Vanguard build without spirit/power/dexterity. Question about strenght vindicator tree

[Belgium]

Hello,
I would like to play a full melee build which doesn't require spirit/power/dexterity.
One of my 2 weapon sets is a greatsword + impale to use all my adrenaline.
The objective is to make a strong melee build without ranged attacks

I started as vanguard so I took some strength in the path.
I'm taking some passive skills from the right flameweaver tree (phoenix + burning blood and the passive skill to have bonnus damage with constitution/defense).

So I didn't take any spirit/power/dexterity. I would like it stay so.

Questions :
1)
Are some passives skill nodes useful for a melee only build which doesn't need any spirit/power/dexterity to be powerful for my build from any class tree ?
I'm especially thinking about the left part of vindicator tree which gives strength nodes too.

2)
If my build continues to not require any mana at all, could I have some benefit from that ? like is there any ring which would prevent using mana and giving me another advantage or anything specific going in that direction ?

Your help/suggestions would be appreciated
Thank you

[flushfire]

I'm currently doing an ironman run with this same build, except using sword and shield. Around 85% completion now. Phoenix was important in preventing fall, trap & entropy deaths. Those were the only deaths I really had, no bosses so far were able to kill me. I've yet to finish though.

1) Astral Power from Vindicator is the only other talent I took other than the Flameweaver ones you mentioned. I'm thinking of getting Fury, but it doesn't seem my stamina can handle it anyway. Careful Application from Assassination is nice, but it's not crucial and a waste of 2 points (dex node and assassination mastery). Interesting talents from Chaos are too far and will also waste too many points. Sic 'em from Wyldwarden is attractive, but will need a different build and equipment.

2) Haven't seen any, or maybe I just overlooked.

When I ran out of talents to take I just completed Offensive and Defensive nodes.

[n3mes1s]

I dont understand. If you want to use swords you need Dex to scale with em. So if you want to make a sword build... you need dex yes or yes.

[Sgt.JESUS]

My main is all vanguard and hes doing great, really tanky bastard, my chaos mage is a glass canon that i think will be one shotted by some late bosses hehehe.

There are some swords that scale with STR too, you dont need DEX at all, would help sure but i dont think the points are worthy better to pump more STR.

I only got 4 points outside the vanguard to get healing and use my mana to cure poison and bleeding, and with some upgrade that healing spell really saves potions for the exploration part, i got her as early as i could.

[flushfire]

Originally posted by n3mes1s:

I dont understand. If you want to use swords you need Dex to scale with em. So if you want to make a sword build... you need dex yes or yes.

You don't. Many scale off both str and dex but primarily str. Only few scale off dex as primary.

[n3mes1s]

Originally posted by Sgt.JESUS:

There are some swords that scale with STR too, you dont need DEX at all, would help sure but i dont think the points are worthy better to pump more STR.

Like? i did stop playing at level 30 and i never found any sword that scales with STR. I was trying to, since like you i didnt want to invest points on dex forcing me to abandon my primary source of strenght. Also never found an AXE for the same. Do axes actually exist in this game as weapons? lol.

[flushfire]

Originally posted by n3mes1s:

Like? i did stop playing at level 30 and i never found any sword that scales with STR. I was trying to, since like you i didnt want to invest points on dex forcing me to abandon my primary source of strenght.

Maybe you got the icons wrong? The sword you starts with as Vanguard scales off str only. The first craftable 1H sword has str B dex C scaling. The first greatsword you can buy has str B dex D. It does take a while to get an upgrade to the craftable 1H, so best to use a mace in the meantime, they're not that different anyway.

[n3mes1s]

Are you sure? i could swear the weapon you start with its a mace. And no, the swords you can craft in the beginning dont scale with STR, they scale wiht DEX and another stat i cant remember. The greatsword i cant be sure. Since i went for the big mace instead cuz i already had STR build in my mind. So if greatmaces have STR B how is that a greatswrod also has STR B scaling? that doesnt seem right.

[Belgium]

Originally posted by n3mes1s:

I dont understand. If you want to use swords you need Dex to scale with em. So if you want to make a sword build... you need dex yes or yes.

As example, Shredder is a greatsword with S strength and no other stat scaling.
But anyways even if an other greatsword has a good strength scaling with other stat scaling, it's fine for an a build with strength (even if he doesn't have the other stat is not upgraded).

[Belgium]

Originally posted by flushfire:

I'm currently doing an ironman run with this same build, except using sword and shield. Around 85% completion now. Phoenix was important in preventing fall, trap & entropy deaths. Those were the only deaths I really had, no bosses so far were able to kill me. I've yet to finish though.

1) Astral Power from Vindicator is the only other talent I took other than the Flameweaver ones you mentioned. I'm thinking of getting Fury, but it doesn't seem my stamina can handle it anyway. Careful Application from Assassination is nice, but it's not crucial and a waste of 2 points (dex node and assassination mastery). Interesting talents from Chaos are too far and will also waste too many points. Sic 'em from Wyldwarden is attractive, but will need a different build and equipment.

2) Haven't seen any, or maybe I just overlooked.

When I ran out of talents to take I just completed Offensive and Defensive nodes.

Thank you for info.
Indeed, astral power is very strong. And there are some other passive vindicator skills in the path to astral power which can be used.

Since you play only with shield and sword. Which skills are you using ? And which shield ? Do you block/parry a lot ?

[flushfire]

Originally posted by Belgium:

Since you play only with shield and sword. Which skills are you using ? And which shield ? Do you block/parry a lot ?

Mainly just Shield Charge. It doesn't do a lot of damage but staggers most enemies. I used to switch to GH and do Sunder but at some point it became unecessary. I don't block since it sucks. I use tower shield for the armor and shield damage. There's a ring that adds 20% of your armor to damage.

[n3mes1s]

Yup i forgot the very first thing i did was to replace the initial sword with the mace because i wanted to do a STR build and well the mace was stronger... i must missed dsomething cuz every sword i looked into was DEX based and had no STR stat to go with. Until i reached the guy who sells two handed weapons. I was also using the kite shield, because of the parry. I dont see any use of tower shields in this game, specially cuz the dmg ability takes so long to fill. Its pointless.

[Rasjel]

there is a 2hand sword with s in strenght that drob from the heavy knights in the vampire castle.

[flushfire]

Originally posted by n3mes1s:

I dont see any use of tower shields in this game, specially cuz the dmg ability takes so long to fill. Its pointless.

Shield Charge damage is calculated from shield damage which is higher in tower shields, and tower shields also has a much higher armor bonus which is always active whether you block or not. You don't really need to block or parry as a Vanguard, just roll like every other class. Counterintuitive but that's just how it is. You'll have enough armor early game with a tower shield that you can just mash the attack button against bosses and survive, only avoiding the most lethal attacks.

[n3mes1s]

Blocking in this game unless it is to do a parry is useless. It drains your stamina like hell, it doesnt absorv all the damage and its way better to just plain roll or direction roll. If im going to get my stamina drained, i just roll. Plain and simple.

Now parry is very easy to do and very useful.

[n3mes1s]

Originally posted by flushfire:

Shield Charge damage is calculated from shield damage which is higher in tower shields,.

Only tower shields have the dmg ability...