[Need a melee char with good DPS and survivability]

The thing about the builds on this board is that they presume you've played through the game. I can't really think of a early-game build/guide off the top of my head. But since you seem to be struggling with the early and you have some stated goals, I'll recommend this: 

 

Class Barbarian

Race: Aumaua/Moon Godlike (for Stun/Prone defense and healing respectively). You might like Moon Godlike more. 

Culture/Background: Your choice, I like stuff that gives me Survival. 

 

Stats: 

MIG 18

CON 10

DEX 10

PER 16

INT 16

RES 8

 

Put all skill points into Survival. Choose the Heal Bonus. 

 

Class Abilities: 

1st Level: Frenzy. This is the foundation of your play-style. Pop it just before your party and the enemy collides. You'll see a fantastic speed-increase. It'll let you tear all weaker mobs to pieces and put down serious hurt on stronger ones. 

 

3rd Level: Savage Defiance. Panic button. Works very well with a Moon Godlike if you're in Frenzy. When the second pulse goes out and you still have a bunch of seconds left on Frenzy, pop this after a moment or two. Welcome to immortality. 

 

5th Level: Bloodlust. This will let you keep your speed up once Frenzy wears off. Nice passive buff. 

 

Talents: 

2nd Level: Weapon Focus: Adventurer or Soldier. Gives you extra accuracy, which you need. Your pick is determined by which weapon you find at Magran's Fork. If it's a Fine Poleaxe, use Adventurer, if it's a Fine Greatsword, use Soldier. 

4th Level: Savage Attacks/Two-Handed Style. I consider the damage increase to be worth the accuracy loss. This is probably not true on Path of the Damned, but I basically just play Hard. I recommend you do too at this point in your career. If you don't want to lose accuracy, pick Two-Handed Style. 

6th Level: Accurate Carnage. Worthwhile investment. 

 

You could also pick Veteran's Recovery at either Level 4 or 6 if you feel you struggle to stay alive. You shouldn't with Savage Defiance though. 

 

Equipment: 

Fine Greatsword/Poleaxe: Depends on what you find in Magran's Fork. 

Justice: I won't spoil where you get this greatsword, but it's pretty nice early game. Tough fight to get it though. 

Breastplate/Brigandine/Full Plate: Basically, just use any of these three, Fine if you can. Choose Full Plate over Brigandine. Breastplate if you feel you need more speed. There are Fine versions of the Breastplate and Brigandine fairly early on. 

Fulvano's Gloves/Boots/Amulet: All of them give nice buffs for the early game. They're rather easy to find too. 

Minor Ring of Protection/Deflection: They'll help and you have nothing better to use. 

 

 

 

Your other option is to go for a Fighter. Same race choices, same equipment. Pick Two-Handed Style instead of Accurate Carnage. Stats should be same, but DEX 14, INT 12. Talents should be Knockdown, Confident Aim, Weapon Specialization. 

 

This is not min-maxed. This is not the best you can do this early in the game. But it's solid and it'll do what you want. 

 

Appreciate the time you took to answer, and so quickly too.

Thank you. I will give this a try.

[Need a melee char with good DPS and survivability]

Conscious that I have only one more post available to me before my daily tally is exhausted (just registered for this site an hour ago).

So, is there an existing template someone can point me to please?

Maybe it's a fighter that I need? Dunno, just want something that can destroy mobs by swinging a huge axe or some other 2 hander, and won't die in a handful of hits like the 'interrupt barbarian' template that I followed.

 

As I say, it will have the fighter, mage and priest from early game in the party with it. A four person party.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what attributes and abilities etc are needed sadly. I'm sure this kind of template request has been made before but I can't see anything suitable on this site. Believe me I looked and that's how I came across the 'interrupt barbarian' which I thought would do the job, but sadly for whatever reason it isn't working for me.

 

Thanks in advance. I have just one more post left I can make today, so will save that for the right moment.

[[CLASS BUILD] Interrupt Barbarian]

A Barbarian at that point in the game should probably use a pike. or armor up (brigandine/plate/breastplate) and use whatever Fine weapons you can get. Dual swords are pretty good, with Whispers of Yenwood in one hand, Fine Sword from Temple of Eothas in the other. Make sure you have Vulnerable Attack, go to town. You should be able to cut through enemies like butter. 

 

Make sure you always use Edér's knockdown, give Durance the Holy Radiance talent that gives it +10 Accuracy, use Arcane Assault to Daze all enemies, always. 

 

Or you could get Azureith's Stiletto and do Jolting Touch Carnage attacks to make everything explode. Personally, I prefer dual swords and heavy armor. 

 

Finally, I'd dump Perception compared to the statline in here at this point. It's just not needed yet. I'd probably have the following: 

MIG 18

CON 10

DEX 10

PER 16

INT 16

RES 8

 

Will give you good offence, good AoE, and with dual wield + heavy armor, you're fast and sturdy enough. 

Hi, thanks, but I thought this char was about speed and interrupts?

Putting on that heavy armour will decrease weapon swing speed surely?

Really not sure how perception works, but I followed this template to the letter as far as I could given my journey into the game thus far.

As I wrote elsewhere, I was looking for a melee DPS character with some durability. The barbarian in this template cannot withstand any attacks as it has such little defences and gets overwhelmed really fast.

Maybe I need to try a different type of build or class?

[Need a melee char with good DPS and survivability]

I am reasonably new to this game. Played as a Paladin but got bored as it was mainly a damage absorber and didn't really have much DPS.

I need a new character that swings a weapon for good damage, and doesn't die in a few hits.

Will be in a party with the mage, priest and Eder on hard/hardest setting.

 

Can anyone point me to an existing template, or give me some advice on starting such a char (what to pick at creation and what to pick at each level).

Thanks.

 

[[CLASS BUILD] Interrupt Barbarian]

I'm struggling with this build.

I am getting destroyed by mobs.

I'm only level 4 and have reached Caed Nua but mobs are killing this really fast.

I am in a party with Eder, Aloth and Durance on hard setting.

I position this character to be behind Eder but ahead of the mage and priest, but mobs are still swarming me and killing this barbarian fast.

 

What am I doing wrong?

Clearly I don't as yet have most of the listed gear.