Best Character Builds?

[Sir Bogan]

Okay, before anyone has a go at me, I did do a search, but I could not find an actual topic on this subject.

For quite a while, I have been playing as a horse archer, with two quivers and a two-handed weapon. This has been fun, but unfortunately I have been a wimp and only playing on 1/4 damage. I've now decided to change to full damage, but starting as a two-handed horse archer character does not seem to work. If I don't use a shield, a Sea Raider's axe generally teaches me that I should have, but if I do use a shield, I find that I have to put valuable points into the shield skill, to the detriment of power draw or horse archery.

So my question is, for people playing on full damage and difficulty, what character build do you have success with. Do you go all out offensive, defensive, or try to find that precious balance between both?

Cheers.

 

[Kyle Aaron]

If you use full damage, then you really have to pick and choose your fights at lower levels, and/or when you don't have a lot of experienced soldiers to keep you company.

Because when you're low level, with few soldiers, playing at 100% difficulty, there are only two ways to deal with serious foes like sea raiders:

(a) knock them down one by one with your bow on your horse, fire, move, fire, move, and so on, or

(2) make sure you're so fast on the overland map that you can avoid fighting them

 

[Nino T1]

I use a greataxe and masterwork war bow but I have alot of units to keep me company

 

[mightyloser]

Well, when I start a game I usually kill looters by myself, and buy a decent 2 handed weapon (tehy cost like 500 denars). After that I buy some recruits and go fight the sea raiders, you should be able to kill them in 1-2 hits it you aim at the head with the axe. I suggest being dismounted, atleast it works for me.

 

[Tzsak]

High athletics, polearm with good proficiency, no horse or armour and you're ready

 

[Varric]

you don't need to spend that much points in the shield skill, a strong wooden one will do

 

[DragonWing]

Buy a polearm, a shield and a hunter horse, then recruit some recruits from any village (10-15 should be enough) and attack small groups of sea riders. Wait until them reach you and then let your soldiers charge while you are sorrounding them and when they start fighting (don't take care too much of your soldiers) you charge from behind and deliver "couched lance damage". Then you go away and charge again. Buy also a one-handed weapon if they kill your horse.

If you don't want to use a polearm, buy a one-handed weapon, a good shield and a bow (or a crossbow) but DON'T USE A HORSE. Then recruit some recruits and attack sea riders. In battle, wait for them and when you can see them use the bow or the crossbow to try to kill someone of them. When they are near order to your troops to charge and use the one-handed weapon to fight with your soldiers.

 

[AWdeV]

I wouldn't bother with shields and the equivalent skill. There's a bug that either raises your enemies shield skill when you raise yours, or the bug makes it so that theirs is always equal to yours.

Unless I'm mistaken and it's fixed ofcourse. 

 

[hessuu]

I wouldn't bother with shields and the equivalent skill. There's a bug that either raises your enemies shield skill when you raise yours, or the bug makes it so that theirs is always equal to yours.

Unless I'm mistaken and it's fixed ofcourse. 

You are not mistaken. Here's Armagan's post in the thread where the bug was first discovered: http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/topic,54132.msg1436089.html#msg1436089

If you're an archer, you shouldn't use the shield skill at all. When making a melee character you should remember that you, the player, are better at using shields than AI. High level in shield skill might help you more than the AI.

 

[TrickySoldier]

I'm playing Custom settlements, and because it's slightly harder to gain money in this mod (No real "Spawngrounds" for bandits, to get prisoners from) I usually fight alone to cut costs of a company. I'm putting my proficiency into archery and one-handed weapons. I carry a sabre, war bow w/ barbed arrows, and a club. I'm sticking with chainmail so my characted isn't too slowed down.

I fight from horseback at times against 30+ bandit parties that are under control of a settlement, so my way of thinning the crowd is to make them bunch up by galloping aorund them, and slice up anyone who breaks off from the group. Then sometimes when no one is going out I pull out my bow and fire on them (If they don't have bows themselves, I modified the bows to do more realistic damage). Not sure if this can really be used for any other mods besides this, because you typically have an army behind you. Great way to hoarde XP though!

 

[Mabons]

Try looking at my small guide. Might help you decide what you like best.

Here it is:http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/topic,59483.0.html

EDIT:CODE FAIL

 

[Dudro]

Definitely focus on powerstrike, athletics, and weapon master.  High proficiencies in that, along with a round shield, bastard sword and a good horse will deal with anything well.

 

[Timber]

I used to be more of an archer, wearing mail, 2 quivers of arrows, or 1 quiver and a shield if I would need a shield, a two-handed weapon and a bow, but lately I've gone to a plate wearing melee character, having plate (duh), a two handed weapon and a shield. Then I mostly get athletics and speed so I don't move around like a snail, while killing most things in 1 or 2 hits. Works great against sea raiders as they rarely do more than 4-5 damage against your armor. With some friends with you it's easy killing 20-30 sea raiders like that.


If you really wanna step it up, get 16 companions with you and gear them with heavy armor and a big two hander, they'll cut through everything. I've had 16 companions around level 20 wearing heavy mail and axes killing 60 nords.