Not warrior primary melee fighter

Is it possible to make a character who focuses in melee weapon combat that doesn't have warrior as it's primary class? As far as I can see one atleast has to have warrior as their secondary class because it's the only build that has weapon skills (other than bows) and attributes. However none of the primary attributes for any of the other classes seem to be at all useful. Is it just assumed that all melee fighters will be primary warriors or am I missing something.

Umbra

Warrior secondary still comes with the axe, sword and hammer attributes. You dont get the primary Strength attribute that warriors get but you can still be a meeler. Strength adds a % of armor penetration to your melee hits for each point.

- Iczer

No you've pretty much got it. The Ranger has pretty good armor and can fill a melee roll but most of the rest of the classes just don't have the armor to stand up to melee punishment never mind the skill set. Good armor is essential for a good melee build. the Warrior has the best armor so by default get the melee spot. The ranger can fill in as required.

There are non warrior primary melee fighters, but you need to plan around the armour issue. There are spells to boost armour, but I'd agree that predominantly melee is done by warriors. You will see the occasional Ra/Wa or even Me/Wa (they run illusionary weapons), and I know of folks trying to run Earth magic with warrior hammer skills - the cost of the earth spells makes them choose elementalist primary, and they can run armour spells from elementalist to make up for the lack in their primary.

I recommended to my friend that he play a R/W. He's really enjoying it and it's a very usable build. You get 70AF armor +30 v elements (so any flaming swords etc will be very good) and expertise effects some of your warrior skills as well. Not to mention that all-important additional pip of mana regen.

Ive seen people go N/W. Although Necromancers have low armor, it can be offset with warrior tactics skills like Watch Yourself!. Since a lot of necro spells are at touch range like plague touch and vampiric touch, it fits with the melee of the warrior.

Thanks for the help. I was considering ranger/warrior but since most warrior abilities are cheap expertiese really isn't worthwhile compared to strength. I guess ill go Warrior Ranger (I was hopeing to get around looking like the incredible hulk in leather ^_-; lol).

Umbra