Swordmaster build

[Aristotelez]

2h black orc was the closest to kill this guy, just 1600 hp left, SCIENCE!!!

[Greatwarden]

ok, 1/3 +1

Just in case it bears mentioning, Ensorcelled Blow is the only Normal Balance ability worth a damn because:

1. it did spirit damage; and

2. the tactic Ensorcelled Agony (one of the few scaling DOT (possibly the only scaling DOT) we had and is a significant chunk of an SM's total damage) only worked with Ensorcelled Blow.

Of the other three Normal Balance abilities:

1. Griffon's Lash was more expensive and, while 'undefendable', actually did LESS damage when you consider that undefendable attacks are only nice against classes with high defences (i.e. heavily armored tanks);

2. Graceful Strike is really more of PVE aggro generator; and

3. Protection of Hoeth is a speccable bubble.

All this generally means that the Normal Balance ability is almost always going to be Ensorcelled Agony.

This means:

Normal Balance - Ensorcelled Agony - Spirit Damage
Improved Balance - All Physical Damage except the 55AP Wrath of Hoeth
Perfect Balance - All Spirit Damage
Auto-attacks - Physical Damage

I would estimate that the DPS output of a SM running normally would be about 40% physical and 60% spiritual damage. A SM trying to go for MAX physical damage would probably do about 65% physical and 35% spiritual damage (with less damage in total).

The take-home point is that an SM mechanically incapable of going full physical or (factoring in auto-attacks, which would be roughly 30-35% total damage) full spiritual damage. This leaves us hobbled when looking at WS, which is a stat that other melee classes can use to scale better.

(P.S. Make Intimidating Blow Spiritual Damage please.)

[Rebuke]

Judiging from what I have seen so far it is safe to assume that physical damage done by a SM is not even more than 25%. Considering that I currently crit between 200-400 ensorcelled blow / 300-600 dazzling strike and auto attack rarely hits above 100. Aside from keeping wrath of hoeth up and applying as many quick incisions as possible I tend to skip improved stance as much as possible. I might use eagle's flight more if the duration was upped to the level of chosen.

[herrmarek]

@Greatwarden
Wrath of Hoeth dont make spirit damage, just lower spiritual resistance
When you make Khaine build, go to raising weaponskill, when to other 2 trees, go to raising strength, because of spiritual damage and ensorcelled blow

[Rebuke]

@ Herrmarek
Wrath of Hoeth does spirit damage on this server. Confirmed by Azarael a long time ago as I believe his reason was that "WoH does **** damage anyway"

[Critos]

Griffon's Lash is good against first moraled melee dd (aka we, choppa)

[Kazekiri]

@Greatwarden
When you make Khaine build, go to raising weaponskill, when to other 2 trees, go to raising strength, because of spiritual damage and ensorcelled blow

Are you suggesting to look after WS if we spec Khaine path? xD according to me, no way you go after WS oriented gear/renown points, no way, you go Str and Toughness that's it. When it comes to deal dmg, you know it's gonna be spiritual, and Khaine especially, with Ether Dance, you go Str and not WS at all.
According to me, there is no real utility of playing shield as a SM, you lose Ether Dance and wall of dart. As a BO it's different, you can use the Three Hit Combo with a shield and you have no wall of dart. If you compare what you gain with a shield and what you lose with a shield (the burst dps, the ultimate tank ability...), you should understand that SM has been designed to carry Great Sword.
As a BG for instance, you get a 5sec KD and a punt if you go shield, there is a real utility. As a SM, you get mediocre ability, the only case I would go shield was when IC siege, with my premade facing 40 players, speccing Hoeth for Whispering winds.
Griffon Lash is bad and you can remove it from your bars, same for graceful strike (pve only)

[herrmarek]

@ Herrmarek
Wrath of Hoeth does spirit damage on this server. Confirmed by Azarael a long time ago as I believe his reason was that "WoH does **** damage anyway"

well, i didnt know it (good to know)
ok, so like i said, when focus on Khaine 2h, it good to split renown to WS and STR, when Vaul/Hoeth - just STR, other points to parry/block/crit or debuff crit