So far, swords and swordsman are underwhelming

[Dexter]

First playthrough, level 6, 10 in party, clearing 3rd region and so far swordsman and swords are... falling behind. Got myself 2h axe and 2h warhammer with better AoE than standard 2h sword.

s&b tank < hammer for increased damage on armor
2h warrior < 2h axe / warhammer / early boss weapons

Hammers deal increased damage while hitting armor, axe have early boss and tomb weapons (both 1h and 2h), while swords are behind

thoughts?

[Darth Acerbus]

2 handed swordsman is absolutely buckwild once you upgrade the Swordmaster skill to trigger off one swing. It can one-round basically anything but champions, and free Riposte on engage means anything that doesn't die dies as soon as they attack.

[Slavo]

Swordsmen... well just saying the cant beat the Brute or Warrior in 1-Hit-Kill-Aoe... You can go 2h-Sword with Swordmaster.. never was a fan of that build either. The positive site is. Protection (if needed)
Destabilising Strike ( brings every Guard to 0)
Hardcore Training at lvl 8 is a very nice skill, cause it gives u Rage when upgrade
Exhort at lvl 12 as a Buff well dont need an explanaition

Use them as a Tank or go Swordsmaster but thats just if it is to your liking.

[Dexter]

Originally posted by Darth Acerbus:

2 handed swordsman is absolutely buckwild once you upgrade the Swordmaster skill to trigger off one swing. It can one-round basically anything but champions, and free Riposte on engage means anything that doesn't die dies as soon as they attack.

Done it, still feels weak and for a cost of two shiny golden points. Similar damage to Slice and Dice (on 2 targets without dot damage, with dot it's waaaay higher) and to Dagan's Hammer (that can attack 3 times without shiny points).

edit: and 5th level perks are nice but can't much with Berserk 100% on first hit or bonus damage to armor, maybe upgraded one of the swordsmen 5th lvl perks is crazy

bottom line is, I'm level 6 almost 7 and haven't found interesting sword, either 1h or 2h

[Slavo]

Belive me they s*** in comparision to the 2-H Axe/2-H-Hammer

[Cat]

I always thought of the swordsman as a tank, not a damage dealer, my best tank is a swordsman right now with 64% damage reduction, their job is to get hit and take it, but I can see the value of never needing to get hit if you kill everything but I feel that isn't reliable all the time, so having someone who's able to draw the ire of enemies is nice, plus they are nicer thematically than a 2H hammer or axe, but my best damage dealer is probably the 2H axe wielder, but I need to see which of the two between hammer and axe who outdoes the other.

[lude]

2h sword blows hammer and especially axe out the water, best 1v1 in the game. 1h sword is very underwhelming.

[Khalunka]

Cant believe I am reading 1h sword Is underwhelming, you guys are using the wrong sword. Some marvelous builds with the 1h sword.

[Dorim]

Sword and mace are the two strongest classes in the game by far

[Unmarked]

1h мечи хороши,особенно 2 легендарных,а так же уникальный желтый,который в перспективе имеет 4 удара!!!
2h мечи абсолютно мусор,даже легендарный,который не дает реализовать Мастера меча с его АОЕ навыком в полной мере,ведь он отбрасывает цели,что очень сильно мешает.Единственный его +,это хорошая синергия с копейщиками и лучниками-пехотинцами,все
Так что да,если вам нужен АОЕ урон-лучший выбор 2h булавы(Люссила,еще одна легендарная,молот стражи тоже хорош),2h топоры тоже хороши,но немного уступают как по мне.

[Grimmblut]

I'll just ask here instead of starting another topic: What's up with the ranger class? Light armor and at least until now (level 6) only able to use a 1h dagger. I gave my only ranger a torch as an off-hand weapon, since it's the only item he can equip (so far) in his off-hand, but he's still seriously lacking in every regard except mobility. His damage output is single target and even for that it's rather low. His survivability is nonexisting. He must rely on finishing off enemies and then get far away enough from any other enemy so he doesn't take damage. Am I'm doing something wrong or are rangers just that bad?

[Dorim]

Originally posted by Grimmblut:

I'll just ask here instead of starting another topic: What's up with the ranger class? Light armor and at least until now (level 6) only able to use a 1h dagger. I gave my only ranger a torch as an off-hand weapon, since it's the only item he can equip (so far) in his off-hand, but he's still seriously lacking in every regard except mobility. His damage output is single target and even for that it's rather low. His survivability is nonexisting. He must rely on finishing off enemies and then get far away enough from any other enemy so he doesn't take damage. Am I'm doing something wrong or are rangers just that bad?

Rangers are follow-up damagers or support mostly, cutthroat subclass can kill several units in a turn once their skill is upgraded

[Khalunka]

Again, I cant believe what I am reading. Ranger lacking damage?! We are not playing the same game. My ranger is doing insane crits, since the first day she is the strongest, carried the band all the way. I lost count how many those cutscenes i saw of her finishing the enemy. Easilly kill more than two enemy per turn. You are NOT using your ranger properly...

Originally posted by Grimmblut:

I'll just ask here instead of starting another topic: What's up with the ranger class? Light armor and at least until now (level 6) only able to use a 1h dagger. I gave my only ranger a torch as an off-hand weapon, since it's the only item he can equip (so far) in his off-hand, but he's still seriously lacking in every regard except mobility. His damage output is single target and even for that it's rather low. His survivability is nonexisting. He must rely on finishing off enemies and then get far away enough from any other enemy so he doesn't take damage. Am I'm doing something wrong or are rangers just that bad?

[peter sparks]

I got a 1h sword that deal 50% plus dmg per teammate close to the enemy its sooo good

[Nokturnal]

Swordsman's main appeal is just Destabilizing for enemies with high guard.

Warriors and Brutes got better AoE and single target dmg, let alone Rangers.

[wyldebeast]

I quite like the damage output of my 1h Swordsman.
With Valorous Duel, Counter-Attack and the trinket that reduces Attacks of Opportunity dmg by 50% he ends up with some very nive chains:
Taunt (1vp)->apply Weakness, gain Riposte +1vp
Disengage -> do Riposte attack
Destabilising Strike (1vp) -> Apply Destabilisation, gain Riposte +1vp
Disengage -> do Riposte attack
Regular attack, gain Riposte +1vp
Disengage -> do Riposte attack
Wrath (1vp), gain Riposte +1vp (possibly Fury)
Disengage -> do Riposte attack

Sure, you get hit a few times, but the damage is reduced first by Weakness and then by the trinket, so each hit is just a 25% dmg hit.
In EA I gave my Swordsman Hardcore Training and the Zealot sword that does AoE burning. Worked nicely to add even more dmg to the target and give Rage buffs.