Hmm. I've read lots of posts that suggest that you're likely in for trouble if you don't take certain magic skills and put points into int.
However, what about people wanting to play a more pure melee warrior build? Are they destined to be weak without putting points in skills and stats they generally would steer clear of (magic skills and the int stat)? A traditional warrior build would be pumping stat points into STR and VIT, leaving the INT pretty much alone, and selecting melee based combat skills as opposed to magic. Is that a really bad idea in this game?
int = armor against magic spells hitting you, adds damage to magic weapons.
str = armor against physical strikes, adds damage to physical weapons.
A weapon is either 100% physical damage, 50%/50% phys/magic, or 10%/90% phys/magic. Int allows great flexibility by adding to any bow or sword that has at least some magic damage, but if you specialize you get a physical bonus that is identical... aka, points into str increase sword damage equally as int as long as sword is magic. if the sword is purely physical than ONLY str increases its damage.
The bonus to resistance to blows can be nice, and you get to wield two handed swords, which are the best damage from melee.
Overall though, magic is better.
