The Poor Defender

[jcalberta]

I've heard that it's not possible for a Defender - on Normal difficulty - to go all the way to the end without Multi-Classing? True or False? If untrue, have you ever of anyone ever doing so?

[MedeaFleecestealer]

I would guess it could, but the game is designed around choosing two classes so you're sort of deliberately making it harder for yourself to finish the game going solo mastery.

[jcalberta]

I was just wondering because I think some of the other Classes can do it in Single. It would definitely be a challenge.

[WIKI]

for first time or solo self found: game is all about keep ur green/ yellow items up to date frequently (so u can do 1 mastery challenge with every class)

[MedeaFleecestealer]

Well, I'd say Defender is the tankiest of all the masteries as solos so it should be possible. Probably not quick, but should get there.

[Dialtone]

I haven't gone completely to the end of normal without picking another class, but I have had characters that were very focused on the Defense side and only had a single skill from Earth that did go all the way. If I had to choose one class, say there was a special challenge, it would be Defense.

Edit: Actually I forgot, there is an Achievement for that, I'll probably try for "Specialist" with a Defender sometime.

[Necanthrope]

I don't see a reason why any single mastery build couldn't beat Normal. They can all do it easily enough in my opinion. The only issue is that some will be slower than others. However having gear to use solves that by providing huge damage independent of skills. If your going self found then it will be harder but far from impossible.

Defence definitely isn't a class that I've seen come up as a choice for the solo mastery achievement. However it provides a good amount of stats / health from mastery. Whilst it doesn't have a mouse one skill it does have the shield proc's and a charge attack. Colossus is a boss killer and it has good passives. It would get there but slower than others.

[jcalberta]

I'm issuing a CHALLENGE on this then: If anybody can complete the game with Defender on Normal I'll send them an ice cream cone. (In the winter of course). I'm trying it myself though I'm not that great a player. I'd guess the Defender would need to use Range Weapons - though we normally think of them as Melee fighters. ??? Onward!

[Lobo de hielo]

Originally posted by jcalberta:

I'm issuing a CHALLENGE on this then: If anybody can complete the game with Defender on Normal I'll send them an ice cream cone. (In the winter of course). I'm trying it myself though I'm not that great a player. I'd guess the Defender would need to use Range Weapons - though we normally think of them as Melee fighters. ??? Onward!

Hahaha.
If you cannot finish Normal with Defence I will wonder why?
It will be a grind at times and with any solo normal runs (I have completed Normal with Hunter alone and 0 deaths), if you wanted to go into Epic you will have to go and take back a lot of mastery points to get a decent build going.

The thing that is a grind for most builds is lack of a HP pool, Defence has Rally but you would need to use it wisely.
Also pure physical/ pierce is going to make some battles drag on. As your getting into Act 3 and 4, find weapons with elemental damage and relics/ charms that can help.

I could go into everything I would do to get it through ( my favourite masteries in order are Hunter, Defence and Rune), but since I gave myself that challenge I do not wish to grind again. Apart from, I most likely would not bother with concussive blow and from an early stage go for throw weapons and do not start building up you shield and passives until after level 10, there is no need. You are a TANK.

You will not die if you build Defence correctly.

[jcalberta]

Originally posted by slayor3000:

Originally posted by jcalberta:

I'm issuing a CHALLENGE on this then: If anybody can complete the game with Defender on Normal I'll send them an ice cream cone. (In the winter of course). I'm trying it myself though I'm not that great a player. I'd guess the Defender would need to use Range Weapons - though we normally think of them as Melee fighters. ??? Onward!

Hahaha.
If you cannot finish Normal with Defence I will wonder why?
It will be a grind at times and with any solo normal runs (I have completed Normal with Hunter alone and 0 deaths), if you wanted to go into Epic you will have to go and take back a lot of mastery points to get a decent build going.

The thing that is a grind for most builds is lack of a HP pool, Defence has Rally but you would need to use it wisely.
Also pure physical/ pierce is going to make some battles drag on. As your getting into Act 3 and 4, find weapons with elemental damage and relics/ charms that can help.

I could go into everything I would do to get it through ( my favourite masteries in order are Hunter, Defence and Rune), but since I gave myself that challenge I do not wish to grind again. Apart from, I most likely would not bother with concussive blow and from an early stage go for throw weapons and do not start building up you shield and passives until after level 10, there is no need. You are a TANK.

You will not die if you build Defence correctly.

Thank you kindly for this imput ... I'm likely to need a lot of advice.

[chris.ferrantegerard]

Haven't run a pure Defence single mastery through normal (I've done Warfare full clear, Hunting through Epic) but I don't see any reason it shouldn't be possible. Single mastery chars are effectively challenge chars as they have less stats from mastery levels and less build options without a second mastery. Normal difficulty, through, is not particularly difficult to go through. Should be able to build a tanky 1h+shield build but would lack a LMB and meh DPS. Every mastery should be able to clear Normal imo. Legendary is more difficult but probably can clear that as well.

[Lobo de hielo]

Okay has the OP tried out a Defender yet. Not what I would ever recommend it as a starter build (ever, and I love Defence as a mastery) since it is such a plodder/ grinder build.

I decided to play as a "noobie", meaning no gifting, well since I lost My x years worth of TQVault some time ago I have not really bothered collecting much anyway.

I put the Beta on and decided to try out a couple of builds (not trying any of my in progress builds yet....just in case) and put my money where my mouth is. Now I am only into Act 1V and the Good, bad and ugly.

It is a plodder build, by this I mean not only do you need extra movement speed and supplement your damage output with some elemental, but no long range, AoE or decent crowd control until Batter and synergy starts getting used, which you really need a good damage output shield for.
You need to chase down enemies that split like mercury hitting the floor and these are nearly always longe range damagers - archers, mages, Kelpie (damn I hate them). Without decent speed you are a plodder. Yes, there is Shield Charge, I am expecting to use it on the Machae Grand Master Archers (but it has a 12 second cooldown).

Now its either my bad luck or RNG but I seem to have come across a lot (a damn lot) of creatures that are either carrying weapons that disrupt and suck out my energy pool or heroes (some I have not seen before) like Sark (a really annoying lizard) that do the same. You need Battle Awareness up, so running back a bit and sorting the problem should be easy, but the build is a plodder and it turns into a grind.

Good part is the build is solid, with some decent resists, a very fast attack weapon and shield, not much apart from the above is going to give much trouble.

Using a thrown weapon will wait till Ragnarok (no Batter if using a throwing shield.) and I do have my reasons for using a throw weapon in the secondary slot.

The Ugly and this turned out not to be game or the Beta.

For some reason, maybe a premonition I saved this build save folder to the desktop just before Typhon.

By the way, not having an artifact is a real pain, only 3 recipes so far dropped and none any good for this build, plus my chest armour has junk AR, luckily managed to get rid of the Stonebinder Cuffs after hunting down a decent Hallowed Helm from the merchants.

Anyway, meeting Typhon my normal way (Skies Rage ready). Run in and turn left, pick up the first 3 shrine buffs. Run in and lay down Skies Rage. The only thing need to watch out for is Life and Energy Leech, this build is good enough to withstand the Falling Rocks as long as your finger is Rally ready.

Everything going okay and then everything starts slowing down, he drops Falling Rocks which I survive but now my mouse is unresponsive and I cannot move, I hit Rally but hit by Energy Leech since I cannot move. It starts moving again but really slow, no Battle Awareness. Another lot of rocks (reminded me of being very young and trying the wrong type of substance - surreal).
As my character slowly, very slowly collapses and the headstone starts to raise - everything stops.....and then!
2 damn overlays shoot up from my anti-virus, "we have just been checking out TitanQuest.exe" and "do you know what is slowing your computer down".....what the hell!!! Most people I know believe I do not have a heartbeat since I am so chilled, but this was totally annoying. Mainly because I have my anti-virus turned off till I want it, secondly the game is whitelisted and lastly "Yes I know what slows my p.c down its ♥♥♥♥♥ like these adverts".

Will these buggering anti-virus developers stop finding back doors to keep advertising there stuff.

Damn I have written a TL/DR, I must have been annoyed.

Anyway, threw on the back up save, re-ran, killed off Typhon in about 30 seconds. Am in 1V act and merchant has just sold me a great chest piece. Hopefully the second quest will give a decent recipe.

[Lobo de hielo]

Just an addon to the above.
Just gone past Medeas grove and the Lamians (cannot be bothered to farm for Ismenes gear), what is noticeable (guess I knew this) is a need to up my poison resistance.....so many damn Blightcasters from this point on.
Got a little bit more movement speed so hopefully these annoying little frogs do not have me chasing around so often.

So far Act 1V is easy. 6 mastery points and 14 attribute points in the bank. Take them a little later.

[Lobo de hielo]

Quick update. I will stop after this, but now at Epirus and Act 1V has been the easiest so far.
Strange when most people (including me) can see how it spikes in difficulty.
But the Machae are yet to come !!!, I will wait to use my now 9 mastery points and 15 attribute points depending on what starts to hit me the hardest.

Also, everything I am wearing has been shop bought or easily dropped, no real special items.

[Lobo de hielo]

Okay I lied, just a quick update. In about 2 weeks time when I can afford a new mouse the OP will have to send me a cream cone (Hope they keep it cold all the way to Honduras). Defence is a definite all the way Normal completionist.

Apart from my little rant earlier, I am now level 39 and sitting comfortably in Ragnarok.
Machea and Dactyls just annoying little pests with this build.

I am not and will never profess to being even a good gameplayer, just that knowing this game for so long...well...foreknowledge wins out over expert finger control, but once a noobie knows a fraction of what the old timers like me know they would fly through with this build. There are 3 or 4 buttons you always need to be hovering over, which is why I have parked this one at Ragnarok, my mouse decided to give up the ghost on a second button just before Hades Palace. I had to remap again. Poor ole bugger like me trying to get used to a 3rd lot of keys.....pfffffhhhh.
Went and practiced for 20 minutes on an earlier level and went for it.

Everything this build is wearing is merchant bought apart from of course relics/ charms. Which is why (I knew from the start it would be) I have been one of those boring collect and sell everything players.

Also a big thank you to the OP, because I realised out of the 13 builds I have, only 2 are Defence, so I have copied and renamed twice and will try another 2 builds later on (new mouse and batteries required).
Also gave me another idea to try while waiting.

[damian]

Batter is strong as CRAP.

Its on such a quick cooldown and is low cost AOE and debuff. As soon as you invest in it, I think around level 12 - 15 range, your life changes completely.

I have 100% confidence you can clear as Defense single mastery, its a late bloomer that just keeps getting better the more you skill it up.