Andor's Trail

Hello fellow Andor's Trail players!
I am currently playing my second character (the other only got to level 26 or so) and am unsure how to continue building him. My stats are: (with equipment)

Stamford, level 17
45 hp
10 AP, 2 AP attack cost
174 attack
12 defense
10-16 damage
2 damage resist
Bark Skin 1, Increased Fortitude 1

My equipment is:
Quickstrike Dagger
Jewel of Fallhaven
2x Villain's Ring
Hardened Leather Shirt
Vacor's Boots of Attack
Fine Green Hat
Bar Brawler's Gloves

I thought I would build this character mostly offensively with some BC and DR. I would grab Bark Skin, Increased Fortitude, and Corpse Eater at level 20. DR is starting to seem kind of worthless once you start to meet critters with decent critical. Should I continue building this way, or switch to pure offense? Or maybe something completely different? Thanks in advance for your help.

Damage reduction isn't very useful as you level up beyond d 30 (possibly even around the 20's). However, getting a respectable BC can help tremendously for farming and advancing through the game without manipulating the save or flee functions.

With the way stats are calculated in a fight, it doesn't make sense to go strictly offense as there is a severe diminishing returns curve as your stats increase. I don't have links but basically you won't need much more than 250-300 AC up to level 60-80 range. End game only really needs about 350-400 AC for that matter. Having a mere 80-120 BC can help your defense tremendously verses the toughest monsters.

I'd advocate a relatively balanced build with possibly more points into AC and more importantly AD with criticals.

I'll leave it at that and let the more seasoned forumers give advice.

Personally I wouldn't put any points in Bark Skin or Corpse Eater.

Put 3 in IF, 1 in weapon accuracy, damage then cleave. Make sure to put the 2 points in Combat Speed.

Get BC to at least 100 then AC to around 300 after that put every level point into AD.

Below level 20 go with the Flagstone sword or Balanced steel sword. Also go with the lightweight chainmail until you can get the Serpent's Hauberk.