Ranger Splash?

[Rkik_Dnec]

I have a dwarven barbarian that is sitting at level 3 at the moment.

His starting stats are:
STR: 17
DEX: 13
CON: 18
INT: 8
WIS: 8
CHA: 6

Looking back, I probably should have dropped the Dex, but oh well.

Anyways, I really dislike the lack of healing ability on this character. All my other characters are Clerics, Bards or Fighters with a Pali splash. I have thought about taking a level of Ranger or Bard just for the ability to use wands. Ranger would make the most sense for the favored enemy as well. Any thoughts on this? Should I just suck it up and keep drinking potions? What would I lose out on by taking a level of Ranger?

[Mad_Bombardier]

I may be wrong, but don't think you can't wand whip when raged. So, there's little healing benefit (unless you like Dismissing Rage and wand whipping, then re-Raging).

[Rkik_Dnec]

I may be wrong, but don't think you can't wand whip when raged. So, there's little healing benefit (unless you like Dismissing Rage and wand whipping, then re-Raging).

Good point.

Now I just need to find a cheeper way to get potions.

[Pyrothraxus]

The first toon i made was a Barb/Ranger for pretty much the same reason why you wanted to splash ranger. I found the healing to be lacking and the splashing of the ranger reduce dmg. Granted I didnt know what i was doing mainly since it was my first character but looking back I think you would be better off focusing on dmg build and unfortunately join the legions of barbs with drinking problems and chug heal pots.

[Mad_Bombardier]

Good point.

Now I just need to find a cheeper way to get potions.

Qwijymart!

[maddmatt70]

Qwijymart!

They have Qwijymart on other servers then just Khyber? He is really expanding then..

[Mad_Bombardier]

I don't know, but I love the name and concept! Our guild haggler purchases consumables from vendors at 77.55% base value and it's a beautiful thing.

One thing you can do to cut the cost of potion healing is buy CMW pots instead of CSW. It's 40% cost for 67% healing output. Sure, you have to carry & drink more, which costs more time to heal up. But, it saves your coinpurse.

[Angelus_dead]

I have thought about taking a level of Ranger or Bard just for the ability to use wands. Ranger would make the most sense for the favored enemy as well. Any thoughts on this?

In the short term it might help you.

In the long term, when you are 13th level or so you'll regret it and wish you could have pure barb levels back. However, that was a stronger warning back when the level cap was 14, because barb14 is a powerful level. Barb15 and 16 are good, but not supremely great, so it doesn't hurt too bad to give up barb16 for ranger1.

When you are high level, it will take forever for CSW wands (or potions) to fill up your massive barbarian hps. And your barbarian rages will last 95% of the time, making wanding impossible. If you took a bard level instead, you could have full UMD by level 16, allowing the use of Heal scrolls when your rage comes off.

However, better than healing yourself is to have friends do the healing for you.