Splashing Barbarian

[Ironwind]

Disclaimer: I'm a new player.

Is it worth splashing 2 levels of Barbarian to pickup Uncanny Dodge, Faster Movement and DR?

[Arnya]

Yes

I have a 2brb/12rgr with STR and DEX and he is generally first in kill counts...

You also get my favourite: RAGE!!!

Think Rage + Rage clickie + Bow Strength + Manyshot. Mmmmmm Red Numbers!!!

[Jaywade]

saw your other post if you are thinking going like 10/2/2 ranger/barb/rogue that could be a very nice build you should be able to disarm most traps and locked doors have a fairly high dex you will be faster you will also have evasion uncanny dodge, bow str, and a 1d6 backstab ammong others ...just make sure to go rogue first I do that this way

1 rogue
2ranger
3ranger
4 barb
5rogue
6ranger
7barb
8-14 ranger

[Arnya]

Remember rangers get evasion free at lvl9, and it only works in light armour....

[Mad_Bombardier]

Remember rangers get evasion free at lvl9, and it only works in light armour....

Yup, the second level of Rogue is unnecessary. Drop it and add another level of Ranger (11th) for Greater TWF and Bow feats.

[Aesop]

saw your other post if you are thinking going like 10/2/2 ranger/barb/rogue that could be a very nice build you should be able to disarm most traps and locked doors have a fairly high dex you will be faster you will also have evasion uncanny dodge, bow str, and a 1d6 backstab ammong others ...just make sure to go rogue first I do that this way

1 rogue
2ranger
3ranger
4 barb
5rogue
6ranger
7barb
8-14 ranger

I'd drop the second level of rogue and take Ranger 11 instead.

You get all the Ranger Feats at 11 and 30 Resists. You'll already get Evasion from Ranger 9 and you should have enough Skill POints to keep 4 skills up there enough Search DD OL UMD and maybe even Spot.

Aesop

[rpasell]

My personal favorite character to run right now is my 11/3 Ranger Barb. Halfling, Weapon Finesse, DEX and CON based, with 278 HP unbuffed. Granted he is loaded with helpful weapons (Wounding of Puncturing SS being the primary), but he is a lot of fun to play.

[Ironwind]

Since the character is already Ranger 3, I won't be adding in any rogue levels. Common wisdom says Rogue has to be the 1st level, so that option is out.

Ranger 12 / Barbarian 2 seems like a good idea now, but I don't know enough about the high levels (13-16) to know if I'm going to solemnly regret 2 levels of barbarian somewhere down the line.

Is there any place I can read up about Ranger 13-16? My game manual stops with all the classes at 12.

[Mad_Bombardier]

Is there any place I can read up about Ranger 13-16? My game manual stops with all the classes at 12.

For L13-14 in DDO, try the DDOwiki.
For L15+, you have to look to PnP D&D (and hope that everything will be implemented properly).

[ErgonomicCat]

Also note that a level 2 barb gets to get take Extend Rage and Extra Rage enhancements, as well as the +1 con enhancement, and the Barb DR enhancement, all of which are *nice* imho.

Plus, barbs and rangers have such a nice synergy in wildernesseyness.

[Karr]

Just curious, is it at all worthwhile to go with a 9 Ranger / 5 Barb build to get the Improved Uncanny Dodge feat? Or are the extra Ranger levels valuable enough to make it a bad move?

[Blazer]

Just curious, is it at all worthwhile to go with a 9 Ranger / 5 Barb build to get the Improved Uncanny Dodge feat? Or are the extra Ranger levels valuable enough to make it a bad move?

Depends on how much you value 30pt resists, GTWF, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, a 3rd favored enemy...

Seriously, I would strongly suggest 11 Ranger under the current level cap of 14. When the cap goes to 16 you can see what there is and decide if 11 Ranger/5 Barbarian is a solid way for you to go.

[Karr]

Well, considering the cap raise is supposed to be within a month, and the toon is only level 4 right now, I think I can safely plan beyond level 14. If level 11 Ranger is important enough (and you have a good point about the resists), then I'll aim for that first.

Assuming I go 11 Ranger / 3 Barbarian under the lvl 14 limit, when the cap raises to 16 how does lvl 5 Barb compare to taking 2 levels of ......... I guess Fighter would be the only real option. I cant see any huge benefit to taking 2 levels of Fighter in a Ranger/Barb build but if I'm missing something I'd love to know. I have plenty of time to adjust the build yet.

[Blazer]

Well, considering the cap raise is supposed to be within a month, and the toon is only level 4 right now, I think I can safely plan beyond level 14.

I would say let's hold off on counting on the cap raise within a month. Regardless, I understand your point, probably by the time you get this guy to 14 (unless you play often and level fast), 16 will be the cap when you need to make your decisions.

Assuming I go 11 Ranger / 3 Barbarian under the lvl 14 limit, when the cap raises to 16 how does lvl 5 Barb compare to taking 2 levels of ......... I guess Fighter would be the only real option. I cant see any huge benefit to taking 2 levels of Fighter in a Ranger/Barb build but if I'm missing something I'd love to know. I have plenty of time to adjust the build yet.

Well, I'm not too up on the barb enhancements, but you would end up (I think) with the ability to add more rages, longer rages, and more powerful rages. How much more, I don't now. This obviously helps while you TWF or use a bow. If you are a STR based ranger (thinking max STR here), getting to 36-38ish STR with bow strength would be fun. Basically, I would see the fighter levels granting you a couple of extra feats and some low lvl enhancements (like Crit Accuracy, for example). Would it be worth it? Perhaps, depends on how your character develops over the next few levels and where you take him honestly.

[elraido]

This is good info to know. I just created my first ranger and was thinking of splashing barb. He is a WF Ranger/Barb specializing in the Great Crossbow (just because they are cheap and with the changes later on, banishing etc will be very nice and easy to do.).

[WeiQuinn]

I rolled up a Human that will be a Ranger/Bard/Barbarian. At level 16, he'll be Ranger 13/Bard 1/Barbarian 2. He's going to use Bastard Swords and pick up the Tempest enhancement. I have a nice Holy Burst Kukri of Pure Good in the bank for him (level 10 restriction).

This is my first Strength based character... all of my others are Dexterity based. 2 Ranged based and 1 Finesse Melee based.
So far, he's quite fun to play.

[Arnya]

This is good info to know. I just created my first ranger and was thinking of splashing barb. He is a WF Ranger/Barb specializing in the Great Crossbow (just because they are cheap and with the changes later on, banishing etc will be very nice and easy to do.).

Rangers and crossbows don't mix dude, none of the bowstrength bonuses apply nor manyshot.... My 2brb/12rgr crits for mid 70s with a bow of the elements(air) with 24str and 25dex. Dual wields dwarf axes (hardly misses) for mid 80s crits both hands... Str rangers FTW