Value of Imp. Sunder and Trip to a pure Barb?

[Fishcatch22]

As title. Are either of these feats worth considering for a pure barb now, or is SB still the best way to go? Going to be playing a pure 20 OS Tankish Barb. I doubt I will ever do EE, so no need to consider their value there.

[axel15810]

If running EH, I'd imagine there's little argument to go with improved sunder or improved trip over stunning blow.

Stunning is the only one of these tactics that makes the enemy helpless and gives 50% bonus damage. That means everything. I think having both imp trip and SB is great though if you splash a few fighter levels and can fit it in. As pure though, having to choose 1 I'd go with SB every time.

[Qhualor]

I would still go with SB, but IT is very good for a barb too. Now that we can go as high as +5 tomes, there wouldnt be any real sacrifice to a barb by taking the feat and putting a left over point or 2 in Int to get 13 with just base Int.

[Fishcatch22]

How about Imp. Sunder? Does that have any value now that it takes away from enemy Fort?

Also, since I'll be going deep in OS, would max Ear Smash be a viable CC option? It doesn't eat up a feat slot, doesn't have a save and can also give Stun on vorpals, though I can't use it on the 3 Immunity-spammers (Constructs, Undead, and oozes) or elves.

[axel15810]

How about Imp. Sunder? Does that have any value now that it takes away from enemy Fort?



It qualifies you for the Sundering Swings T1 ability in dreadnought, which makes every melee swing count as improved sunder for 15 seconds. I find it to be very useful to the party in raids and on bosses. I think that's about it though.

Edit: Apparently this is bugged according to the wiki and not working correctly so maybe axe my comment until they fix it.

[kmankowski]

Also, since I'll be going deep in OS, would max Ear Smash be a viable CC option?

I love Ear Smash plus Knock Out. I only put one rank in KO though since the enemy wakes up after being hit. It is fun to basically kill anything with a Knock Out/Great Cleave combo. And it works on so many more enemies than Stunning Blow does. I don't use Knock Out as a CC really. Just a way to get free sneak damage with my rogue splash.

I still have Stunning Blow too, but I love CC options. I like to have one not on cool down at any point.

[GeoffWatson]

How about Imp. Sunder? Does that have any value now that it takes away from enemy Fort?

Also, since I'll be going deep in OS, would max Ear Smash be a viable CC option? It doesn't eat up a feat slot, doesn't have a save and can also give Stun on vorpals, though I can't use it on the 3 Immunity-spammers (Constructs, Undead, and oozes) or elves.

Ear smash is excellent. Use it on casters, and they just stand around useless.

Geoff.