Polearm Respec Suggestions

[Mallets]

I have a Hoplite Thrower (21/15).  I'd either go to battle with 3 Throwing Lances and an Elite Cav Shield.  Or with a War Spear, Buckler, & 2 Lances.  Both ways, I really enjoyed this build.

I have really really enjoyed using Throwing Lances.  They felt unique.  Folks used them.  But I honestly saw more Jarid/Spear Throwers than Lance Throwers.  The lack of ammo scared some away.  But the high damage and decent melee attracted some.  There was this give and take.  But with the new patch, there's really no reason to not use Lances.  Of course you can take more Jarids, but with Lances now scattered all over the battlefield... 6 is more than enough, as you can constantly pick them up.  Not to sound like a hipster... but their popularity is now making me indifferent to them.  Throwing Lances now seem like the elite throwing weapon, instead of simply a unique throwing weapon.  This is a turn off.  I play for fun and style, not to be the best (which I'm far from!).

Ok, my little bitch/cry paragraph out the way... I'm thinking I might respec my Hoplite Thrower.  I'm 21/15, max PS & PT (also max WM, ATH, SHLD).  I really like this build, and I'm not against keeping it.  Maybe Throwing Lances are a current fad with the new patch... and will fade soon.  But I doubt it.

All that to say... I'd love to hear fun or unique Polearm and/or Thrower builds.  Fun is the key!  Doesn't have to be a crazy build.  But I think I'd like to stay away from polearms that fight similar to 2-Handers (Becs, Poleaxes, Bardiches, etc.).  Though I do think Poleaxes are cool & sexy!  Playing with those just seem so similar to a 2-Hander, which I already have (I'm sure Bec/Bardiche experts would disagree).

I'm not against keeping some throwing.  But I don't like being a spam thrower.  It's just not fun.  I loved throwing a Lance or two as folks charged, then jumping right into melee.  I like the Arbalest because it packs a big punch in one go.  With Throwing Lances, you used to get just that.  I'd get to take one shot at my opponent with my Throwing Lance.  If I miss, then we mix it up in melee.  I don't want to throw, retreat, and repeat!  So I think this rules throwing out after the patch.   

So what type of Polearm should I look into?  What Build to go along with it?

Pike?  Long Maul?  Pure Max Hoplite?  Awpike?  Long Awpike?  Heck, maybe even Poleaxe (though upkeep is high).  Stay the same.  What do you guys have fun with?

Really just looking for any suggestions!  I have a 2-Hander, a 1H Shielder, an Arbalest (for ranged combat), & a Cav Lancer.  Having a Hoplite (Polearm/Thrower) allow for the full picture.  So want to keep to this type of build.

Thanks!

[Macropus]

Don't worry about the upkeep when choosing a weapon, it's not going to bother you unless you go full plate.

As for the build...
I pretty much completely like my 24-18. Let Panos say agi is stronger, nothing is better than crushing some heads with Long Maul and you need a high str for that. In that particular case its a great combo of fun and effective playstyle.
And yes, I'm going to disagree, playing 4d polearm is a completely different experience than playing 2h, so try that. *wink* Long Bardiche *wink*

Swiss Halbert type weapons are nice as well.

Hoplite with double sided lance can be great fun.

Overall, the variety of polearm weapons makes it fun to play with almost any build.



PS: I didn't put much effort to make a good point in this post, did I...
PPS: But if I had a better PC and wanted a build for fun and fun only, I'd go my old ninja build 15-30, with like 150 weapon points in every melee spec.

[Mallets]

Would love to keep my Hoplite, but with some many Throwing Lances on the battlefield (to pick up), the build becomes more of a Throwing build, than a hybrid build.

So thinking of going an AGI whore.  Have never played so much AGI.  Thinking about going Pike or Bamboo Spear or even Awpike.  Have played with Awpike before, but not the other two.  Swiss Halberd also looks attractive.

Will a high AGI build work for these weapons?

(click to show/hide)

Strength: 15
Agility: 24

Hit points: 50

Power Strike: 5
Shield: 2
Athletics: 8
Weapon Master: 8

One Handed: 102
Polearm: 176

Not really sure why I took 1H WPF.  Could max at 184 polearm.  But only 8 more polearm, or 102 1H seemed a no-brainer.  A side-arm could be handy when taking a pike/bamboo-spear.  2 Shield if I still want to Hoplite with a War Spear.  Low Hp is the suck of this build.

[Johammeth]

150 Length Spear + 3x 0slot Throwing Knives/Snowflakes.

The trend towards high speed low armor horses ensures that you have plenty of easy victims.

[Dooz]

you want to be unique by soliciting other peoples' opinions on what and how to play? might be going about it the wrong way.

fuck around on stf and figure it out.

[Mallets]

you want to be unique by soliciting other peoples' opinions on what and how to play? might be going about it the wrong way.

fuck around on stf and figure it out.

You're misunderstanding what I want out of unique.  I don't want a build that no one has had before.  That's impossible.  Not even look for a build that very few play.  I want to use a set of weapons that feel unique... meaning not like other weapons.  In my opinion, Throwing Lances offered that.  They had this unique feel to them.  Now that I can take 6 of them, and with there being tons of Lances on the battlefield for me to pick up... my Hoplite build becomes more of a thrower than hybrid.  I personally don't enjoy pure throwing.

And as for builds... I'd also like hear about compatible builds for said unique weapon.

On top of it all... I just like hearing the communities' input... that's all!

[Dooz]

no i get it, i'm not under the impression that anything can be done that hasn't been done before. i'm saying whatever is gonna feel/be unique for you, in terms of style, feel, whatever else you mentioned, is just that. unique to you. you're not gonna necessarily find that out from asking what other people think is unique. because that's gonna be unique to them.

but sure, if community input is what you want, there you have it.

again though, the best way to find out what you like, is to try things until you find something you like. stf is a great way of doing that.

[Jarold]

I'm just going to throw this in here, if you're going for shield skill get at least 3 for the brown lion heater shield.

[the real god emperor]

I'm just going to throw this in here, if you're going for shield skill get at least 3 for the brown lion heater shield. round shield

Teeth uses a round shield with ashwood pike , I tried his build too and believe me, that thing never breaks if you play clever. Also it's width guarantees that you won't get shot from front.

[Mallets]

i'm saying whatever is gonna feel/be unique for you, in terms of style, feel, whatever else you mentioned, is just that. unique to you. you're not gonna necessarily find that out from asking what other people think is unique. because that's gonna be unique to them.

Yeah, didn't think of it like that.  Now I just need money to try all this stuff out.

[Dooz]

if you have any money currently on your main or alts, you can transfer some to your stf to get you started (on top of the 10k it already comes with). but remember it doesn't work the other way around, stf money is only stf money, can't be transferred out to other chars.

of course the easy way to make money on your stf while trying out builds would be to just keep the armor real light. you'd be surprised how fast it starts rolling in if you get on any kind of multi rolls. plus with zero pressure on performance and worrying about dying affecting you in any way, it shouldn't matter that you're not super durable. (same should go for any char in general, but people are people)

also keep in mind that you can freely transfer loomed items to and from stf's, just not regular items, those can only be given to stf's but not taken back. so if you plan on using loomed armor you already own with a new build, you'll be able to get a pretty good idea of how it might work out.

have fun out there! pretty soon you'll figure out something that works for you and can start the grueling process of leveling a new char.