Rage Against the Machine-- A Barbarian/Sorc Build

[Shanar]

All right now. I have seen many people posting builds and I like to make them but haven't had much feedback on them. So here is my first build posted:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 2.80
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Rage Against* the Machine *
Level 16 Neutral Good Warforged Male
(15 Barbarian \ 1 Sorcerer) 
Hit Points: 318
Spell Points: 210 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 5
Will: 5

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
Abilities        (Level 1)          (Level 16)           (Level 16)
Strength             18                 23                   23
Dexterity            10                 10                   10
Constitution         16                 18                   22
Intelligence          8                  8                    8
Wisdom                6                  6                    6
Charisma             10                 10                   10

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 16
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 16

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 16)          (Level 16)
Balance               2                  8                    3
Bluff                 0                  0                    0
Concentration         3                  7                    7
Diplomacy             0                  0                    0
Disable Device       n/a               n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                  0                    0
Heal                 -2                 -2                   -2
Hide                  0                  0                   -5
Intimidate            4                 19                   19
Jump                  8                 25                   21
Listen               -2                 -2                   -2
Move Silently         0                  0                   -5
Open Lock             n/a               n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a               n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                 -1                   -1
Search               -1                 -1                   -1
Spot                 -2                 -2                   -2
Swim                  4                  6                   -4
Tumble                n/a               n/a                  n/a
Use Magic Device      n/a               n/a                   n/a

Notable Equipment
Shield: +5 Ghost Touch Adamantine Steel Tower Shield of Greater Fire Resistance 
Helm: Helm of the Mroranon
Handaxe: +5 Acid Burst Adamantine Handaxe of Enfeebling 
Ring: Chattering Ring
Ring: Seal of Earth
Goggles: Sandstorm Glasses
Necklace: Health Necklace of Protection +# 
Trinket: Feather Falling Trinket of the Magi 
Cloak: Cloak of the Zephyr
Belt: Purging the Pantheon
Belt: Proof against Poison Belt of Greater False Life 
Boots: Gyroscopic Boots of Striding
Bracers: Bracers of the Demon’s Consort
Bracers: Ogre Power Bracers

Level 1 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Intimidate (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Adamantine Body
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Composite Plating
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Fast Movement
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Light Fortification
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Rage
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip
Feat: (Automatic) Warforged Resistances
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Willpower I

Level 2 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Magical Training
Spell (1): Expeditious Retreat
Spell (1): Repair Light Damage
Enhancement: Barbarian Jump I
Enhancement: Sorcerer Force Manipulation I
Enhancement: Sorcerer Energy of the Dragonblooded I
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor I

Level 3 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Damage Reduction
Feat: (Automatic) Uncanny Dodge
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I

Level 4 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Trap Sense
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I

Level 5 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost II
Enhancement: Barbarian Sprint Boost II

Level 6 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Automatic) Improved Uncanny Dodge
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Willpower II

Level 7 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II

Level 8 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost III
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II

Level 9 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage III

Level 10 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+2)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II

Level 11 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution II

Level 12 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave
Feat: (Automatic) Greater Rage
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost IV
Enhancement: Barbarian Item Defense I

Level 13 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Critical Rage I

Level 14 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage III
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage III

Level 15 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Fortification
Feat: (Automatic) Indomitable Will
Enhancement: Barbarian Critical Rage II

Level 16 (Barbarian)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage IV

So what do you guys (experienced builders) think about it? A barbarian with crazy rages and the ability to wand-whip heal himself.
I'd really appreciate the feedback.

[Impaqt]

One Major Flaw......

You cant Wand Whip While your Raged.

So you give up a point of BAB and the chance to get Mighty Rage at L20 for the ABility to heal yourself slightly cheaper in between fights?

Doesnt add up to me.

Go deep Multi-class on a Barbarian or Leave him Pure.

[sigtrent]

At low level the wand whipping will be handy, but at higher levels it will be meaningless for two reasons...
#1. You cant do it while ranged
#2. You will have so many hit points that the wand healing will feel like a tiny drop in a big bucket and be utterly useless except when the party is sitting around.

I would me much more inclined to splash a rogue or bard level and maintain a high UMD if you wanted to heal yourself. Then you could use a reconstruct scroll and get some meaningfull healing as well as equip race restricted items. It would be a better trade off in the long run although not very usefull until higher levels.

I wouldn't bother with 10 dex.. 10 is about as usefull as 8 which is to say its not doing you much good.

This build would be functional and the character woulldn't be bad in any particular way, its just that you wouldn't actualy get much benefit from the sorcerer level after a while and you might feel like it was a waste.

[tihocan]

/agreed with Sigtrent

[wiglin]

First...Welcome to the forums. It always nice to see new posters.

Second...Taking a caster class for the use of wand wipping was a little more common back when the game had a level cap of 10, but you really are better off drinking potions.

[Borror0]

I wouldn't bother with 10 dex.. 10 is about as usefull as 8 which is to say its not doing you much good.

I agree with the post except this sentence.

More Dex as a barbarian is a good thing. A barbarian has no use for AC, true. However, Reflex saves are a barbarian's weakness. They already have humongeous Fortitude saves, with the right gear they can reach really high Will saves, but relfexes... not really. As a result, not a bad idea to bump Dex a little. It's not like that 500 HP barbarian was craving for more HP/Con.

I'd reduce the Cha to 6 though (as you shouldn't take that sorcerer level).

[Blazer]

I'd reduce the Cha to 6 though (as you shouldn't take that sorcerer level).

Agreed, CHA down, DEX and/or WIS up, no Sorc level (it's really not worth it).

[Shanar]

At low level the wand whipping will be handy, but at higher levels it will be meaningless for two reasons...
#1. You cant do it while ranged

I would me much more inclined to splash a rogue or bard level and maintain a high UMD if you wanted to heal yourself. Then you could use a reconstruct scroll and get some meaningfull healing as well as equip race restricted items. It would be a better trade off in the long run although not very usefull until higher levels.

I wouldn't bother with 10 dex.. 10 is about as usefull as 8 which is to say its not doing you much good.

For the raged part, I didn't honestly know that I thought it was just spells, which I didn't worry but I brushed off the D&D books. Lo and behold, you can't. My bad.

I was thinking later that maybe 2 rogue levels would be nice or even just pure barbarian, which would be nice to throw a few reconstruct scrolls (possibly even raise dead, not likely though)

I put 10 dex and not 8, so I didn't get the -1 dex mod to AC... When two-handed or dual-wielding, you need any AC you can get considering you have no shield.

Thanks guys! I will make the adjustments soon and re-post them here on this thread

[Strykersz]

You asked for feedback so here we go...

I put 10 dex and not 8, so I didn't get the -1 dex mod to AC... When two-handed or dual-wielding, you need any AC you can get considering you have no shield.

This is true up until you hit Gianthold. Once you're running GH(especially on elite) ac becomes meaningless below 40, not especially meaningful below 45 and starts coming in handy at 50. It gets worse in the Vale.

Unless you plan on running this guy with a dedicated sorc/wiz to heal you(e.g. it's a duo character and even then, get a minos legens. You'll be 15 by the time you'd take IF, you should be more than capable of getting one by then, especially if you have a sorc/wiz partner) do not under any circumstances take Improved Fortification. You don't need toughness(without it, you'll hit 300+ hp unraged with not fantastic gear). The cleave/great cleave route will, in general, lower your dps. Adamantine body is worthless past level 9ish due to the need to have great ac or none. It may be worthwhile to take it at 1 and then respec out of it by whatever level you can use the shards below Siberys to switch feats but it is not worth having at 16. Also, Adam body will prevent you from using Evasion, so if you go rogue dump it altogether.