A Great Debate: IF vs. WM -- What's your pick?

[MrShine]

The very best players of the agility "school" are very tough to kill because they block everything, which can be damn annoying at times. You just don't see many of them because a decent player with a STR build will do just as good during your typical round. Also good skills is closer to a consequence of high agi than a cause. Agility has many advantages but they only become useful with a lot of game practice.

The reason they can block well is because they have athletics, not because they have weapon master.  I agree athletics is a great offensive & defensive tool because you can center yourself against enemies better and pick & choose battles.  If this thread was 'IF vs. ATH' I think it would be a much tougher call for me, but seeing as it's 'IF vs WM' it's ironflesh all the way no question.

[Gurnisson]

If this thread was 'IF vs. ATH' I think it would be a much tougher call for me

You would actually consider taking IF over maxing athletics as infantry?

[MrShine]

You would actually consider taking IF over maxing athletics as infantry?

Only if I had a low athletics build in the first place, but it would have to be REAL low (like 30-9, 33-6).

[GuiKa]

You can't just ask this question like that. It really depends on what weapon you are using, your playstyle, the mode you play, etc ....

[Kafein]

I find WM to be useful on my main char because even though I can't really tell the difference when I try to see it, fights feels much more confortable. With a lot of WM, I rarely find myself thinking "I should've hit first" when I get killed. Less than with low WM, anyway.

The reason they can block well is because they have athletics, not because they have weapon master.  I agree athletics is a great offensive & defensive tool because you can center yourself against enemies better and pick & choose battles.  If this thread was 'IF vs. ATH' I think it would be a much tougher call for me, but seeing as it's 'IF vs WM' it's ironflesh all the way no question.

I think the first reason they block well is because with low IF they simply need to block to do a good score.

[Rhaelys]

I think a lot of people view IF vs WM in a duel server type of situation, ie "If only I had hit him sooner". Honestly, when was the last time you actually said or thought that on a battle server? If you want to hit someone sooner, get a faster weapon.

You can't ignore ranged and cav, which are just as integral to the shitty battle experience as melee combat. You can't block arrows unless you have a shield. You can't block cav bump damage at all.

In those instances, in which you lose 50% or more of your health from an arrow or bolt before you even get into melee range of the opposing team, or when you die to a cav bump, do you think...

"I wish I had more WM"

or do you think...

"I wish I had more IF"

I know that whenever I get shot by a ranged projectile or hit by cav charge damage, I don't think "I wish I had more WM".

I think "I'm glad I have 10 IF".

[oprah_winfrey]

I think "I'm glad I am a bundle of sticks with 10 IF".

That is what I say when I am playing strength builds.

[Corsair831]

the only skill i get is horse archery, there's no point getting any other skill, IF, WM, Riding, Shield, all suck, only horse archery shows the true path