Need some help on my first character (Dirwin 2H-Axe, Xbow)

[Nekrovex]

Currently at a Level 22 Dirwin and I wanted to know if my random ass build is any good. It's my first character so I don't really know what synergies/combos are good or what skills to avoid. Lemme know what you would recommend given my current stats/skills:
Str-10, Agi-20, Per-19, Vit-15, Will-10

Skills:
https://imgur.com/a/AH8otdv

Tier 4 Bandit Dungeons are kicking my ass IDK if its a skill-issue or a "skills"-issue (heh) or both.

[Tato]

Imo it is a fine build. You are going for good things like adrenaline rush in t4 athletics I assume but I think you messed up a lil with startling volley. Hunter's mark works when you swap to your melee and I assume you are using ranged to soften targets then engage. This ability is perfect for you.

[|Revenge|]

Spreding your points like you did between 2 weapon trees usually makes you weaker, i would go either full range or full axe and use the rest of the points on athletics or amoured combat.

[Stiglitz]

Originally posted by Nekrovex:

Currently at a Level 22 Dirwin and I wanted to know if my random ass build is any good. It's my first character so I don't really know what synergies/combos are good or what skills to avoid. Lemme know what you would recommend given my current stats/skills:
Str-10, Agi-20, Per-19, Vit-15, Will-10

Skills:
https://imgur.com/a/AH8otdv

Tier 4 Bandit Dungeons are kicking my ass IDK if its a skill-issue or a "skills"-issue (heh) or both.

ranged can be a bit rough in t4/t5 dungeons, those tight confines can inhibit the kiting and if you get a bad pull or let more then 1(maybe 2) close with you it can go bad so quickly.

I wish i had some catch all tip but i dont.

as far as your build i really think it comes down to personal preference, i dont really go that deep into survival, i go down the right side for the bleed and injury fixes, i might get the second tier skinning one to get pelts but its 50/50 as i dont hunt alot though with ranged its certainly a cash cow. I do think some of those ability points you spent on utility are needed in the ranged tree so you can poke a little more effectively before the main engagement.

i would say download the save file editor and maybe respec a little so you dont have to start all over though i start tons of characters, i am quite deeply infected with restartitis but i enjoy the game enough it hasnt got old yet. just search save file editor on google and youll find it, i use it really really sparingly, basically just when i need to change an ability or two when i really really mess up towards end game, anymore and it just ruins runs for me.

bet of luck and keep at it, its a great game but the curve is steep.

[laveley]

Originally posted by |Revenge|:

Spreding your points like you did between 2 weapon trees usually makes you weaker, i would go either full range or full axe and use the rest of the points on athletics or amoured combat.

If he is using crossbow picking just taking aim and dexterity is completely fine to soften targets before meele.

Also, you can change to crossbow with automatic reload + aim whenever you kill a melee for another shotgun blast to the face.

Although probably he should have went full strength for that to work flawlessly.

Originally posted by Nekrovex:

Currently at a Level 22 Dirwin and I wanted to know if my random ass build is any good. It's my first character so I don't really know what synergies/combos are good or what skills to avoid. Lemme know what you would recommend given my current stats/skills:
Str-10, Agi-20, Per-19, Vit-15, Will-10

Skills:
https://imgur.com/a/AH8otdv

Tier 4 Bandit Dungeons are kicking my ass IDK if its a skill-issue or a "skills"-issue (heh) or both.

Some questionable skill point choice. But it's not that all terrible. You should be able to clear T4 dungeons with it. You probably missing some equipment and consumables. Always use a drug at T4. Bring traps, preferable smoke bombs and nets, oils, etc. Play dirty.

[Trolleur_Durden]

Overall your build isn't too bad, the only issue I have with it is that you took too much ranged skills. In my opinion, the best way to do a melee/ranged hybrid build is to only take Take aim and Dexterity in the ranged tree and use a ranged weapon to soften targets before dispatching them in melee. Everything else is kinda legit, albeit I'm not a huge fan of most Survival skills too.

My opinion is that your gear might simply be outdated. Gear is a fundamental part of Stoneshard, especially when it comes down to weapons. From my experience, with a high-tier crossbow, you can take down any human target by simply shooting, dashing away and repeating the process.

[Blightor]

Looks ok, just need to grind it out a little.

Don't go down the path of save editors as some recommended - you wont be able to stop using them and it ends up sucking the satisfaction from the game.

[Stealthkibbler]

I recently shelved my level 30 crossbow/spear hybrid dirwin and without making a wall of text in terms of advice,

1.2h axes benefit greatly from crit, perception to 30 would allow you to get hunters mark to IV in group fights then swap to axe and use dismember to destroy your targets health bar. Mainly with T4 getting a T5 weapon makes things so much easier, try to get a Skadian Bardiche. Even if you dont get hunters mark a decent crit chance might be the difference in group fights of which you can potentially run into a lot in T4-T5 simply because noise will pull adjacent rooms in some layouts. Pathfinder only helps so much.

2. In warfare tree 'setup'(The one with the two fists) helps a lot with hybrid crossbow build since you will be swapping potentially more than once or twice with dexterity.

3. War-Cry, Intimidation and Finisher are warfare abilities that can help suplement your rotation in situations where your axe abilities fall short, all of these abilities benefit critical strikes.

4. If you REALLY want to you can get armor crusher for T5 Brigand boss who has 89% block chance.

2h Axes have strong bleed and crit application so try to mold the finishing touches of your build around that, right now you have a lot of survivability but you definitely need more offensive power because if you are having trouble with T4 then the T5 dungeons, especially the brigand one will slap your nuts.

Keeping in mind you still have 8 Skill points and Attribute points to work with as you level so thats still a lot of breathing room for development.

[Mimung]

i wont sugarcoat it:

the only more gimped tier above that would be spending points in two different 2 hand skilltrees

but you get much more points than you need to clear the content
but you need to get there

no time to linger will elevate your game
since with 2 hand axe you shuld be able to achieve an afflict
and then profit from the free hit of lunge with the silence and cd reduction for yourself

for the future
for melee/ranged hybrid if you really want it you want to go right side to hunters mark and upper hand.
constant practice and startling volley are basically the two skills you shuldnt take

survival
pathfinder is allround okay
tho if u had taken the will to survive line on the right you wouldnt struggle at all now

I also really do not understand why you didnt take any strength since 2 h axes have the biggest base damage in the game each % weapon damage is super valuable

What to do now?

Take no time to linger then adrenaline rush, then make space in 2 hand axes

brace for impact in the armoured combat tree is a tremendously powerful defensive skill you can get for minimal invest, prebuff it and or use it when u anticipate a lot of pain

then you could opt warfare down to finisher
all the skills on the way are a big benefit to you and offensive tactic is great to shave of the peak of an engagement wave

[money3030]

🤔 who the eff pumps Perception over 15 for Melee anyway. 2 Handed Axes without Crit Efficiency from Strength... Actually Everything about STR is for 2 Handed Axes. Critical chances are easier to get than Critical Efficiency on Gear.

[laveley]

Originally posted by money3030:

🤔 who the eff pumps Perception over 15 for Melee anyway. 2 Handed Axes without Crit Efficiency from Strength... Actually Everything about STR is for 2 Handed Axes. Critical chances are easier to get than Critical Efficiency on Gear.

Truth, OP should have went for 15 perception and everything else in strenght, specially using a crossbow.

But it is what it is. I feel most people dump the wrong stats most of the time.

[Tato]

I got no idea why people are hating on the ranged skills. Take aim dexterity and distracting shot can go on any melee. It is that strong. Startling volley and constant practice is a lil questionable. Imo though yeah i agree with people above me more str scales xbow nice. Only need 15 per.

[Mimung]

Originally posted by Tato:

I got no idea why people are hating on the ranged skills. Take aim dexterity and distracting shot can go on any melee. It is that strong. Startling volley and constant practice is a lil questionable. Imo though yeah i agree with people above me more str scales xbow nice. Only need 15 per.

i guess the answer to that is:
why bother softening if you can just charge in harder and be harder than the foe?

3 SP e.g. net u brace for impact down to custom adjustments or ram to gain a much needed charge for 2 hand axe or 2 hand mace

yes u can shoot an arrow but why shuld u?

yeah u can make a build where ranged synnergizes with the melee like dagger e.g.
its good, in fact its all good

but to advocate ranged to every melee just because the melee doesnt work aint exactly a solution to the core issue

idk man if id play 2 hand axe swinging battletrance bloodthirsty gabbr dwarf, it would be anti climactic for me to "soften up the enemy" with potshots;

id rather be in the face of the foe yesterday and make that axe go boom

[laveley]

Originally posted by Mimung:

Originally posted by Tato:

I got no idea why people are hating on the ranged skills. Take aim dexterity and distracting shot can go on any melee. It is that strong. Startling volley and constant practice is a lil questionable. Imo though yeah i agree with people above me more str scales xbow nice. Only need 15 per.

i guess the answer to that is:
why bother softening if you can just charge in harder and be harder than the foe?

3 SP e.g. net u brace for impact down to custom adjustments or ram to gain a much needed charge for 2 hand axe or 2 hand mace

yes u can shoot an arrow but why shuld u?

yeah u can make a build where ranged synnergizes with the melee like dagger e.g.
its good, in fact its all good

but to advocate ranged to every melee just because the melee doesnt work aint exactly a solution to the core issue

idk man if id play 2 hand axe swinging battletrance bloodthirsty gabbr dwarf, it would be anti climactic for me to "soften up the enemy" with potshots;

id rather be in the face of the foe yesterday and make that axe go boom

For strength oriented builds, crossbows will work as "soften targets" just early game. Later, you can one shot a lot of foes on crit or with bleed. Dexterity automatically recharges +take aim once you kill someone at meele than you can just change loadouts next turn and one shot someone in the face with crossbow again. Hence and repeat. For 2 skill points it's worth it. Think of it like a pocket shotgun.

Also, opens up hunting early on and lots of gold.

However, for that to be effective, you need strength.

[Tato]

Originally posted by Mimung:

Originally posted by Tato:

I got no idea why people are hating on the ranged skills. Take aim dexterity and distracting shot can go on any melee. It is that strong. Startling volley and constant practice is a lil questionable. Imo though yeah i agree with people above me more str scales xbow nice. Only need 15 per.

i guess the answer to that is:
why bother softening if you can just charge in harder and be harder than the foe?

3 SP e.g. net u brace for impact down to custom adjustments or ram to gain a much needed charge for 2 hand axe or 2 hand mace

yes u can shoot an arrow but why shuld u?

yeah u can make a build where ranged synnergizes with the melee like dagger e.g.
its good, in fact its all good

but to advocate ranged to every melee just because the melee doesnt work aint exactly a solution to the core issue

idk man if id play 2 hand axe swinging battletrance bloodthirsty gabbr dwarf, it would be anti climactic for me to "soften up the enemy" with potshots;

id rather be in the face of the foe yesterday and make that axe go boom

simply bc action economy. free damage is better than no damage, but that is assuming it's softening. idk if you've ever shot a crossbow with like 20+ str but it is not "softening" Also charging in is usually not a very safe option and more for chasing down things. Shooting a crossbow is like way more effective in a fight where you actually need a sense of self preservation. It is these fights that decide if you are taking an instant trip back to Osbrook.

[Tato]

Also early ranged is not softening either early anyways. That ♥♥♥♥ carries. Hard. If I take take aim and dex early it is a lot of my damage and wins the fight a lot before enemies even get to me bc they are so ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up from it.