Help! Ranger, Barb, Rogue.. Argh!

[Methodica]

So I'm in the process of reinstalling DDO right now. I've been patching for something like 6 hours now and I'm not far from finished. I've been scouting the boards on what to roll and have found two examples that I think are extremely cool, but also confuse the heck out of me because I was never a genius on min/maxing and squeezing every bit of potential out of my characters. So I come to you guys for help.

Here is one link, to what I think would deffinitely do more Damage of the two. Which is something I can very much enjoy. http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=155934

The gentleman who posted that listed three options for him, one which I have selected as my favourite of the three, the Barb 14/2 Rogue. I read the thread and decided it'd be absolutely awesome to have the UMD for all the cool stuff out there.

But i also checked the link in his signature and it shows his ranger dps tank monster AC cool thing. No idea what to call it. http://www.adayfam.net/DnD_Boards/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=198&sid=c153eddd14c685cfa7af13eaa198d949
This link will show you what I mean.

Now, I'll probably end up making both builds and the second link shows me how to go about making it and in what order, but I would very much like to make the 14/2 Barb/Rogue... I just don't know what to pick, when to pick it, what order to level in and what gear to pick up along the way.

I don't have access to a 32 point character yet, but I'd probably get that with one of these builds. I'm hoping to be able to make him a dwarf and I do however have a group of friends who said they can get me pretty much whatever I want, which means tomes, something I'm not very familiar on. Am I able to buy +2 ones off the market?

I realise I'm asking a lot but I would very, very much like to get it as strong from the beginning as I can get it so that I can know that I've done everything I can to be as good as I can be.

Thankyou very, very much for reading all this and hopefully for replying!

[maddmatt70]

Stick with the twf 14 barb 2 rogue. Either go with halfling or dwarf for race - I would choose halfling personally. Gear should be all over the barbarian forums. The ranger Gol has is on the old side - the hot ranger builds right now have 1 -2 monk levels.

[Methodica]

Yep, I said I'd probably go with the 14 barb 2 rogue build, but the thing is I don't know what feats and enhancements and such to choose, or when. Or even what to start as, etc etc. Then there's the thing about Tomes I mentioned near the end of my post.

Any thoughts, gang? :)

[tihocan]

Was starting to come up with something when I realized it wasn't clear if you wanted two-handed fighting or two-weapon fighting? (the latter is harder to achieve with a 28 pt build)

[Methodica]

Originally for the barb/rogue it was Two Handed Fighting. But now I wonder if this build is what I really want. I don't like the idea of being as vulnerable as I would be. So UMD isn't a priority anymore.

Would you know of any builds that use Two handed fighting (or could be modified to use it. REALLY wanna run around with that big axe :) ) with the main aspect being damage, but with as much AC and saves as possible? I assume it'd be something with fighter/paladin or some such thing?

P.S. I have access to whatever +1 tomes I need.

[lord_of_rage]

i like the 14 barb 2 ftr splash myself my twf dwarf build geared out is 512 hp unraged. Umd is cool but once you start crafting green steel weapons all you will really need is vorps, disrupters, banishers, and the stat damage stuff. if you are only 28 pt ill crunch #s to see about building a twf 14barb 2 ftr if you are interested. I use picks on Soul personally because the crit enhancements make it worth it. But dwarven axes, kopeshs and even rapiers are all wicked with crit rage 1-2. If you wind up on khyber id be glad to hook you up with gear and plat. But def go with TWF on the build the damage is worth it and the ability to use a two different weaps at the same time. Good luck with the build.

[tihocan]

Would you know of any builds that use Two handed fighting (or could be modified to use it. REALLY wanna run around with that big axe :) ) with the main aspect being damage, but with as much AC and saves as possible? I assume it'd be something with fighter/paladin or some such thing?
High AC builds with THF are really not conventional. It's possible to achieve it but I would not recommend it considering you don't seem to have much experience yet, and the gear it would require.

I'd suggest the following build that suits your initial thought, but does not care about AC (it's the one I had started typing):

Human
Start rogue

str 16
con 14
dex 11
int 10
wis 11
cha 12

Skills: on barbarian levels you'll have 5 skill points, so dump them into UMD, open locks. and intimidate.

Levels: after rogue at first level, take barbarian. Then, two choices: either you try to optimize your skills by taking rogue at a late level, or you just pick rogue at 3rd level so you get evasion early, and you just go on with barbarian (easiest way).

Bonus points: all in Str

Feats:
L1 - Two-handed fighting / Skill focus: UMD
L3 - Power attack
L6 - Stunning blow
L9 - Improved critical: slash
L12 - Improved two-handed fighting
L15 - Greater two-handed fighting