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

[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.

[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....

[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*

[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

[Illuminati]

Intimidate works awesome. Intim with shaken effect (-2 to their skills, attack, saves) is great as well. Would be fun to play for sure. I would try to work in cleave/gcleave since that seems to be the problem with most intim builds (holding agro on multi mobs for the lapse in Intim).

GL and HF

[dragons1ayer74]

I wouldnt mind seeing how you are laying out your build in a little more detail. If your stats could afford it you may also want to take combat expertise.

[Artagon]

Thanks much, I had been trying to figure out what to grab in feats, other than PA, Imp Crit, and toughness, that should be a nice bonus for me...
hp will drop from my original calcs because I'd be dropping my toughness filler feats..
Hmm... HP calculation..

020 heroic durability
168 14 lvls barb
020 02 lvls fighter
066 x4 toughness
050 Barb toughness IV
050 dwarven toughness IV
176 32 toughness
030 GFL item
010 Argo favor
_______________

590 HP +64 while raging = 644

does that look right?

[Illuminati]

I think you get 18 for the first toughness then 16 for each after for total 66?

[Artagon]

fixed the calculation, thanx

[Illuminati]

One of the logical things to consider...

Heal spell (~150ish). If you are going for the 'boss' tank mentality then remember you will get healed as a primary. They will most likely be healing you with heal spell and a spammer. You basically have to be able to survive 4 unhealed attacks from the top dmg mob in content.

You also are gearing for a super high AC which is usually coupled with low to mid 300's hp.

I would recommend gearing for 500ish, anything over that is a little extreme and not that efficient. I like the concept, but I would work the HP a little more towards things that will get you more agro and perhaps saves.

GL

[Artagon]

ok, so drop another toughness in favor of iron will? This drops hp 16 points.. which isn't a terrible loss in the grand scheme of things I suppose.

Hmm.. ok, any other ideas for managing aggro? So far, I have max intimidate, cleave, and great cleave..

[CaptGrim]

I'm actually thinking of a similar toon...WF based, its all about AC(high 50's with raid loot), DR(maxed at 8 for barbs, 15 DR full boost 20 with docent of defiance), and one hand DPS(40 str raged imp crit peicre and death nip, and khopesh prof with the +4 AC from shroud when tanking). It looks like fun but,I'm still working out bugs but I will post a new thread with the preliminary build when I get off of work.

[Artagon]

Huzzah for forum surfing at work!!

This is why I haven't posted MY build :P

[Venar]

The orchid helm is an extra tuffness feat.

[Artagon]

True enough, and that would allow me to drop another toughness in favor of Bullheaded!

[boldarblood]

In all honesty, 700 hitpoints is way overkill, your more of a marshmellow than a barb. If you get yourself ~400 or so pre-rage then your doing just fine. It would free up a bunch of feats to be used for more useful feats. Including adding a few of the 2Hand Feats for those times you need the extra damage. Or can free them up for things like CE, Cleave/GCleaver, Stunning Blow, etc.