Thoughts on Melee Only Build?

[Peamin]

How do melee only builds feel to play? I've thought about running with one and maybe just adding in crossbow for sieges since you don't have to invest in the skill to make it work.

[Urmel]

works fine.(but most enemys block everything,
so axe or falx-blade for more shild dmg is nice)

you dont need any fighting skills, no meele no range.

you could call it the "let the random peasant die for you - build", that means dont make your hands dirty and dont fight yourself.

(i mostly dont give any party skills away, maybe scouting)

[Kush_Kamper]

are we talking melee cav or as a footman? because anything off a horse takes actual brain power where a good horse,shield and lance and your set and just add a crossbow and your set. as a footman i think its best with a good bow/crossbow/throwing skill to help reduce their numbers a bit before a charge, i really like skirmishing and ambushing in the woods are best for fighting, add some light cav and highborn bowmen and a bit of a front line to run back to and thats how i run most my campaigns

[Peamin]

Originally posted by Kush_Kamper:

are we talking melee cav or as a footman? because anything off a horse takes actual brain power where a good horse,shield and lance and your set and just add a crossbow and your set. as a footman i think its best with a good bow/crossbow/throwing skill to help reduce their numbers a bit before a charge, i really like skirmishing and ambushing in the woods are best for fighting, add some light cav and highborn bowmen and a bit of a front line to run back to and thats how i run most my campaigns

I was thinking on Horseback, maybe a 2handed with long reach and a shield + lance/1H

[Urmel]

swingable 2h-polearm like a claive is best on a horseback in open field battles. they make so crazy dmg, you dont need much skill-points.

and 2h axes have a cleave that can hit multiple targets.

[lurkathon]

My current char has only 1H and Polearm skill, I like to always have a shield. I carry a good thrusting spear/lance and a long sword, hacking through shields doesn't appeal to me I'd rather hack around them.
Some Javelins in the last slot (you can swap out the spear for more javelin in a siege, or crossbow or w/e) can be fun and deadly with almost 0 skill, especially when riding at top speed and throwing.

[Azunai]

I never even used a ranged weapon in any of my playthroughs (other than occasionally in arena tournaments). It's fine.

[Bisbas]

I have melee only in my current run. I just run the glaive while on horse and axe with shield when on foot.

Glaive on horse is OP, ypu one-hit almost everything.

[Hugh G Rection]

Originally posted by Dice:

How do melee only builds feel to play? I've thought about running with one and maybe just adding in crossbow for sieges since you don't have to invest in the skill to make it work.

I do a footman melee build most runs and I find it shines is sieges the most. If you spec into troop health + attack speed increase and use mostly units that benefit from your perk buffs your higher tier troops turn into a wood chipper when they climb ladders. I don't even bother with siege towers most times . I just build a ram , send it in , then I personally ride to the ladders. Once the ladders are up the closest infantry formation automatically climbs it (I tend to place my second strongest foot men there with the strongest coming behind) . Place arches in heavy concentration around said ladders to draw fire and pick off the enemy ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ next to the ladders and before you know it you're in possession of one of their walls .

[dot]

Im Battanian shenanigan running with my fian pals. Skill points until max out preference in athletics, two handed and bow, when maxed out I start putting skill points in charm, leadership, tactics and rogueship. All attribute points to endurance and after that I`ve been putting them in Vigor.
In 1.2 at least now I`m a tanky falx swinging boi. The bow is cool but you kill faster running around swinging the funny curved sword and the fian champions agree with me, they stop shooting and join the swinging for most of the fight.

[Gergin]

Playing a melee only infantry is some of the most fun I've ever had with Bannerlord. Running primarily spear and shield, you're incredibly versatile and can rack up kills really fast if you learn how to aim for the head.
Managing your infantry and understanding how to leverage them to deal with various threats is fun but not everyone enjoys the micro required to make them shine.

With proper skills, melee infantry armies are 100% viable and can absolutely butcher superior forces.

I'd highly recommend you at least try it. Battania and Sturgia are both great but even the Khuzait can field viable infantry armies.