Why not 2h?

[Camaris]

You have yet to explain why you think this is balance-breaking other than implying that you use 2-handers and you don't want to get nerfed.

1-handers should have superior attack speed.
2-handers should not attack as fast.
1-handers with shield should not attack faster than 2-handers depending on shield weight/material/size.

Oh no this would completely destroy the game!! What a crazy and outlandish concept!

It actually is like you suggest already.
1h are the fastest weapons if you use them without shield.

If you drop attack speed even more it would be boring on duell servers.

[Shinimas]

The most skilled people are usually 2H/pole. You also see a lot of bad players of the same class at the bottom - the lovely backpedal helicopter breed.

[DarkFox]

The most skilled people are usually 2H/pole.

Bullshit.

[Shinimas]

Bullshit.

Skilled people usually enjoy the challenge.

[DarkFox]

Kill enemys in one hit and then whine on forums about OP ranged.Sure.

[San]

I disagree with the skilled players statement. Skilled players usually pick whatever has a high/highest reward for them.

[okiN]

I think the very early learning curve is way steeper for 2h than 1h. When you don't know how to block, 1h will clearly work better.

But after a while, as everyone improves, it becomes harder and harder to play with 1h + shield. Your main advantage of not caring about blocking becomes less and less important since many 2h learn to block very well (it's easier with the autoblock hack btw  ). It goes down to a point where improving as a 1h takes tons of hours playing and being very skilled, compared to 2h that just have to take the full advantage of speed, damage and reach. A 2h will likely start to defeat an equally skilled 1h very soon after having mastered blocking. The all rounder 1h is inferior to the all rounder 2h in all ways. While this was perfectly logical during the first months of Warband MP, now it's a problem because the shield doesn't help so much in melee as before.

But this is only about duels. 1h got an advantage with defending against range (not attacking since attacking range usually means being ranged yourself) and can fight multiple opponents with more ease than 2h. They are disadvantaged against cav though.

This is all true, but TBH I think it's fine because of the last paragraph. It's the main reason why I still prefer 1h in battles, because I like to be on the front lines in the most hectic part of the fighting.

[MrShine]

I personally think that 1-H shield is the overall strongest class in the game.  I'm speaking as a mediocre-to-slightly-above-average manual blocker, so some of the true elite 2-H players might disagree with me.

I've played archer, 1-H/shield, and 2-H generations.  In every one 2-H wielders were my target of choice when in melee.  Currently, as a 2-H I fear shields the most in melee (same when I was an archer, and as a shielder myself I avoided others because they took so long to kill). 

Some of the weapons swing so quickly and are subtle enough that I have a hard time discerning immediately which way to block.  Since 1-H shield usually needs high agility I have trouble maneuvering around them/out of their weapon range.  Unless they fall for my feints it will become a battle of attrition, one that I will likely lose.

I'll get my final point into athletics next level (6) and see if that helps. Ultimately though I think that 1-H shield is a very strong capable class that is certainly worth having in battles.

[Memento_Mori]

Sometimes the 2handers/polearms guys top the chars due to a great job from the shielders / support classes.
Just don't mind the egometers (scoreboards) and play the way you have the most fun at.

This, + 1 to you good sir.

[Penitent]

1h/shield is a great class.  It takes a lot of skill to master it.

2h/pole is way stronger attack and gets more kills.  That's why more ppl play it.  You also need to be good at blocking to be survivable...but you don't have to be very skilled to kill.

1h/shield is good for new players, because its easier to stay alive.  The longer you are alive, the more chance you have to learn and do damage.

1h/shield is also good for veteran players, because it takes a lot of skill to master.  1h/shield is the most strategic class I think.  You have to pay a lot of attention to where you position yourself, how to shield your allies, who is attacking from where, and when to strike.  I think of shielders in crpg as if they are rooks in chess.  They can block entire areas with their presence.  Also, even though they do less damage...they are more resilient and can hold ground for much longer.  A newer player can tie up 2 or 3 players with 1 shielder for a long enough time to make a difference in a battle.  A veteran player has a good chance of killing those 2-3 enemies.

Shielders = good for beginners and great for veteran strategic players.  Though not as flashy as 2h/pole.

[DarkFox]

1h/shield is a great class.  It takes a lot of skill to master it.

2h/pole is way stronger attack and gets more kills.  That's why more ppl play it.  You also need to be good at blocking to be survivable...but you don't have to be very skilled to kill.

1h/shield is good for new players, because its easier to stay alive.  The longer you are alive, the more chance you have to learn and do damage.

1h/shield is also good for veteran players, because it takes a lot of skill to master.  1h/shield is the most strategic class I think.  You have to pay a lot of attention to where you position yourself, how to shield your allies, who is attacking from where, and when to strike.  I think of shielders in crpg as if they are rooks in chess.  They can block entire areas with their presence.  Also, even though they do less damage...they are more resilient and can hold ground for much longer.  A newer player can tie up 2 or 3 players with 1 shielder for a long enough time to make a difference in a battle.  A veteran player has a good chance of killing those 2-3 enemies.

Shielders = good for beginners and great for veteran strategic players.  Though not as flashy as 2h/pole.

OMG +1

[San]

Are there many people who truly explored the potential of 1h no shield or a mix of shield/no shield action? Even if there is no reason to, sometimes 1h no shield is really fun to play.

[MrShine]

I heard going 1H no shield gives an invisible +10 style damage to your swings.

[Rangerbob]

Leman_Russ and ManofWar are probably the 2 best 1 handers on the Na servers.  They always top the charts as shielders.  Shields are all about timing and range.  Keep the enemy in front situational awareness and timing are key.  Sheilders are possibly the strongest class in the game especially when they have access to steel picks.

[Senni__Ti]

the avg skill for all classes is roughly the same. Quite simply 2h and polearms classes are better at offense than shielders, and unsurprisingly the shielder class is better for defense. Much more likely to one hit/lots of damage with a 2h and polearm and from further away than a shielder, but the shielder can take on many more people at a time with a higher chance of survival, while still dishing out decentish damage.

Speed wise, the speed ratings for 1h and 2h+polearm seem to be on different scales ( probably due to the difference in animations), because the actual attack speed of a roughly 97 speed 1h is approximately similar to a 94 speed 2h/polearm.

just speaking from personal experiences, may be completely wrong