this

18str 21agi

6if
6ps
4shield
7ath

111wpf
(65)hp


Damage is pretty low with 6ps and 111wpf though.   And if you put pts into WM then you have unexceptably low HP with 18/21 =/. oh what to do..

[CrimsonPigII]

oh bums still a hard call - so a more balanced character and leaning towards agil

well im now 18 str and 15 agil, i can then decide to go for the all round stats...im still a newb with sword and board, im rarely having positive k/d but do my best to delay and get around flanks to help the team...

Cheers for advice guys

p.s has anyone written any sword and board fighting advice guides? i need to read up. CRPG really is a fantastic mod with these discussions on how to build a unique character using just a few stats!