Epic Locus of Vol - Blood Rage

[Beherit_Baphomar]

Hello,

I pulled one of these bad boys last night. And I've played around with it a little but I wondered what the general consensus was on the boards about the blood rage?

Is it worth the pain? The 50% penalty to attack speed is pretty hard to live with.
I know you guys run all the figures and numbers and you'll know better than I if it's worth dealing with this penalty for the pros that it brings. The +8 to STR and CON is really easy to get to, it procs every time you get hit.

So what do you guys think? Oh and I think I'd have a neg level wearing it too, but as far as I can see as a level 20/8 barbarian one neg level doesn't matter a jot.

Thanks in advance!!

[bbqzor]

The 50% penalty to attack speed

That effect right there makes it essentially not worth using. If you attack 50% less often, you do half whatever your relative base dps would be.

This item does not provide a 100% increase in base damage (ie, you hit twice as hard) to compensate. Even if it did, attacking more often is superior over time, all other things being equal, due to things like over-damaging slain mobs or proc'ing effects etc.

To be worthwhile, this would have to more than double your base hit. Obviously it doesnt (unless 8 str doubles your base damage, but uh, hopefully not if your putting on epic loot =p), so its useless for anyone who uses weapon attacks. Maybe like a sorc or something might enjoy the 8 con if they never swing a weapon or something and still get beat up, but on a typical barbarian its a no-go.

[Robbenklopper]

Hello,

I pulled one of these bad boys last night. And I've played around with it a little but I wondered what the general consensus was on the boards about the blood rage?

Is it worth the pain? The 50% penalty to attack speed is pretty hard to live with.
I know you guys run all the figures and numbers and you'll know better than I if it's worth dealing with this penalty for the pros that it brings. The +8 to STR and CON is really easy to get to, it procs every time you get hit.

So what do you guys think? Oh and I think I'd have a neg level wearing it too, but as far as I can see as a level 20/8 barbarian one neg level doesn't matter a jot.

Thanks in advance!!

It COULD have been such a wonderful item for barbarians, but the truth is, like said by bbqzor, it is an epic failure in design. Either the one who created it has never played ddo or there is a hidden idea behind which I cannot make out. Was totally disappointed,

[Eth]

Maybe like a sorc or something might enjoy the 8 con if they never swing a weapon or something and still get beat up, but on a typical barbarian its a no-go.

Doesn't the blood rage effect also prevent spellcasting, clicky use etc.? It would be even more useless for a spellcaster.

That leaves it being a useful item for shield blocking intimi-tanks that never attack. I don't think those still exist. :D

[Damion01]

Doesn't the blood rage effect also prevent spellcasting, clicky use etc.? It would be even more useless for a spellcaster.

That leaves it being a useful item for shield blocking intimi-tanks that never attack. I don't think those still exist. :D

I usually run Occult Slayer for the insane HP and Immunity to most magical effects, it seems it would be very nice for Occult Slayers capstone because +8 Con = another +8 Spell Resistance, my SR currently sits around 82... i think 90 would be overkill though.

But that could be a decent use?

[Enoach]

Just a couple clarifications about Blood Rage and how it works as the -50% to attack speed does not happen for the entire course of Blood Rage

First Proc is +2 STR/CON 12 Seconds
When that fades the second level kicks in for an additional +2 STR/CON and lasts for 12 seconds
When that fades the the third level kicks in for an additional +4 STR/CON and lasts for 12 seconds
it is not until the third tier fades that the Lethargy of -50% attack speed kicks in for 12 seconds

Now fighting against a single target this may seem like it is counter productive, but when fighting several mobs the rotation of these procs will give you approx. 36 seconds of increased power with 12 seconds of reduced speed. So if you can resolve the fight in less than 36 seconds from the first proc you will reduce the suffering the effects of Lethargy especially if it is greater than 12 seconds before your next fight.

Now you cannot cast spells or use devices/scrolls during this time which is why most that I know don't use this ability as the attack speed debuff can be mitigated by use of special attacks like cleaves.

However, in the case of the OP with the locust I think the negative level for full time use might be a factor and should probably look to other sources of Blood Rage (Such as Cannith Crafting) if they want to use it full time.

But you could use this situational if you switch it in, get your proc and then switch it out. This will give you about 30ish seconds of boost with 12 seconds reduced attack speed. Time that with other boosts and it could enable you a nice Apex of damage dealing such as on a High HP Boss Fight.

Again its full time use is not for everyone, but situational can still be a 30ish second boost to you DPS

[Buffyanne]

I use the locus on my barbarian and am fairly pleased with the results. In actual combat situations I almost never notice lethargy. Things are dead within 30 secs then it usually takes over 12 seconds to run to the next encounter. One flaw though is you can't even use your rage when blood rage is active. I am not sure if this is working as intended. So you have to be careful that your rage doesn't run out while mid-combat because you likely won't be able to recast rage till combat is over.

The other side benefits of the necklace are pretty nice too. 40 vitality if you aren't using the minos helm as many barbarians like to wear the emerald gaze. Manslayer gives an avg of 5 pts of dmg each swing. Try it out and see if you like it, it's bound to account so you don't lose anything by giving it a test run for a few days and see if you like it.

One other note, if you are using the ravager visage of terror capstone the +8 con is another 4 DC to that. I like the con boost too cause it puts me over 2K hps which is cool to see.

[Eth]

Having never used blood rage myself... can you dismiss it by going into defensive stance, like most other rage effects?
I would assume the lethargy still applies, but so you can cast spells again and use clickies?

[MonadRebelion]

Hello,

I pulled one of these bad boys last night. And I've played around with it a little but I wondered what the general consensus was on the boards about the blood rage?

Is it worth the pain? The 50% penalty to attack speed is pretty hard to live with.
I know you guys run all the figures and numbers and you'll know better than I if it's worth dealing with this penalty for the pros that it brings. The +8 to STR and CON is really easy to get to, it procs every time you get hit.

So what do you guys think? Oh and I think I'd have a neg level wearing it too, but as far as I can see as a level 20/8 barbarian one neg level doesn't matter a jot.

Thanks in advance!!

Thematically, I think this item is really cool. I wear it on my barbarian for that reason. There are better choices for a neck slot, but I think this item is a lot of fun. As someone already pointed out the lethargy isn't bad, but the fact that it prevents you from activating rage is annoying.

[FestusHood]

Doesn't the blood rage effect also prevent spellcasting, clicky use etc.? It would be even more useless for a spellcaster.

That leaves it being a useful item for shield blocking intimi-tanks that never attack. I don't think those still exist. :D

I have a shield blocking intimi tank. Sometimes i put him in his guard setup just for fun, and i tried bloodrage with it. It prevents all clicky's of any kind. Similar to Barb rage. Worse, it doesn't do what it says it does. It only stacks three times instead of four, and the first two stacks are both +2 to strength and con, total. The third stack raises it to +4 strength and con and that's as high as it goes. Really a terrible effect the way it is working now, much worse than useless.