Nearly Solo'd Broken Circle with No Health Pots - No Health Pot Solo Discussion

I ended up sticking with a strength build, but I decided against dual striking for the time being. As such natural dex is only 28 (24+4 from the Fade). Mostly just wanted to comment again because it is working pretty well.

High strength lets Punisher and Cripple apply the debuff frequently, and it of course keeps damage per hit up with Starfang. Of course my defense rating isn't the world's greatest, but now that I have Spellward and Cailan's Greaves I have 30% dodge.

I had picked up a 15 physical resist rune somewhere after Broken Circle but before I got Starfang from Soldier's Peak, and that ended up in one of my rune slots. This was to help resist shield pummels as well as reduce the sunder length for Shattering Shot and Sunder Armor.

For main things after Zev encounter:

Soldier's Peak
Nature of the Beast
Redcliffe
Return to Ostagar
Companion junk
Bhelen's First Task
Urn of Sacred Ashes

Everything after Uldred (except Bloody Plains - damn you rng) was done without health pots. Some notes:

I originally skipped the Mage's Treasure revenants and the second Black Vial revenant in Nature of the Beast. Ended up fighting them a little later. Witherfang fight was somewhat tricky to pull off without pots at level 13, basically needed Swift Salve, Incense, and some poison and killing her first. I reloaded and fought Zathrien. Templar can beat him just using Cleanse Area, but I didn't wait to get that ability this time. You just need halfway decent spell resist and stuns otherwise.

Redcliffe was pretty simple since I did it out of order and the militia had Scattershot (makes saving all of them practical as solo melee). The only spot I was really close to needing a pot was the courtyard revenant and skeleton fight.

Actually the Denerim blood mage deserted building afterwards was way worse since I was being hit many times with sunders, but got through it just. Wynne's first road encounter also sucked, the archers were doing huge damage.  Ditto on Leliana's random encounter.

RtO is also not bad. The hardest part as far as no pots goes (if you have spell resist) is the area in the lower chambers with all the spiders. I meant to use a Lesser Nature Resist here but hit my Greater by accident. Have to make sure to pull the first group so that when the second spawns in the same place they aren't on top of you. You can just stab the ogre with stun poison and use Riposte.

Haven / Urn quest is not bad. Especially after getting Ancient Elven Gloves at which point I had 100% spell resist (Duncan's Dagger had 8,8,6 spell resist runes). I was originally going to alternate Duncan's with Roses's Thorn, but didn't end up bothering. For Kolgrim, had to more or less try to keep him stunned or knocked down while I killed the other units.

I finished the Gauntlet last night. Didn't fight the high dragon yet. Might be possible to do her without pots, I have done it with 2H - advantage is that attack range is pretty good with Sunders, and you have Indomitable.

Build so far

1 - DW Training, DW Sweep (Combat II, Coercion 1 - Tome)
2 - Flurry
3 - Powerful (Combat III)
4 - Momentum
5 - Dual Striking
Joining - Riposte
6 - DW Finesse (Poison1)
7 - Cripple, [Templar]
8 - Threaten
9 - Bravery (Combat IV)
10 - DW Expert
11 - Punisher; Tome of Skill - (Coercion2)
12 - Deathblow (Stealing1)
13 - *saved*
14 - Berserk, Resilience [Berserker]
15 - Constraint (Coercion3)
16 - Righteous Strike
17 - Cleanse Area

As noted above, after hitting 24 dex at Level 4 for Momentum, every subsequent attribute point is in Str.

With no story DLC (read Soldier's Peak and RtO), it would be harder to pull off strength biased warrior w/o health pots in some of these fights. Would be more like my earlier solos where I only had promo and Stone Prisoner.

It may be because I had half a pitcher of margaritas at happy hour, but Dead Trenches seemed a lot harder than the previous areas.

Anyway before that I fought the Spider Queen "legitimately," which is to say I didn't go behind the main stalactites / stalagmites. Used 2 Swift Salves and some poison, along with Greater Nature Resist. Main thing if you do it this way is you have to try and stay within melee range of the CSQ because otherwise she cheeses you with Poison Spit dot (she takes advantage of the same DOT bug the player can use, namely that reapplying the same type of DOT leads to increased damage).

Broodmother was 2 SS, 2 Lesser Nature Resists and some bs poisons (worthless).

I made "spell resist" weapon set, which is Duncan's Dagger (dragonbone - spell resist runes) + Maric's Sword (+silverite* and +2 lightning runes), but that set is kind of crappy in that it doesn't have my GM Hale rune (which is in Rose's Thorn). So mage + spider sections (of which there are multiple in Dead Trenches) are irritating as I can't resist web as much if I don't want to catch a bs spell.

*Maric's has a +6 dmg to darkspawn. With a +6 and +4 silverite rune, the enchantment damage is glitched to +16, then +6 and +4 for the runes. Even so, it is crappier than Starfang overall.

Kept picking up health pots. I think I have 52 lessers in inventory now, which are all looted. It will probably be pretty hard to beat Branka without using any pots. 2H Warrior is probably the best solo class for the Branka fight IMO.

Probably relevant, but I had purchased Evon the Great's Mail after the Carta fight, so ran that any place I didn't need magic resist in the Deep Roads.

I accumulated a lot of health pots in the Deep Roads. Returning to Orzammar, I had 1 PHP, 11 GHP, 33 HP, and 53 LHP. Sold all except ten each of the HP and LP. Sold other loot. Had 174g05s58c (672g00s80c spent).

Bought some crafting supplies, 1 x Greater Warmth Balm, Fleshrot Recipe.

High Dragon

I switched the Grandmaster Hale in Rose's Thorn to +4 lightning to go with the 2 Paralyze. Starfang had +5 lightning, +5 flame, +4 lightning (two of those worthless).

Used the standard method of trying to stay to side sort of in between the front and rear leg. I could do Dual Weapon Sweep without any danger of getting kicked. Kept Swift Salve up because the movement speed is very helpful.

I didn't really have enough paralyze chance and hit speed to just stab it. I got kicked and grabbed relatively early, but survived it since my health was still high, I had 41 armor, and I have health regen bonuses.

Ended up having to dance around with DWS when off cooldown, threw my remaining Soulrot Bombs just because grenades are getting to be weak anyway, and would stab with a hit or two, then run to not get kicked. When the Dragon went to a bad spot, I ran towards the ruined wall with broken chests to make her fight there.

Managed to paralyze the dragon two or three times (2 x runes, 9.75% chance on offhand basic attack only). She was at half health before I messed up enough to get kicked out of range so that she used the fireball attack, at which point I finally activated the Greater Warmth Balm.

Items spent: Swift Salve x 5, Greater Warmth Balm x 1, Shock Coating x 1, Demonic Poison x 1, Soulrot Bomb x 3

It may have been better to go with Duncan's Dagger here, maybe in combo with Rose's Thorn for attack speed buff. Also would have been better if I had some runes to replace the two flames in Starfang. Realized I also should have bought Andruil's Blessing. D'oh.

After selling loot: 188g10s64c

Bought Andruil's Blessing and a Backpack (just because).

Cadash

Put GM Hale back into Rose's Thorn, took out the Paralyze runes and added +5 flame looted from the dragon.

Ogre Alpha was annoying: couldn't seem to stun it with anything until I activated Concentrated Death Root, even then it only proc'd once. Had to do a fair amount of kiting.

21 - Disengage (Survival 2... skills don't matter any more)
Tome - Perfect Striking

Above + Fleshrot is in preparation for Ser Cauthrien.

After these posts already tempted to solo w/o health pots....Did DW Warrior City Elf Solo with pots, but this PT is tempting.
Actually think DW Warriors are best for solo run, rogues maybe as well, but they are squichy. Maybe if only use the right buid and as well poisons/granades.
Started 2h Solo - that's something...exhausting but challenging.
Anyway, thankx for posting so detailed run and congrats for finishing masochist PT.
P.S. interesting note about Zevran ambush. Think will be able to check it soon if that matters anyway.

you know, I think DA2 solo can be made only with a mage (not sure of course as didn't try), but melee characters in DA2 will be screwed. The game is different for sure, not like DAO, more difficult imo.
I also have a thought at least to try to solo some quests with melee characters but I really hate stealth ability e.g.(but in SOLO it will be a great help), with 2h warrior - it is a matter of luck. SnS warrior as Aveline - it is just stupid and long anyway (+ boring).
Archers also could be used but they are OP imo (tried on purpose the worst armor and bow I could find and in the beginning of the game and still the dmg was high for some reasons....can thank tha last patch I think).
Not to mention lot of bugs in the game, like spam/stun/emeny rogues abilities etc etc etc (I usually fix it with relaunching the game).
I'll still try to solo something as melee character later, but have many doubts about it in DA2.

Alright.

P.S. if not interested/tired/bored/ etc - just say so, svp, not to waste time (always say it just in case as people don't even bother to tell the truth usually).

If not, some info about my 2h SOLO + thoughts and questions as I am confused about some info you have written.

1)
Switched to a Common Dwarf (had her in play already anyway), did it for some reasons:
1) insult the ancestors and pollute the ground using every opportunity I have while in Orzammar (sorry, just can't help as it's funny);
2) according to the description dwarves have at least some magic resistance, but don't know if it even works and don't know how to ckeck it out. If works - great,if not - too bad.

2) About using "Precise Striking". You mentioned it should be probably always on, but it means double slow-mo: as a 2h + PS as it is.
As a party 2h I always use PS, but it's with a party.

Tested with SOLO PT - using PS was not good (maybe cauze it's the beginning of the game). Of course everything depends on enemies/quests etc, but most of the time PS didn't help. How did you manage to survive battles using this ability is a mystery for me.

Just a thought + maybe a question.


3) About weapons. Pretty sure you know about it all but again, just thoughts + vague questions on this topic for you.

The very first thing I look for when get a new weapon in DAO is "armor penetration". While a sword has higher dmg, mauls have higher AP and that's what confused me in your post.
You mentioned only Chasind Great Maul, but it is the end of the game and I usually use it myself.
But about other weapons you mentioned only swords, while you can get other mauls in the game.

Again, made tests with some quests, e.g. Note delivery where you have 2h leader ("We fought darkspawn!!!!")+ SnS warrior + a mage hiding in the bushes from one side and a crossbow-enemy from another side.
Had only KW sword and a Chasind Crusher (AP 11 % + something + dmg penalty).
- with sword using different tactics always ended up dead + low dmg;
- with Chasind Crusher killed those assholes rather quickly (2nd or 3d attempt), BUT the damage from a Chasind Crusher was much higher, it was just evident and, well, only a blind person wouldn't notice the difference.

P.S. made other tests as well with older 2h saves - the same thing: AP is very important and sort of compensates lack of other things a sword has.

But I don't understand why you mentioned only swords...
Starfang looks pretty and stylish of course but than agan, AP....

I just suspect you didn't mention any mauls as you tried to write as short as possible. Or you have another opinion about these things (I mean swords/mauls/damage/AP).

Again: just thought mixed with confusion.

4) Now in Orzammar polluting the ground and doing small quests and still have that Chasind Crusher. Things are different depending on enemies, but that weapon is still great even with dmg penalty (also have KCP, elven boots and some gloves + had money for one fancy bijouterie)

Ability development is a little bit different from what you gave written.

Soon will go to the Circle.

Oh and re: Careless Accusations (the side quest with the above random encounter)...

That can be a pain for melee early. The mage is a healer and will continually heal the melee, and the archer can spam Shattering Shot, which reduces your armor rating by 20.

What I do is try to CC the leader and the SnS right away. Then I run to the mage and try to kill him as fast as possible. At that point, it is usually best to try to put a tree in between the Warden and the archer to limit sunders and chip damage. Kill off the melee, then take care of the archer.

In most of my melee solos, I like to keep some Deathroot poisons for stunning enemies. Also for side quests on the road, if I think they are a pain I try not to activate the quests until I leveled a little bit. This one isn't quite as bad as a couple (certainly better than getting Bloody Plains, for instance).

Another bit of info...

Shattering Shot, and Sunder Armor effects from enemies are reduced in length by your Physical Resistance. So it is a good idea to use a rune slot on your 2H for the best Hale rune you have acquired so far.

Ah ok.

Good to know.

Which sword were you comparing it to? Was it Chasind Flatblade?

Thinking about it, if you buy the Crusher at Tier 3 it should be something like 10.2 base damage, with ~ 9 AP and slightly better attribute modifier than a greatsword. So it should make sense that it would be better than the T2 Chasind Flatblade, or some of the other early game swords. I think Magic Greatsword would work out slightly better, because of +1 dmg enchantment, but they would be close.

Anyway, looks like I might be doing it wrong by being a cheapskate and not investing in that maul early.

Spent the whole night and half of today's morning doing the following:

a) Weapon topic.

Made some more tests with the Chasind Crusher I've bought and other weapons in several battles.

Weapons wanted to compare: Chasind Crusher, Diamond Maul, Chasind Flatblade (did not have anything else anyway).

Battles
1) The very first gang you meet when get to The Duster Town.
2) The gang near the person with the stolen Shaper tome (for which the Shaper gives you nothing, ulike that person "I've done nothing wrong").
3) Tunneling Thieves - the gang in the Orzammar Palace.
4) Deserters in the Frostback Mountin Pass (quest of the Blackstone Irrgullars from Lothering).
5) Leliana ambush.
6) Marjolaine battle.
7) Cultist ambush in the Calenhad Docks (after I talked to fake assistant in Denerim).

- lvl 7;
- every time won from the 1-7th attempt;
- in all battles used Death Root Poison.

The result: "nothig changed" is called. The Chasind Crusher (tier 2) won everywhere. With 2 other weapons had misses, low/or no crits, low damage as it is. Guess AP still does its work THOUGH Diamond Maul has higher stats, it was rather good as well; if not for lack of at least some bonuses, would have been a better weapon I think.

Maybe will compare better mauls and swords when get them (if in the mood).

b )The second thing is the plot quest "The Circle". And the whole night was spent on Uldred, trying to win with something not overpowered. But could not.
In general.
- the whole tower was played w/o a hitch (only 2 battles took 5-7 attempts: with Desire Demons);
- the Sloth Demon took me 5-7 attempts, the probleme was always with its first shape;
- had simple bijouterie all the time (something +1 armor/+5 cold resisit), BUT in those difficult battles one ring (+5 cold resist) switched to Lifegiver, otherwise Desire Demon spammed her abilities and I had no stats to survive it all + there were melees all around (had also "Key to the city" ring and "Spellward" amulet, but did not need them until Uldred);
- Uldred: failed in a way as wanted to use something more simple/ or part of simple, but after literally the whole night and part of the morning ended up using more powerful bijouterie: rings "lifegiver" + 'key to the city"/ amulet "spellward"/ at least the belt was simple "dwarven warrior belt + 1 armor/+1 srtng". During the battle used Fire and Ice grenades/poisons that worked from time to time/salves of fire, ice, swift. The tactics again included running around the remained alive (for that moment) mages.
The promleme was - bloody luck as e.g. 2 battles - started spell spams in the very beginning, the next - no spells at all but killed by melee attack standing on the other side of the room, the next - something inbetween, etc. And in this way all night and morning.
Changed those trinkets this and that - nothing. Tried 2 other weapons - was even worse, so again the whole tower used that Maul.
Three or four times almost won, but the closer the end, the more spamming I saw. Even with those 3 OP items lost many times, so imo I was just damn lucky to win at least one time, though almost died - threw at him a fire grenade and voilà: good morning others.

In general only Uldred gave problemes. But all other battles went very good - did not expect it at all tbh.

Before commenting your advice and thoughts wanted to write additional info about weapons, maybe will be useful in a way.

1) Weapons

- now have also Yusaris which I will compare later with other weapons (yes, testing again again and again, till the rest of the game as it proved its use; just - note for myself - not to forget to leave certain smaller-faster battles for testing even if there are plenty of others);
- write it with a great pleasure (for know at least...who knows what can happen): after the Circle in the Circle shop bought a maul named "Maul", that has already proved itself (that's why "with pleasure").

Red Steel Tier 5
Dmg - 12.0
Crit chance 1.14 %
AP - 16 %
SM - 1.25
+ rune slots

For now do not want to make usual comparison tests as first want to grab more weapons (w/o getting a bunch of lvls for obvious reasons):
- know where can get some as looting + maybe can find something else unnoticable at first sight;
- have more money so will visit shops: sold many things, have a whole camp of half-naked companions...missions do not pay themselves + useful if they are needed for their own quests: e.g. with Leliana quest first forgot to strip her. Will be ready at least already if companions are needed somewhere, though returning to the camp every time does give a certain impression.
Don't like it, but sacrafices are inevitable at war.
The only one with full clothes is my dog.

About "The Maul"- will call it "2-runes - Maul".

A thing about it: already tested in several battles including the ones always causing troubles for me - and it was just great even if needed several attemps which most of the time meant "try another tactics", can add nothing more.
What changed? I was lvl 9.
Used right after the circle.
Wouldn't be so satisfied if not for several tests (as what is important? One test can give false results and proves nothing. Comparions - "a must be". Works in other science fields as well).

At first forgot about "enchantment", thus ran around w/o runes....used them later.
Had several of different qualities:
- 2 physical resist;
- 2-3 + 1 fire/+1 ...something;
- 3 spell resist;
- 1 chance to paralyse;
- 1 against darkspawn.

Decided to use the following for now:
- + 6 % spell resist;
- chance to paralyse: chose it because wanted to see how much "palalysing" it will do as I wrote starting from lvl 8 (in the circle) noticed my character actually started TO HIT rather often rather than MISS (Circle "Orgre- Sloth" demon included), thus - PS is almost always on. If not for this factor, would have chosen another second rune.

Battles and quests where had a chance to use it with and w/o runes:

1) 5 pages, four mages quest (no runes): usually rather nasty as there are lots of enemies including hiding on the hill mage. Ran for him at first, killed one rogue (?) on the way from the hill, then the rest running after me - from the first attempt (was surprised).
What really helped is Templar first passive with that mage (would like to thank you for that very useful tip as my usual "Party 2h" includes "reaver -champion" - there are reasons for this).
Played the game 50-60 times so tried different combinations and specs, but for some reasons never wanted to take Templar first - suspect because of "the party can help" reason.
2) Encounters with king's fanatics in Orzammar (with runes) - 3 of them: 1st was easy, 2nd - 3 relods (hell of males attacking 1 fragile woman with many witnesses - dwarven politics, assholes), 3d - even more assholes with 2 reloads.
3) Revenant in Orzammar (with runes): alright, that was unexpected at all.Lvl 9. Decided to try only to check numbers/hits/paralyse chance/how long I last actually.
First attempt: removed half of his health thus decided to try again/ no paralyse at all.
Second: the same, just killed me faster (several seconds).
Third: very-very close call, helped 2 paralysings that is for sure, finishing animation.
Used MB + simple attacks (hits most of the time).
Used poison + swift salve.
Numbers from MB appxm: every time about 80-90. Simple hits:50-60. Had some crits from simple hits as well ab 80-90. Once got 95.

After that out of curiosity reloaded 25 times for checking WTH.
Did not use any poisons or salves.
First used abilities but with misses decided to use only simple hits: missed about 1/4 times; numbers are the same, got crits about 1/3 of the time.
Also tried Chasind Crusher and Yusaris (had some 2 runes: against darkspawn + 4 spell resist) - actually got the same result as with 2 runes-Maul.
Always ended up dead.
Paralyse worked 4 times.
Almost won only once: 2 runes -Maul, no poisons and salves, no paralyse, many crits, only simple hits, in the end it was the situation "either me or him": I missed, he hit. I am dead.

Again a matter of luck that killed him at all.

4) Tried to get Ageless with 20 reloads (actually wanted just to check the outcome from the battle).
OK. Tried those 3 weapons, but 2rune-Maul was better. Used some resist, swift Salve.
Paralyse worked twice.
The probleme here is when I remove about half of her health she always uses her ability "overwhelm" (spiders like to do it and w/o some Shield Bash from others there is nothing you can do, just watch).
If always be on the move and run around her (similar strategy for a High Dragon not to be eaten) - there is a chance to avoide it or resist (worked only once and I almost killed her, but you can't use attack here often, and she can - with more health could work I think).
Every time I ended up with some health and then dead (plus after that it's useless to use close cobmat or run around for health regen as I alway get that "far-melee-hit").

My thought here: as I end up with some health, come back later with more health and after her ability try to finish her as I still have good weapon numbers and often hits.
Plus I suspect by that point I could have some better weapon.
5) Carta quest; getting a finger-key: simple + can see already that Stunning Blows work as did not use poison here.
6) Carta: before Jarvia encounter used only Indomitable + PS. Period. So satisfying to watch their "dirty fight" used in vain + most of them are rogues using "dirty fight" almost always(animations takes time and gives me opportunities).
In general - like the circle itself - very simple. The only difficult thing before Jarvia was - spider ambush using one after another overwhelm + web. Almost killed me but turned out well.
But had problemes wih Jarvia + traitor Leske was in that package. 5-7 attempt. Used 2-rune-Maul/2 paralysings/poison/bombs/swift salve.
PS and Swing helped a lot. Really a lot. Gave me time to fight others. Did not use abilities really to save STA for PS mostly as now my character really hits, misses happen but very rare and usually with bosses.
Chose the strategy: was standing near the left pillar fighting enemies from both sides. Died because of backstabbes which I did not notice.
Finally won. Leske died first and very fast. Jarvia took most of PS. Finished her with MB, again just for the hell of it.

Now found Spiked Maul with the same characteristics as 2-rune-Maul but has penalty:
+ 3 damage
+ 2 % crit chance
-1 dex
+ 2 rune slots.

Will use for next quests, I think. But still need to visit shops.


About weaopns - that's all for now.


2) Post comments.



Oh, this statement is proven in every solo enemy encounter. True and true.



Yep, as mentioned Diamond Maul was also good, and it was indeed good in tests with MB. But turned out worse in general. Thus - penalty Chasind Crusher was chosen. Did not regret.
First wanted to redo the Circle itself with the Diamond Maul, but was tired already. Still think in the tower itself it would have shown itself from the best side as well.


Well, I do companion's quests usually (if do them at all) closer to the end of the game or if they are just happen to be on the way - like Wynne/Sten/Zevran quests.
I chose Leliana's quest for 2 reasons:
- it was already available and I needed something more for testing weapons (she had her nug already so it was simple to get the truth out of her);
- it consists of 2 parts and the first ambush part usualy gives me troubles as there are all kinds of enemies and landscapes, you have to get to the leader somewhere over there on the hill, cut your path through other enemnies + a trap, attacks from everywhere etc, etc.
A good thing that Leliana somehow slipped through first enemies to the trap (I ordered her to do that on purpose) and she was killed by that explosion, what is very good for me - one of my ways to get companions out of the battle, too many troubles from them (already thinking what to do with Oghren...)
Marjolaine part - Leliana was killed my a trap from the start (good), the rest was rather easy (indomitable forever, what can I say). But during the first attempt I ended up like Leliana - exploded from the second trap (forgot about it) + that mage . Positioning and tactics + indomitable did their job for the second already succcessful attempt.




The thing about it - I wanted to do a Sloth fight as a dwarf w/o using other forms (in the Fade you are forced half of the time to change forms, yes, otherwise - no game progress, but in this fight there is no need for that).
OK, I needed several attempts for that. Used again Chasind Crusher + Poison.
Would like to mention that several attemps happened thanks to Orge-failed-part.
I used different tactics including running around like an idiot waiting for health regen and experiencing all the time "melee-from-several-metres-attacks" - no good. Don't know whether it looked funny or stupid. I had both thoughts.
After several such chasings just decided to ram him myself. Think was lucky here. The order was the following: PS is on + Poison, MB and he is stunned, usual hits (successful), he hit me a couple of times, Sunder and he is stunned again, usual successful hits, even when he could shake stun effect off, he was stunned again (was I lucky?), just finished him with usual hits.
Had health and sta even for all other Sloth forms BUT, again, thanks for the tip, Templar passive actually did its job here.
The order for all other forms was similar: PS, simple hits + Templar passive. That's all. If needed - PS again. The Arcane was finished with MB just for the hell of it (got great number).
None of them even had a chance to use their abilities.


Yeah, that's what I wanted to ask about - bijouterie.
So, no OP trinkets. Interesting.



Alright. As I wrote, the whole circle (fade, Sloth) was made in the evening and rather easy.
The whole night and morning - for Uldered. I usually count appxm attempts, but here did not even know the number; and don't care.
With all those attempts I noticed everything you have written. Wanted to mention one more thing from His strategy which had noticed - if you are left with about 1/4 of your health bar - the only thing he does: just chase you down to use simple hits (as usual I had "several-metres-away-melee-hits" from him and ended up dead).
Sometimes he still used WG even if I stayed close.
I had Swift Salve and used it.
Used The Littany.
When noticed his ranged tactics did as you had written - stayed close to him. The thing is that I tried to use different tactics staying close, used running this and that, but still couldn't do what you had done.
Thus - got that described battle.

Tbh, I am not satisfied as used those trinkets. Made several saves before the circle (in case would like to check the Diamond Maul)and saves before Uldred. Tried already several times to replay it, after your tips as well - still can't pull it off.

Some thought about it.
I think maybe I do not have very good point build...as have low dodge chance. Have respec mod, maybe put points to dex.
As played many times and had different builds, with higher dex included; helped? Yes. But with almost all points in strength build - had hell of a damage, used MB very often with high numbers - satisfyng. But it was all with the "party PTs".
The promleme here- how to find a balance; or still do not pay attention to dex and put points to strength? Thus would like to ask your opinion about that.
Maybe you remember apprxm point-balance of your 2h which you had described?

For now I put all points to strength as usually do actually (plus others for skills if needed - not many are needed anyway).



Progress for now.

First wanted to go to Honnleath + there is a very good helmet there (do not use them at all for my GW, but here is another matter). And do Soldier's Peak.
Though for now don't have material for Starfang + need to run through the map (which means some encounters as well).
But as was still in Orzammar, serving as errand girl, decided to do some more: finished Carta quest (described how it went in the "weapon" section). Now I think will do two above quests.

Still want to get other weapons and armor sets. Spell resist is good, but as you mentioned, for other enemies other weapons and armor could be useful.
Plus I really like to use Elven Set (need to gether it throughout the whole places of the map though) and dwarven armor (you start with it as a Noble Dwarf); can be found and bought actually, it is a massive armor, but stats are poor.
The closest set is Legion of the Dead Armor + stats good enough actually, but I need to go to the DR. Other sets are also good but I don't like how they look (golden color makes me vomit).

Yeah, not the best thinking, but considering there are other decent sets, maybe sounds not so stupid. Plus as always - nice for testing not to get the best sets and weapons sometimes.
So do not know where to go now, still there are places where better go now as later it could be really nasty there.

Something to think about: make it easier or try to be more stylish ( ), but later get my ass kicked 100 times.

C'est tout.