2H or not 2H

[Peeter]

Hi!
First of all - great game! I'm really hooked! But also quite perplexed more often than not. The game is quite thightfisted when it comes to delivering information about it's mechanics to the player.
So, a quick question - should I give one of my fighters a two-handed axe or an axe and a shield? I'm trying out both but so far I don't see the difference. Yet I want to come a decision to get rid of the gear I do not need and also to concentrate on smithing the right stuff and not just some stuff.

[DWI_Suriil]

2H weapons for DPS dealers , 1H + shield for tanks and support warriors.
In 2H weapons the best dps right now is Axe with Berserker path + Rage trait.
Reasons? ... upgrated version of Berserker 3 hit attack ignores DEFENCE.
Basicaly you want to go into target , use 3Hit fury attack , then regular slash and , if needed, but usually dont , Rage finisher.

2H swords kinda suck, dont like it. In DPS they lose either way vs axemen.
But I dont say swords are bad!

Axe,sword and mace all have its role.
Axe - main dps
Sword - support tank killers (destabelize strike = kick brings DEFENCE to 0 , so other dps boyz can kill the guy)
Mace men are great tanks.

But all this requires also to get a right leveling with right traits.

[DWI_Suriil]

Wanna some tips on how to build who - can add me

[Stardustfire]

talking about damage per second is kind of funny in a turn based game. well, one of the downside so many ppl played wow and got the wrong meanings teached there....

2h axe executioner is handy with the perk that gives valour when more than one enemy is hit.

[Robin of Spiritwood]

Originally posted by Peeter:

Hi!
- should I give one of my fighters a two-handed axe or an axe and a shield? I'm trying out both but so far I don't see the difference.

If you are making a defense tank, use a shield. WHY: Shields increase Guard value, and amplify your effective hitpoints.

If you are making a killer, use 2H. WHY: 2H weapons increase STR and therefore increase damage output per hit.

[Peeter]

Thanks! All very good and interesting advice. I gotta say though - as I'm only just starting (have been playing for less than a week) I notice how the more the game unfolds the more I understand and learn about all kinds of intricacies (like how to position my troops in battle and in which order I should move which troops). So I see, all kinds of weapons and roles have their place there.
At the moment I have a posse of 12 - 2 archers, 2 rangers, 1 swordfighter (she’s the only one I’m not happy with - she’s all right in defense but the sword does so little damage; I have to look into it - I think I’ve done something wrong with the build), 1 spearfighter (also - I do like how she can push the enemy away - a necessary ability - but aside that she’s weak), and the rest are warriors and brutes. Three with shields, 2 with 2handed maces, 1 with a two-handed ax.

[benji27potf]

I say for weapons with this new update both are viable you just have to get a clear understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of each class and weapon types. Just raw damage doesn't always work in your best interest.
Like the Stylish bow for example out of all the bows this is the weakest in terms of damage but also has the longest range and can hit multiple targets as well as burn.
In the late game an Archer with Barrage skill and the rage producing skill you can really add up damage, The most i have gotten so far has been 200% damage for each attack which usually ends up killing anything that has a normal hp pool.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2785231557

I would also like to add for your sword user lets say if you made him/her a sword master you can end up doing comparable damage to a 2 hand sword using the eye of Ulfbert sword 1 hand and a torch. That is if you generate valor when hitting multiple units. I always build around how I generate valor.

[Peeter]

Originally posted by benji27potf:

I say for weapons with this new update both are viable you just have to get a clear understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of each class and weapon types.

Thanks! Yep, I noticed things aren't that simple but it's a bit difficult to see the nuances. But they're coming to me! Slowly but surely. :)
I already noticed some improvement with the swordlady - I managed to give her the Riposte ability and noticed an improvement as soon as I started using her in more defensive roles.
But all in all - these are very nice, supportive and interesting mechanics. I have been playing XCOM and also some other games with turn-based combat, but I noticed rightaway, that this game is original and intricate and it's cool that I have learn and ponder over these things to find a right balance. :)

[Kruppe]

Originally posted by Peeter:

Hi!
First of all - great game! I'm really hooked! But also quite perplexed more often than not. The game is quite thightfisted when it comes to delivering information about it's mechanics to the player.
So, a quick question - should I give one of my fighters a two-handed axe or an axe and a shield? I'm trying out both but so far I don't see the difference. Yet I want to come a decision to get rid of the gear I do not need and also to concentrate on smithing the right stuff and not just some stuff.

Get both, eventually... especially if you wanna you Splitter...

[BedlamBetty]

I'd stick to sword and board, 2handed axe and two handed hammer.
The sword and board are your tanks and will eventually become the control characters, with the skill that gives a valour point every time you engage and riposte, a sword and board with taunt and destabilize can attack 5 times in a round: engage the enemy, gain a valour point and a riposte, then disengage for the riposte hit, engage again, either same enemy or a new one, gain valour, disengage for riposte. If you do it well, knowing approx how much dmg each hit or riposte will do, you can take down quite a few enemies that way. 2handed axe and 2 handed hammer as first movers in turn one, a bowman or two to move people around a rogue for the backstabs and a couple of sword and board to soak up hits and dish out incredible dmg midgame

Just remember to never kill enemies with either the normal strike or the destabilize of the sword and board, otherwise you miss out on both the valour point and the riposte, riposte is the sword and board's kill shot

[wms]

In smaller parties and higher difficulty, 2h really underwhelms. It can hit multiple targets, but can't take anyone out in one turn and it's much more squishier than 1h. While 1h does good damage to single target and better survivability. I much prefer my 1h axe berserker than 2h axe excutioner. I guess rat nest is the only place 2h really outshines 1h.

[Big Mad Wolf]

2handed hammer is the best to wreck all the armür and then finish them off when they are now pretty naked.