snoopyofour - well, I can only tell you my observstion + works for me ?
I'm disabled, so I can't block/roll. My strategy is: "best defense is a good offense".
When I first played TLC, I noticed several things per my playing style.....>
1) shorter weapons caused me to take more damage
2) heavy weapons had a slower swing rate
3) to beat the Chief, I had to use angles + spin my hero to cause diferent attacks
I ran: 1) some trolls .. 2).. hobbe cave(... low damage weapons) .. 3) Thunder ... 4) The Arena
I bought the Solus Greatsword.
I am using The Harbinger.
On the trolls, the hit frequency is greater with Harbinger ... so much so, the damage numbers overlap.
They don't with the Greatsword.
Thunder whooped me in melee
But, using The Harbinger + my angles, caused him more damage.
The Arena ... tested both swords vs The Bandits, as they block and are quicker than the undead.
I beat them with both swords, but The Harbinger was easier.
It may be just dumb luck or gameplay mechanics; I don't know ?
But I've noticed.........>
1) straight attacks get blocked
2) inactivity causes me to get hit
So, I just keep "swinging" + "change the attack angle with the mouse" + " do a 180 with my mouse/hero".
This seems to keep hitting the enemy, thus it can't hit me back ... the hitting + shifting my hero's alignment to the object causes a disalignment and I'm able to get thru blocks easier ... sometimnes, by doing a 180, I'm even able to get behind the enemy
Again, could just be luck ?
The Harbinger performed better when surrounded.
Both weapons were fine in a straight-line fight.
I'm not evil, so I don'y know about the Guards ... the hit points etc
They seem to use a Obsidian/Master Longsword ... plus when they would follow me(...quest), they seemed to attack quickly ?
If I get in 1 1/2 hits with the Harbinger, it should be close to the Solus ?
Plus, with the attack speed(... it is faster = the damage/frequency numbers prove it), the enemy can't hit + block ... big difference if you're surrounded.
Well, that's my deduction based on tonights play with different weapons/different enemies/single-three enemies vs 5+ enemies.
It might not amount to a hill of beans, but the above is my observation based on gameplay + watching the damage counter in a fight(s).