I struggle with picking the early perks myself, but invariably end up with Student, Pathfinder, Colossus and Rotation on most bros. Student is an obvious easy pick, and since B&E Colossus generally seems a smarter pick than Nine Lives - though sometimes I'll take that instead on someone with Frail or a Swordmaster. I get too attached to my bros to eschew defensive perks entirely. Steel Brow is great too but I tend to save it for the favourites and let any slightly less valuable bros take their chances without it.
What perk do you guys recommend at Level 5 for melee bros? I use a standard progression of Pathfinder --> Steel Brow --> Rotation in the beginning but nothing at the next tier really jumps out.
I was thinking about Dodge for more defense or Colossus for more HP since I will eventually transition everyone to 2H weapons, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something critical.
Dodge is really good for high initiative builds like fencers, which shine if you wait and then play "twice in a row" going through the enemy line but they're at risk before they get footwork.
In a game where everyone has 9 AP,
pathfinder is the free AP perk along with
berserker so they're mandatory for me for any 2H because they move a lot and destroy stuff.
Besides, it works on mountains, forest, swamps, snow, probably useful in half the fights or more, even in plain, you'll be climbing to get an advantage.
Adrenaline is nice to have on 2/3 2H bros because if you don't invest in initiative (except for fencers and archers), you'll need it to finish off dangerous enemies before they strike.
Also, Brawny+ Battleforged < Nimble and the points you save in fatigue can be allowed on health or defense but having both is good too.
My current party on day 130 after the first crisis
2 archers nimble / berserk / anticipation full ranged def, no melee def at all around 80 hp
1 cleaver shield guy with brawny + battleforged (having a whip as second weapon too)
2 guys with pike/hallberd and Nimble full offense as they're rarely in close combat or only to protect a wounded bro
1 fencer full offense + dodge and nimble (he's a beast, getting behind enemies lines and OS enemies archers or light armored/2H guys)
The rest is 2H mace/axes/swords/hammer 5 of them with nimble and full offense build with the anti-stun skill (forgot the name) and recover
Most of them have rotation but the archers and the fencer (footwork), colossus for anyone with a 2H weapon, also, my archers are on the frontline to gain some range and destroy threats faster.
My advice, just try your own and try various builds, i had more guys with shields on my previous runs, also, one shield/spear guy is useful early on before weapon specialization, then, you can specialize him in another weapon and dump the spear or keep him if you feel like it.
Mass destruction is the way, a dead enemy can't harm you.