Best Sword+Board Build?

[Osiris]

cant go wrong with a +3 NCS

[Bob_Ross]

12/24 works rather well with a steel pick

[Lt_Anders]

What weapon and sheild you plan to use? Those affect How you are to make the 1h build.

[Penitent]

To a point, weapons depend on your build AND your play style.

First of all, for 1h, I recommend a loomed weapon.

If you have good athletics (6+) but poor PS, I'd go with a short blunt of pierce weapon.

Higher PS (7+) but lower athletics, I'd go with a longer one like a sword for the reach.

Or you can mix it up if your play style warrants it!  A long weapon can be used well with high athletics because you can control the range better.  Also, a short weapon can be good with low athletics if you have a strong shield to get in close.

I use a 18/18 build and do well with 1h swords.

I recommend carrying an axe as a backup weapon because fighting a shielder as a shielder can be a pain in the ass and take a while.

[Lt_Anders]

You could always go 1h no sheild if your manaul is good enough. Much fun, though you'll be more gimped versus ranged.

[Vingnir the Wanderer]

Ive been going 24/15 the last couple generations,   but also Cav Lancer hybrid.

I dunno I'm leaning back towards 21/18,  It just seems 24 is really ideal for 1-handed damage, but, once I'm in a tight spot on the field, I'm stuck there,  because my opponents can run me down, and being that I often take the front line to protect my fellow non-shielders, I often find myself bieng focused by 3+ angry infantrymen, and can block them and maybe take one or two out, but usually just get over-run and mugged.

I'm actualy considering stopping on retirement, and going 24/18.

Of course as a Cav, 18 AG has alot more possible benefits, but, unless your a blocking phenomenon, or spend your time backed up/ support all the time, more agility than 15 is really attractive, and feels like the 'natural choice' atleast from my experience.

It also gives you the ability to move faster with heavier armor on too.

[Corsair831]

as a sword and board always have on you either a spear (to make you immune to cavalry whilst travelling) or throwing.

Also, as a sword and board you can block multiple directions and you will also have a very short weapon compared to most (normal sword is only 95 reach).

Therefore you want high athletics or light armour or both. As a shielder you need to be able to weave between your enemies and block fast both left right etc.

4 or 5 shield skill is the minimum you can really take

if you intend on going heavier armour i'd take 18/21, if lighter 21/18.

if you take throwing you will have to go only 2 conversion point, so if you are light armour (around 5ish)

you can take 21/15 and still be accurate (around 100 throwing WPF is enough with light)

18/18 (with 6 WM/ath) for medium armour (around 12ish weight armour total)

15/21 (your sword will bounce a lot with 5ps) for heavier armours (providing you want to have enough speed to weave between enemies).

[Osiris]

i never take a spear :/ lancer cav will outreach you with your crappy wpf and you can rape them easier with a 1h. side step swing jump stab chamber etc all more effective imo

[Penitent]

i never take a spear :/ lancer cav will outreach you with your crappy wpf and you can rape them easier with a 1h. side step swing jump stab chamber etc all more effective imo

Spear can definitely be good if you have trouble with cav or are playing on a cav map.  Doing a jump-attack at a horseman with a 1h weapon will get you killed way more often than trying to take them out with a spear.
However, the BEST advice if you are a shielder getting charged by a horse and you don't want to die: turtle up until he passes then seek cover.

I prefer to take an axe as a backup weapon.  Sometimes, I take a steel pick as a backup if I find myself facing a lot of heavily armored opponents.  It helps a lot!

Some people take ranged as a backup (xbow & bolts or throwing)

[Vingnir the Wanderer]

i never take a spear :/ lancer cav will outreach you with your crappy wpf and you can rape them easier with a 1h. side step swing jump stab chamber etc all more effective imo

True, but if you've tried that and still get owned, you can do what I do:

Throw a Boar Spear/ Military fork on your back.  Yes, they are shorter than a lance.  but if you use footwork  you can mess them up alot easier than using a one hander.  AND  often when they see you with it, they just avoid you, (And the archers and non shielders your protecting.)

The Boar doesnt get me alot of kills itself, but it gets me alot of horse kills/damage which is priceless for the price of a super cheap extra weapon (1180 to buy - upkeep is silly low).  I recommend trying the military fork first, as its longer, but if you get good at it, and wanna lower your upkeep, then try a boar spear next.

[Penitent]

True, but if you've tried that and still get owned, you can do what I do:

Throw a Boar Spear/ Military fork on your back.  Yes, they are shorter than a lance.  but if you use footwork  you can mess them up alot easier than using a one hander.  AND  often when they see you with it, they just avoid you, (And the archers and non shielders your protecting.)

The Boar doesnt get me alot of kills itself, but it gets me alot of horse kills/damage which is priceless for the price of a super cheap extra weapon (1180 to buy - upkeep is silly low).  I recommend trying the military fork first, as its longer, but if you get good at it, and wanna lower your upkeep, then try a boar spear next.

Here's a cool tip: you can do the same thing with the lowly pitchfork.   It is cheap enough to be free and has the same deterrent effect!  Also, it makes horses rear just as well.

[Vingnir the Wanderer]

^^ true that!      (I like the boar though, because it doesnt mess with my vision as much when its on my back, and it does 27 pierce - pretty wicked.)

But yeah, overall the pitchfork is a better deal.  Although, be prepared to be accused of using a cheap nub weapon, and also be prepared to stop the horse, but not finish it off.  I get accused of being cheap w/ the boar and military fork sometimes too, but alot less than when i used the pitchfork (actually its been a while since anyone talked shit - but then I've been doing horribly lately, so maybe there is no reason to complain lol). I guess that shouldnt matter, but, maybe why I use them is the damage - the Military fork and boar spear hit pretty damned hard.

I'd say try em all and see what works for ya as an individual.

And if your sword and board, and dont have a spear, well, make sure your either superman w/ the blocks, or a have enough agility after armor to still be able to move out of peoples way, or your in for a frustrating ride....    I'm actually pretty good with blocking multiple people (w/ a shield that is), but when you cant get away from ANY of them (remember your bieng weighed dowen by a shield in addition to a weapon, your opponent likely is not...), it usually ends up being a bad situation, heh.

[rebbrown]

I re-genned a few days ago and went with a 1h+shield build. Going for the standard 21/15 build and I'm using a broad one handed axe right now which I'm loving. As long as you don't face high-end tin-cans, you should be doing great damage and you'll make short work of enemy shields. The range means you'll need to get close, but that's cool since it kind of gimps most 2handers. Not sure whether I should stick to my huscarl shield or get a faster one

[EyeBeat]

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[FRANK_THE_TANK]

12/24 +3 Nordic Short Sword +3 Plain Cav shield, a nice dress.