First I want to ask a basic question... without magery/chivalry, how does one warp around? I would live without them if I thought I could, but it's more convenient being able to use runebooks.

Secondly... I just started my first warrior type character today. A fine break from crafting and grinding, but in the end their whole purpose was to provide equipment so it was worth it, I think. But... last time I played (around Age of Shadows, I remember the chaos that game caused, woo lord) I was a Paladin, I think. Basically, I had 100 Swordsmanship, 100 Tactics, 100 Anatomy, 80 Healing, 100 Parry, 80 Focus, and 70+ Chivalry, I never did GM it. I did alright, I thought, but this was the best I've ever done in UO. There are players in UO--namely everyone here, I'd wager--who could take a character, make it into something so powerful and take out demons and dragons or whatever... this is just something I have never been able to do. GM Smith? Sure.. GM Tinker? Sure.. GM any crafting skill. All that takes is patience and time and determination. But being good at the game? No, no, and that is why I truly need help now. Here's where it begins for me.

So... I was looking at my options for building a melee-er. Paladin I have done, and while it was fun, I'd like to try something more potent. Most people I ask in-game suggested fencing and bushido with parrying. Well, I looked at the weapons and agreed with fencing. I already had a swordsman and envied the faster-swinging fencers, so I was all for it. I already got my fencing to 60ish, and my parry to 65. Then I saw the ninja weapon. The one with dual-wield and talon strike as special moves, and wondered... huh, ninjas look cool too. And now I don't even know what to pick. Even if I picked one or the other, I'd still need a method to travel around quickly, and there'd be no room for such skills. Especially with Ninjitsu, as it uses stealth and hiding. So I've got my nose against the wall and I'm wondering, what is the best melee warrior template you've ever used? What would you suggest I do now? I don't want to suck anymore. I'm so tired of it.

1. You can charge runebooks with recall scrolls, then use them with no magery or chivalry.

2. You have more patience than I do. I've got the combat stuff down and don't know jack about crafting. Not that I plan on learning any time soon.

3. Go with most people, have bushido and parrying. Your weapons choice is up to you, but fencing sure does have the fast weapons. But I would definitely choose bushido over ninjitsu for the power it gives you in PvM

My "main" warrior:
115 swords
115 tactics
100 anatomy
95 healing
115 bushido
100 parry
With whatever is over in chivalry (plus a few points from skill items to about 65)

All values given are approximates. I don't have my character here to look at the exacts. I actually like playing him more than my super-powerful warrior, who has necromancy, and he does darn good in a fight.

Ninja skills are made more for PvP than for PvM, as a general rule.

PvM ninjas do exist, I'm told they are fun.

But honestly from what you're saying, I'd tell you to go right back to the Chiv-Warrior.

One of the great things about UO is that a lot of different things are viable, and at the end of the day it comes down, mostly, to preference.

It sounds like you just like the Chiv-Warrior. And it's still viable.

-Galen's player

Yes, but which is the bigger bada#@ in the end?

Bushido.

Ahhh... ok then, Bushido it is. :-P

I don't understand the infatuation with the "faster swing fencing weapons". Damage is based on damage per second, and most of the popular swords weapons, though they may not swing as fast, do more damage per second. I PvP with a Swords/Parry/Bushido swordsman carrying a 30 SSI ornate and 25 SSI Executioner's axe, and I can assure you that they do plenty of damage. I never fear running into a fencer with the "faster" weapons lol.

The only sword I ever liked was the katana, I found all the others too slow or too weak. I can always change that, though. So far I'm doing well, though I have *never* been able to take on the magical creatures. For instance, I ran into an air elemental on the way to Shame and nearly died 3 times running away to heal. How do the non-mage types kill such creatures? Especially a group of them? Solo?

Any of my swords characters can own an air elemental...not even a challenge, in fact, I'd happily (with my template) take on two or three simultaneously without sweating it. I'm not saying it to be a jerk, but you are way too hung up on swing speed. Yes, it is important (to a point), but it is DPS (damage per second) that makes the difference, especially in PvM. If you look at the specialized templates like sampires, they almost always use swords templates with items like the ornate axe. In fact, I would say that a GOOD ornate axe may be one of the best fighting weapons in the game. On my PvM swordsman I use a radiant scimitar I crafted...it is 56% HML, 48% HLL, and 52% DI. In this case I don't care about SSI as it is a 2.5 second weap and I have 154 Stamina, so I swing close to cap anyway. Coupled with the rest of my suit, EoO, DF, and CW from Chivalry, I can deal a hellious amount of damage with him.

Galen hit it on the head...a Chiv warrior as about as good as you can find. I run:

120 Swords
120 Parry
100 Resist
100 Anatomy
100 Tactics
90 Healing
80 Chivalry

I don't fear running in anywhere with him. Again, grab fencing if you want, but if you look at the vast majority of high damage PvM dexxers, they will include swords as the weapon skill, NOT fencing. JMO.

If its your first warrior, I'd definitely go with swordsmanship, just for the massive range of weapons you can wield. Also I would take magic resist over bushido, at least for the time being.