Yep. Stop crutching smooth. 15/27 is the proper build for your level. also, metal armour is for sissies.
A lot easier when you are a shielder. I actually most enjoyed 15/24 as a shielder, with tunic over mail as the heaviest armor, often less. I love me the Deli Robe and lobbied (successfully) to get it buffed!
As a 2hander it is absolutely rage inducing. One jarid can almost kill you, and throwers and pikes are everywhere. Especially in Strat battles, the majority of weapons are swords for 2handers and pikes + plate for everyone else and its pretty unplayable half the time if you don't have a decent amount of HP and PS.
You also need 21 STR for a Great Maul, which often is the only decent 2hand weapon in a Strat inventory. 7 Ath + Great Maul is more fun than a strength stacker 1-shotting people, that's for sure.