Curse

Dubstep · Oct 25, 2011, 11:10 PM // 23:10

I mainly play a Necro, but I've been urging to be a front lineman and take the roll of a Warrior. I've tinkered with them a bit, but I'm struggling on what to level up as far as stats go.

I plan on using swords! So would it be best for me to level Swordsmanship and Strength equally? Or what?

-Thanks.

Bristlebane · Oct 26, 2011, 12:39 AM // 00:39

Before you're level 20 just take the time and experiment. There's a reason why it's so easy to assign and reassign attribute points. In general it's best to just focus on max 1-2 attributes, and in early levels maybe even just 1.

If you're still in Pre-Searing, I would say sword or axe is good. Tactics would probably be the better secondary attribute in Pre-Searing since you don't have any Strengh skills there.

If you got /bonus weapons like Glacial Sword, you could deal considerately more damage by first meeting the 9-requirement before you start dividing points into other attributes.

wilebill · Oct 26, 2011, 01:12 AM // 01:12

Unless you have access to skills from the Strength tree, just put points into Swordsmanship. Strength increases your armor penetration by 1% for each point so on its own it does not do much. Critical strikes do a lot more and those increase with Swordsmanship. Spare points into Tactics, just enough to make your Healing Signet work at first and later on you will need either Strength or Tactics at some level for your shield.

The weakness condition reduces all your attributes by 1 so if you are using a 9 req sword, put 10 at least into sword or weakness may cause your sword to more or less turn off until the condition passes which can be tragic.

Showtime · Oct 26, 2011, 01:20 AM // 01:20

yeah only spec 2 areas and that will serve you well for most of the campaign.

just enough to get the sword going (9) and strength or tactics. try to do as much damage as possible for short fights. damage > prots > healing.

you could also spec all tactics and put remaining in sword. tactics will work well in the beginning with riposte, glads defense, etc. to tank/damage. depends on your playing style really, but it's good try different things.

**Marty Silverblade** · Oct 26, 2011, 02:04 AM // 02:04

Honestly, just figure it out yourself. As long as you don't do something stupid like trying to spread points across four+ attributes you'll be fine. Levels 1-19 are essentially training levels. Try something, see how it works. Move attribute levels up and down depending on whether you want to use skills from those attributes. Over time you'll use different skills so your attribute needs will shift. There is no need to optimise yourself unless you've reached level 20.

To be more precise however, you'll want to focus on your weapon line and then split points between strength and tactics (if you want to use it at all).

chuckles79 · Oct 26, 2011, 03:19 PM // 15:19

I'll echo what everyone else is saying and add the question about how far you've gotten with your necromancer? If you have dabbled in PvP and have unlocked some skills and have gotten your hands on some tomes, you can take a more aggressive approach to your build.

As everyone here keeps saying, max weapons and runes into one type of weapon of choice (feel free to play around early on) and the rest into either strength or tactics.
Tactics is better early on (especially if you are in the prophecies campaign) but strength will catch up eventually.

Swords: Cause conditions and spike damage to single target. Great elite skills; lowest base dps (damage per second)

Axes: Probably best choice early on, if you are tanking and want to wade into a group. Hampered by some lackluster attack options, no killer elite skill that is a must have.

Hammers: Knockdowns are some most useful things a character can do vs enemies. Has some good elites and highest base dps; Not many good skills early on, no shield so reduced armor.

LifeInfusion · Oct 27, 2011, 02:04 AM // 02:04

Axe is best due to nonelites: Dismember (deep wound that's not conditional unlike gash or crushing blow), Disrupting Chop, Executioner's strike, Cyclone axe (for adrenaline), Furious Axe (unlike power attack it's not in strength)

Sword has Standing Slash +Savage Slash,Disarm + Galrath Slash/Silverwing slash...and that's about it. Without Conjures or Hundred blades, sun and moon isn't all that great. Barbarous Slice/Pure Strike/Jaizhenju Strike are shoddy under stances. Steelfang Slash is not great unless with Dragonslash + Brawling headbutt. Final Thrust is lame in pVE.

If you spec in Tactics there's a few skills worthy of note: "To the Limit!", Defensive Stance, Soldier's Defense, which charge adrenaline and Soldier's Strike (decent +damage).

You can use Body Blow if you spec max weapon and then max strength. Lion's Comfort is better than Healing Signet; you need strength for flail/Enraging Charge.