Bow, Melee, or Magic Only Runs. Which to start with?

[daddypigp99]

So I am planning to do 3 full playthroughs of the game with the restrictions of being a dedicated "class".

A Ranger who only uses bows, no melee or magic.
A Fighter who can only use melee weapons, no ranged attacks.
A Wizard who can use only wands and magic staves.

I've spent 20 or so hours in the game already, mostly just doing cool house builds or town repairs etc. I've messed around with all 3 types of combat and they're all really fun.
Progression wise however, I haven't been passed Revelwood yet. So I'm not sure how mid or late game changes in regards to the combat.

Now that I've got a good feel for the game, have nice locations and ideas where and what I want to build etc. I'm ready to start a fresh character, and do my first full "class" play through of the game.

Before I started, I thought I'd get some opinions from some of you guys who have already played through most of the games content.

Which "class" would you guys suggest I do for my first play through of the game?
If you guys were starting over, which combat focus would you go with this time?

[Simulated Link]

At 80 hours played, I say that I've had a ton of fun with the archer/ranged class. When buffed up, it absolutely decimates enemies and gives some breathing room since you are at range. It's a lot of fun, and I can definitely recommend trying a ranged archer archetype for a first run as a *class" - I hear melee is pretty underwhelming and I have not dove into magic too much, but archer is just a power fantasy lol.

[Silent Warrior]

Magic only is the easiest way and therefore maybe the best choice for a first run. Wands have a short range, don't consume mana or stamina, and you can use a shield in your offhand.
Archer is imo more fun to play than a caster, also quite powerful. But you need to invest much time for farming materials for arrows.
Sadly it's not possible to do a full melee run. It works in early game, but in mid and late game there are flying enemies, and you're not able to hit them without a ranged attack option. I'm doing a melee run as well, but need to carry a ranged weapon just in case.

[william_es]

Do unarmed, and farm the gloom monarch armor.

[OctoberSky]

My character has been doing the ranger route and am just getting past the Pillars. From veteran player reviews however, it seems this class will have to grind a lot of resources in order to craft the advanced ammunition needed to progress further. A lot of veterans have weighed in on their preference for wizard skills at this point and so I'm seriously considering re-doing my skill points even though I've really enjoyed the ranger route so far. Also, doing solo play if that has any bearing.

[Mazzle Dazzle]

I personally found the ranger to be most fun. Especially with bee sting. Gathering the twigs for making arrows is kinda sucky though as when you play co op, it basically prevents you from activley playing together when you have to go farm 200 digs by planting shrubs or mining beast bases. That said, in terms of the skill tree, it really is super fun.
That said, I really love the beast and vukah friend trees and while niche, they make you feel like you are more integrated with the world and on the side of good. I kinda love it with that perspective in mind.

[Sarcasteik]

Originally posted by Mazzle Dazzle:

I personally found the ranger to be most fun. Especially with bee sting. Gathering the twigs for making arrows is kinda sucky though as when you play co op, it basically prevents you from activley playing together when you have to go farm 200 digs by planting shrubs or mining beast bases. That said, in terms of the skill tree, it really is super fun.
That said, I really love the beast and vukah friend trees and while niche, they make you feel like you are more integrated with the world and on the side of good. I kinda love it with that perspective in mind.

Who said the Vulkah are good?

[Talia]

Just have a thought on this (not saying don't do your run, it sounds like a blast) there are flying only creatures that hit from above and cannot be hit by melee unless they make a blunder movement wise, and they can like 4 shot an end game tank, once you get into the desert be prepared for the melee only build to include a lot of running away from a spot because one of these buggers caught your scent.

[Humpenstilzchen]

Originally posted by Jekel8888:

Just have a thought on this (not saying don't do your run, it sounds like a blast) there are flying only creatures that hit from above and cannot be hit by melee unless they make a blunder movement wise, and they can like 4 shot an end game tank, once you get into the desert be prepared for the melee only build to include a lot of running away from a spot because one of these buggers caught your scent.

While I agree that this flying mob melee targeting issue needs fixing urgently there is a way to avoid this issue and that is by speccing into that perk that calms wild animals which for me personally is a must have perk so you are not constantly annoyed by all the critters.

[Sgt.JESUS]

Yeah you cannot melee only in this game, you cannot hit flying enemies and they will be plenty after the wyvern, into the highlands and i think its worse in the desert, i didnt get there yet.
I played pure fighter, pure mage and pure archer, and the archer takes the cake as the most fun to play, also the most boring as hunting for twigs and feathers takes too much time, even pickaxing those nasty wolves dens.
One thing that really helps is the animals tree, those pacified animals really save some arrows, not to mention wolves and boars are invisible at night, until they are not.