Barbarian up for critique.

[Makarion]

Hello :),


I'm planning a barbarian for my sister. She's dead set on a dwarf with axes, which sounds fine by me for a barbarian, so that wasn't an issue. Question is, which way to go?

1. barbarian 14 / ranger 6 (tempest I). Mithril full plate with dwarven armour enhancements to max out AC when not raging. You never know when you need to tank. Is Intimidate worthwhile?
2. barbarian 12 / ranger 6 (tempest I) / rogue 2. Full UMD, full traps (I checked, Int 12 seems enough although search suffers a little towards the end). Evasion. But chain shirts, and AC is likely less than the above build. Also lacks Critical Rage II.
[3. barbarian 13 and ranger 7 don't seem to offer anything worthwhile]

The question boils down to: how feasible is it to maintain a valid AC on a barbarian, and how worthwhile is it if it requires 12 AP? Mind, that I am a UMD junkie; My sis doesn't seem overly worried by the inclusion or exclusion.

Sketch:


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 Neutral Good Dwarf Female
(12 Barbarian \ 2 Rogue \ 6 Ranger)
Hit Points: 396
Spell Points: 10
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 16
Will: 5

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 17 22
Dexterity 16 19
Constitution 15 20
Intelligence 12 12
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 6 6

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 14

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 7 19
Bluff -2 -2
Concentration 2 5
Diplomacy -2 -2
Disable Device 5 24
Haggle 2 2
Heal -1 -1
Hide 3 4
Intimidate 2 2
Jump 7 15
Listen -1 -1
Move Silently 3 4
Open Lock 7 8
Perform n/a n/a
Repair 1 1
Search 5 21
Spot 3 10
Swim 3 6
Tumble n/a n/a
Use Magic Device 2 21

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant


Level 3 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge


Level 4 (Ranger)


Level 5 (Barbarian)


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility


Level 7 (Ranger)


Level 8 (Barbarian)


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 10 (Rogue)


Level 11 (Ranger)


Level 12 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack II
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage II
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness I
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness II


Level 13 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II


Level 14 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II


Level 15 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II


Level 16 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage III


Level 17 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage III


Level 18 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution III


Level 19 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack II


Level 20 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Barbarian Critical Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack III
Enhancement: Barbarian Willpower I

[sirdanile]

The only problem with this is that she will only be able to rage once a month but leave a path of pure destruction in her wake.

In all seriousness I would consider making her a ranger if you wish to dual weild dwarven axes and get umd and armor class, if you drop those goals then i'd suggest pure barbarian.

[tkneip1874]

being a barbarian means not having ac. so dont even try with that one. keep in mind with umd that when u are raging you can't use items like wands and scrolls (or some potions for that matter... havent figured that one out yet). is this your sisters first time playing this game? if so i would recommend not playing a complex multiclass character. if wanting to go dwarf with axes might want to try a fighter or even a paladin to get used to game although with pali you have to really pay attention to timers on your hot bar.

[Makarion]

She's fairly new. Not totally so, but she has only played enough to realize she wants to get into the fray and not be a backline caster. I don't think that experience with other games will help her much, but I can offer some suggestions of course. You may be right, though, that this is too complex a build plan.

[Lleren]

If she is new to Barbarian I suggest pure =D
Permanently Raged and Frenzied Berserker will get you a lot of groupspots.

AC is hard to get to a usefull level on a Barbarian.

[OldAquarian]

If you are planning to run with her as a healer - she will have a great time as a pure Barbarian
If not, there are healer henchman and heal pots

Also, you might want to consider recommending that she uses a Great axe instead of dual wielding, big numbers are fun and glancing blows will allow her to handle crowds

[Hobgoblin]

unless im completly wrong you can no longer get crit rage.

hob

[Belwaar]

I recommend either of two choices:

Pure 20 Barb TWF (Frenzied Berserker III) or 14 Barb/6 Ranger (Frenzied Berserker II/Tempest I)

I currently have a 9 Barb/6 Ranger that I'm working on he's a blast to play. He has Tempest 1 and Frenzied Berserker 1 currently. I'm thinking about reworking him into a 12 Barb/6 Ranger/2 Rogue, but I haven't finished the plan yet, so I can't really comment on that particular route, however the 14/6 is a fun build.

Don't worry about AC as it doesn't really hold much water unless you're in the 80+ region which is fairly difficult to get to, and as a barbarian, your AC will suffer every time you rage. The expectation from playing barbarians is you kill before being killed. You hold aggro with your axe(s), so intimidate isn't all that worthwhile, in my opinion.

Oh yes, and Crit Rage is no longer available in the game, so concentrate on Max Power Rage, Hardy Rage and Power Attack to get the most out of the toon. Frenzied Berserker ftw! :) They're really fun to play, so I definitely recommend them.

[stormarcher]

Check out this build:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=244106&highlight=extinct+twf+barbarian

[Makarion]

Is Frenzied Berserker really worth it? It takes heaps of AP on a build that already is running short (dwarves have excellent racials), and a useless feat as well (Cleave). Add onto that the requirements for Tempest if you go that route, and you'll probably end up without Toughness. That could spell problems for the Shroud and later.

Now, 12 barbarian / ranger 6 / fighter 2 could do it handily I am sure, although AP are still going to be problematic.

[stormarcher]

Now, 12 barbarian / ranger 6 / fighter 2 could do it handily I am sure, although AP are still going to be problematic.

Try one of these two if you are looking in that direction:

The Brute:
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=248162

Eliminator:
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=244698

[Makarion]

Thank you for the suggestion. The first one is a warforged paladin build though, and thus hardly applicable. The second has some food for thought.