Yet another barb build question

[Windrider30]

Ok I will freely admit I'm a soloer at heart so please keep that in mind. My main is a 15 level wizard who blows stuff up..really good..dies a lot..but blows stuff up really good...anyways wizards or at least mine (90 hit points max) does NOT solo that well when it comes to quests, open areas yes quests not so well. So I'm trying two builds for a barb. The first one is just your standard pure class barbarain and at level 5 littlerage has soloed STK, on normal only so far with only 10 deaths, 7 do to low will saves and stupid clerics, and only three to the giant. Now my newest build is the one I have a question on she is only level 3 and a dark elf, yes I said dark elf not dwarf the reason for the dark elf is that I have decided to go multi class with her.

Right now she is level 3 and is a 1 barbarian/2 bard so far I'm really likeing the set up I plan on going 8/8 every other level switching so at level 4 she will be 2 barb/2 bard strenght 17 right now do to item charsima 18 (for max bard stuff as long as i'm not raged) I can heal myself and fasinate/hypno mobs then pick my target.

The question is how viabable will this build be solo, so far party wise i seem to be doing ok switching rolls between bard and barb and i can even wand whip if needed. And the other question is should i work on my dex stats (dont remember off hand what it is) and should i put a point or two in tumble? I am planing on working on str con and Charsima leaving wisdom and intel at 10 (i hate negitives and with my level 5 barb having only a will of 9 do to an item will saves really blow which makes it so clerics even on normal can command me then swat me intot he ground lol.)

[tihocan]

If I were you I'd target either bard 14/bard 6 or barb 11/bard 9 for L20. The first one would be more powerful (crit rage II), the second one a bit better on buffs (higher caster level, and better inspire courage/greatness).
Don't worry about neither Cha nor Dex (with level up points). Bump Str only. Make sure you plan your skills so you can keep UMD / Perform / Intimidate maxed (you can spend 1 pt in tumble, but shouldn't need more).

Edit: oh, as pointed out below, forget about soloing at high level with this build, unless you have stealth skills as well (so you can spend your few fascinates on the mob you really have to kill)

[Impaqt]

I'm having a hard time coming up with a Worse build for soloing than a 8/8 barb bard.

6 Sorc/6ROgue/4paly maybe?


THere really are only 3 ways to solo in this game (depending on your Twink level, some work better than others)

Massive Damage: FIrewall/Blader Barrier THis Requires you to be able to absorb lots of damage yourself because you generate so much aggro.

Instakill: Just Finger/PK/Banish/Destruct/Slay em. ENd bosses are difficult in most cases because they are immune.

Stealth: Get by all the popcorn mobs and concentrate onthe Quest goal only.


8/8 Barb/Bard does not fall into these catagories at all. You'll do Fine up to level 7 or so (Although 7 Deaths in STK Normal is Excessive IMO.. My Rogue Solo'd STK at l4 normal with just One re-entry for the boss fight)

My sugestion? Build yourself a more durable Wizard. a 250ishHP Warforge WIzard solo's Exceptionally well.

[dior10276]

I'll keep it short. I rolled a barb/bard combo up to level 6 or 7 i think. This is was my main problem with build, when raged you can't cast or heal. Kind of limited when you needed heal. I think fighter/bard might work better. Best builds I hvae seen were 14/2, guess you could go pali as well since charisma is helpful.

You might want to build drow for spell resistance, just don't forget to take toughness and put a lot into con, don't really need much dex to max out mithral full plate, 12 i think.

[Hanam]

I'll keep it short. I rolled a barb/bard combo up to level 6 or 7 i think. This is was my main problem with build, when raged you can't cast or heal. Kind of limited when you needed heal. I think fighter/bard might work better. Best builds I hvae seen were 14/2, guess you could go pali as well since charisma is helpful.

You might want to build drow for spell resistance, just don't forget to take toughness and put a lot into con, don't really need much dex to max out mithral full plate, 12 i think.

Impossible

[dior10276]

That is y i re-rolled as figher. Thanks for the correction. Chaos vs Lawful!!

[Shagn]

If you are going to solo a lot, might I suggest Warforged 14 sorc/2 paladin. Max strength, then con, then charisma. You will be able to self-heal very easily, self buff, and cast area effect spells such as firewall and fight inside it. Reconstruct scrolls and mana pots for backup. I've seen a few of these builds behind good players and they can solo about anything. A battlecleric may be another option if you wish to use spells such as blade barrier, but you will be using a lot of haste potions and such to keep yourself going.

[maddmatt70]

I'm having a hard time coming up with a Worse build for soloing than a 8/8 barb bard.

6 Sorc/6ROgue/4paly maybe?


THere really are only 3 ways to solo in this game (depending on your Twink level, some work better than others)

Massive Damage: FIrewall/Blader Barrier THis Requires you to be able to absorb lots of damage yourself because you generate so much aggro.

Instakill: Just Finger/PK/Banish/Destruct/Slay em. ENd bosses are difficult in most cases because they are immune.

Stealth: Get by all the popcorn mobs and concentrate onthe Quest goal only.

I would add two other major categories the self healing tank and the durable self healing ranged specialist. Battle bards are very good soloers because of their no fail umd on heal scrolls and tremendous melee capabilities. The problem with the bard/barb build and well any build with barbarian that trys to solo is they have to constantly end their rage to use heal scrolls and in addition in this case whenever they want to cast haste and displacement. Really bad build to solo.

[Impaqt]

If you are going to solo a lot, might I suggest Warforged 14 sorc/2 paladin. Max strength, then con, then charisma. You will be able to self-heal very easily, self buff, and cast area effect spells such as firewall and fight inside it. Reconstruct scrolls and mana pots for backup. I've seen a few of these builds behind good players and they can solo about anything. A battlecleric may be another option if you wish to use spells such as blade barrier, but you will be using a lot of haste potions and such to keep yourself going.

I dont need anything except my 30% striders when Soloing on my clerics. ANd a Sorc/Paly makes more sense since they are both CHR based.

[Impaqt]

I would add two other major categories the self healing tank and the durable self healing ranged specialist. Battle bards are very good soloers because of their no fail umd on heal scrolls and tremendous melee capabilities. The problem with the bard/barb build and well any build with barbarian that trys to solo is they have to constantly end their rage to use heal scrolls and in addition in this case whenever they want to cast haste and displacement. Really bad build to solo.

You may be able to "No Fail" the UMD Check on a Heal scroll.. But COncentration Still Applies. I dont know manhy Bards that can be meleeing and be able to get off heal scrolls consistantly.

To Solo as a tank yu need a LOT of resources in most cases... Yes, It can be done..... But its not the norm. ANd Ranged Rangers Usually (But not always) would fall into the stealth catagory imo.

[maddmatt70]

You may be able to "No Fail" the UMD Check on a Heal scroll.. But COncentration Still Applies. I dont know manhy Bards that can be meleeing and be able to get off heal scrolls consistantly.

To Solo as a tank yu need a LOT of resources in most cases... Yes, It can be done..... But its not the norm. ANd Ranged Rangers Usually (But not always) would fall into the stealth catagory imo.

It is really easy just to take a step back from the mob and hit yourself with a heal scroll so concentration really isn't an issue. True you could use some resources to solo as a self healing tank. The bard does have some really nice damage mitigators in displacement, stoneskin, and the very high dps output they have. I soloed the vale soon after it came out with my battle bard and that was relatively inexpensive especially since I had banishers. I have soloed some of the vale quests as well with my battle bard. Not always easy to kill the air elementals, but heck you can't have everything... There are several examples of really high ac/high save self healing builds soloing quests with very little resources used. If the OP wants to build one of those that would work as well.

[Impaqt]

It is really easy just to take a step back from the mob and hit yourself with a heal scroll so concentration really isn't an issue. True you could use some resources to solo as a self healing tank. The bard does have some really nice damage mitigators in displacement, stoneskin, and the very high dps output they have. I soloed the vale soon after it came out with my battle bard and that was relatively inexpensive especially since I had banishers. I have soloed some of the vale quests as well with my battle bard. Not always easy to kill the air elementals, but heck you can't have everything... There are several examples of really high ac/high save self healing builds soloing quests with very little resources used. If the OP wants to build one of those that would work as well.

I'll have to go through the Soloist thread a bit more I guess...... I really have never seen anyone play a tank as a tank while soloing a High end quest..... It generally involves Avoiding many Optionals and pulling no more than a couple mobs at a time. Which I consider Stealth Play.... Even if your not Maxxed on the Stealth Skills.....