Barbarian - Questions about Rage

[Artagon]

Ok, so I'm building a barbarian, not for DPS, *gasp* but kind of like a dwarven defender, where my rage is really just to pump me to a crazy juggernaut. I have 2 questions, however:

1. What is the calculation on rage duration? I had assumed it would be 18 seconds (3 rds) + 6 seconds per con bonus.. and that SEEMS to add up.. at 5th lvl with exend rage I and 26 constitution(pre-rage, 30 while raging), my rage lasts for approximately 1m 40s. I'd just like a confirmation. This leads me to my next question...

2. Do items and enhancements increase rage duration? or is it only your base stat?

I just want to know before I go all silly on my toon. I'm going to get him to a 42 constitution while raging, which is certainly against conventional wisdom, but it will make my rage a constant state of being with hitpoints well over 700. I'll be using a mithral tower shield, dwarven axe, and the armor mastery ehancements for being dwarf to reach reasonable AC. Two lvls of fighter for 2 bonus feats and the fighter strength I. This allows me to sit at a modest 34 strength while raging.. but then, I'm going to be playing him like a fighter, so 34 strength is great. I'm going to max my intimidate to take advantage of the intimidate enhancement as well.

Am I completely nuts? I welcome the answers to my questions, as well as information to make my build better, but I'd prefer non-flaming posts, please. Just because I don't fit the normal mold for barbarian doesn't mean it's not workable. It just means we make it work in a different way.

[Mad_Bombardier]

Rage duration is 30 + (Constitution modifier x 6) seconds. And yes, all CON increases (including rage itself add to the duration).

Personally, I don't see it. If you want HP and survivability, ok. Intimidate to manage aggro, sure. But, to Rage and hide behind a shield doesn't strike my fancy.

[Artagon]

I won't be blocking unless the situation demands it, and while I will primarily axe and board, that doesn't prevent me from switching out to my big hitter once in a while, again, as the situation demands.

Thank you for the quick reply and information :P

[BattleCircle]

Does Intimidate work now? I quit using it long ago, my 14 barb 2 fighter with intim maxed and helm of intimidation(+10) couldn't attract a sewer kobolds attention if there is a caster in the group....

[MrCow]

Does Intimidate work now? I quit using it long ago, my 14 barb 2 fighter with intim maxed and helm of intimidation(+10) couldn't attract a sewer kobolds attention if there is a caster in the group....

Intimidate works and it hasn't changed much other than being instantaneous (no 3 second activation timer).

As for kobolds, the toughest kobold non-named kobold to intimidate is a Kobold Shaman on Elite (DC 18 to intimidate). Most people in the end-game content should find that an intimidation skill of 30-35 should be sufficient for most of what they are doing (except for enemies with incredibly high WIS) and very few things anymore are "mindless".

[Artagon]

Hmm.. I suppose I could also get the insight bonus on a greensteel item to pump my ac even further.. like an additional 4. That would put me at 50/52 unbuffed ac.. 68/70 buffed, and of course, subtract 2 for raging..

not too shabby.. at least while uncanny dodge is running :P

[dragons1ayer74]

I think it could be a pretty interesting build, the biggest concern is as this jugernaut I would say you want AC to be very good and raging (and ouble raging and double madstone raging) all take thier toll on ac.

[Artagon]

I think it could be a pretty interesting build, the biggest concern is as this jugernaut I would say you want AC to be very good and raging (and ouble raging and double madstone raging) all take thier toll on ac.

Very true, and I have yet to crunch my numbers, thank you for bringing that to my attention! hmmm... ok, so:

10 base
13 Fullplate
04 Dex w/ armor mastery
09 Mithral Tower Shield
05 +5 prot cloak (have it)
02 NA (ring of balance)
03 dodge (chattering ring)
-------
46 undispellable before buffs, 48 blocking

04 pally aura
03 high lvl cast of barkskin
01 haste
02 recitation
06 uncanny dodge
02 Madstone
-------
64, 66 blocking (62/64 while raging)

do these numbers seem right?

so with regular rage, it would drop by two points, so my unbuffed would be approximately 44 while not blocking, 46 while blocking.
my calculated strength and constitution was without madstone rage or the rage spell. I'm not sure the rage spell would actually be worth it for this build. *shrug*