First time player needs help!

[Kapten Röd]

I just started playing the masteries mod and i chose close combat as a 1st mastery and i need some tips on what skills i need and a good 2nd mastery for it. So far i have i've got to lv 4 and have 4 points in attack of janus 4 points in mastery and 1 point in endorphin. So if anyone could help me with pretty much the basic stuff of close combat that would be great.

[Viper_Sweden]

Key skills:

Endorphin + Double Kill (Max both)
Hope (1 or more)
Attack of Janus + Moirae's Attack (Max both if DW'ing)
Whirling Blades (Max if DW'ing)
Shield Attack + Shield Ram (Max both if using Shield)
Defensive Posture (Max if using Shield)

Add Discouragement if you don't have any other resistance reducer.

Alchemy
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Great defensive with Illusions, Blurred Vision, Magnetism and Skin of Stone. Add many Flash Powder like skills and you get even more defense.
Disruption is a great offensive weapon.
Philosopher's Stone, Imposture and Injection should also be considered.

Archery
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No real synergies here, possibly if you use a spear, but not at all useful for melee.

Bestiary
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- Never Tried -

Chronosophy
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Great mastery, possibly a bit to fragile for DW'ing though. Many fire-and-forget buffs.
Timeless Strike is great.

Construction
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Great pet(s) and lots of Damage Resistance, solid choice.

Mysticism
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Personal Favorite, White Flame is an awesome aura. Stalwart and Exorcism could be worth it. Not much else though.

Sorcery
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Great if you want to go the Hybrid way, otherwise I advice staying away.

Vampirism
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Possibly the best back-up for a DW'er. Loads of damage, great skills in the Cain tree and a few pets.

Personal ranking
---------------

DW:
1. Vampirism
2. Alchemy
3. Construction

Shield:
1. Alchemy
2. Chronosophy
3. Construction

[Mr. Scetch]

Whirling Blades is absolutely useless, don't even think about wasting your points on that skill.

[Viper_Sweden]

It worked wonders for me...

[Mr. Scetch]

Then you must have quite ****ty weapons.

Whirling blades only deal the stated damage, not normal + additional.

Usually your normal weapons deal far more damage, eg mine deal an average of 250, and whirling blades at level 1 deals 50 damage. See the difference?

Additionally, I lose a lot of mana that I could use else much better.

[Viper_Sweden]

Whoa, never noticed anything like that...

[Shade111]

Mysticisim is the best choice. It can make wonders with close combat.