Looking for comments on build

[WeaselKing]

Looking to build a DPS two weapon fighting barb who can still pull out a bow when needed and do decent damage. I took ranger for bow strength, free two weapon fighting and wand healing. Normally I would go warforged but I didn't want to take the healing hit if I am going to self heal between fights with wands. Would like to get the HP higher but I would also gladly trade toughness for superior two weapon fighting if the ever add that.

Didn't bother with equipment here but would be looking for the usual stuff, Madstone Boots, +6 stat items, Scourge Choker, Bloodrage Symbiot etc. Looking to dual wield dwarven axes, thought about khopeshes but the feats are a little tight and the dwarven axe enhancements are always nice.

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Fleshredder Axebreaker
Level 16 Neutral Good Dwarf Female
(14 Barbarian \ 2 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 364
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 16\16\21\26\26
Fortitude: 19
Reflex: 11
Will: 4

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 16)           (Level 16)
Strength             16                 21                   21
Dexterity            16                 17                   18
Constitution         18                 20                   24
Intelligence          8                  8                    8
Wisdom               10                 10                   10
Charisma              6                  6                    6

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 1
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 1
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 12

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 16)          (Level 16)
Balance               5                  6                   10
Bluff                -2                 -2                   -2
Concentration         4                  7                    7
Diplomacy            -2                 -2                   -2
Disable Device       n/a               n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                 -2                   -2
Heal                  0                  1                    1
Hide                  3                  4                    4
Intimidate            0                 15                   15
Jump                  7                 24                   24
Listen                4                 18                   18
Move Silently         3                  4                    4
Open Lock             n/a               n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a               n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                 -1                   -1
Search               -1                  0                    2
Spot                  4                  5                    5
Swim                  3                  5                    5
Tumble                n/a               n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a               n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Intimidate (+2)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Listen (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Bow Strength
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Dwarven Stability
Feat: (Automatic) Dwarven Stonecutting
Feat: (Automatic) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Dwarven Waraxe
Feat: (Automatic) Giant Evasion
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Orc and Goblin Bonus
Feat: (Automatic) Poison Save Bonus
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Feat: (Automatic) Spell Save Bonus (Dwarf)
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip
Feat: (Automatic) Wild Empathy

Level 2 (Ranger)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Rapid Shot
Feat: (Automatic) Two Weapon Fighting

Level 3 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Fast Movement
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Rage
Enhancement: Barbarian Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Willpower I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I

Level 4 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Damage Reduction
Feat: (Automatic) Uncanny Dodge

Level 5 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Trap Sense

Level 6 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting

Level 7 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Improved Uncanny Dodge

Level 8 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)

Level 9 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+2)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons

Level 10 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)

Level 11 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)

Level 12 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting

Level 13 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Greater Rage

Level 14 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)

Level 15 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 16 (Barbarian)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Indomitable Will
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage III
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage III
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage III
Enhancement: Barbarian Item Defense I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage III
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage IV
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack II
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage II
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
Enhancement: Dwarven Toughness I
Enhancement: Dwarven Toughness II
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness I
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness II

[Kaldaka]

The only suggestion I have is to start Wisdom and Intelligence at 9, then as soon as you leave the Wavecrest tavern, eat +1 tomes for both

This way you will get more skill points when you level.

[sigtrent]

Looks very solid.

A lot of barbarians eshew toughness since they have a lot of HP anyhow, but on a dwarf it does have its advantages and saving it for your last feat makes sense as its easy to spec out if something better becomes apparent.

[WeaselKing]

If I were to switch out toughness for a ranged feat, which do you think would be best, rapid shot?'

Oops got rapid shot with lvl 2 of ranger maybe something else?

[Grenfell]

Go piercing, not slash.

You won't regret it.

/gren

[WeaselKing]

Go piercing, not slash.

You won't regret it.

/gren

How so? What weapons do you propose?

And BTW I have decided to replace my gimpy defensive Dwarven Fighter with this build and he has a big stack of sweet dwarven axes as well as a large list of greater bane weapons so it had better be a good argument.

[brshelton]

How so? What weapons do you propose?

And BTW I have decided to replace my gimpy defensive Dwarven Fighter with this build and he has a big stack of sweet dwarven axes as well as a large list of greater bane weapons so it had better be a good argument.

deathnip, heavy picks, banishing rapiers, and the kicker puncturing

[Grenfell]

deathnip, heavy picks, banishing rapiers, and the kicker puncturing

What he said.

Basically, PUNCTURING is the fastest way to kill something in Mod6. Slashing weapons do not come in Puncturing flavors. Dual puncturing rapiers on a Barb 14 crits on a 13. I don't care what kind of DPS you're doing; I'm going to outkill you.

Banishing does not come in slashing. A banishing rapier crits on a 13, and vaporizes quite a bit of the vale mobs.

If you can't stat-damage them, then Heavy Picks are pretty close to matching all but Khopesh for DPS in a Barb's hands. Crit on a 17 for x4 damage? Yes please!

/gren

[Strykersz]

Swap WF for PA(or if you're stuck on taking toughness, take it at 1 and PA at 15, it isn't really worthwhile until you're hitting on a 1 anyways).

[boldarblood]

Your not a barb w/out Power Attack, just a fighter with less feats

Drop wf:slashing and toughness, neither of them are needed, instead would take Power Attack and Stunning Blow

Also do realize that you will need a +3 Dex tome to be able to reach Superior 2 Weapon Fighting if they add it.

And current end game content piercing > slashing. That can change from mod to mod though.

Not worth it to take 2 levels of Ranger for wand healing, it takes way to long and you can't do it while raged. And you'll be just about raged the entire time. Not worth it imho. I would stay pure Barb myself.

[Osharan_Tregarth]

Your not a barb w/out Power Attack, just a fighter with less feats

Drop wf:slashing and toughness, neither of them are needed, instead would take Power Attack and Stunning Blow

Also do realize that you will need a +3 Dex tome to be able to reach Superior 2 Weapon Fighting if they add it.

And current end game content piercing > slashing. That can change from mod to mod though.

Not worth it to take 2 levels of Ranger for wand healing, it takes way to long and you can't do it while raged. And you'll be just about raged the entire time. Not worth it imho. I would stay pure Barb myself.

I wouldn't say the ranger levels would be for wand healing.... Heck, I hate wand healing my dwarf ranger. Although it comes in handy for keeping other party members off the ground when necessary.

But I would take the two levels of ranger for the increased number of (essentially free)feats, and the versatility of adding bow strength onto your ranged attacks. Starting from a 16 dex, he won't be able to kite stuff around like a pure dex based character would, but with the increasing attack progression finally being added onto ranged weapons, he'll still be able to hit stuff and do a ton of damage.

I agree that wf:slashing won't be necessary at this point in the game, and I'm on the fence about toughness. No, it's not really necessary... But it's hard to pass up the extra hp's from stacking the dwarven/barb toughness enhancements.

I'd also agree that piercing is more important than slashing at this point.

[Shade]

Basically, PUNCTURING is the fastest way to kill something in Mod6. Slashing weapons do not come in Puncturing flavors. Dual puncturing rapiers on a Barb 14 crits on a 13. I don't care what kind of DPS you're doing; I'm going to outkill you.

If by mod6 - you mean 1 or 2 quests - running with the devils/coalensence, thats correct.

If you mean anything else - like the content in general- well your just plain wrong. I group with awesome TWF pierce spec barbarians with banishers, w/p and all the works, they do awesome, they can't be matched in running with the devils, in any other quest there no more effective then a well played slashing build.

Content in most run to least:
Most run:
Shroud - all mobs imune to banishing, all have decent con so w/p isn't that great.. Phase 1 you got weak troglodytes that are killed xtremely fast with plain old greater banes - in which case slashing rules. Later on you got mostly devils with massive HP and con, so your using a vorpal - there are no vorpal piercing weapons.
Probably equal:
Dust - Meh this is a sorc/wizard quest anyways, but later on where it counts for melee to do something vs the odd ogre or rednamed - greater bane rules, ogres have very high con and puncturing will not evne come close to a max dps slash barbarians, and do a big old zero on what counts - the red named guy.
Rainbow - Special weapon quest, smiters rule here - which come on both slash and pierce. Non constructs - DPS/Greater, they don't have much hp at all, nor much con, but there all trash anyways so whatever your using - if your good there dead in 2-4 hits anyways.
Ritual - Greater bane, gnolls have rather low hipoints, low enough that a good barbarian is killing them in a few hits - non crit. Relying on criticals to puncture? your a good 100 kills behind me. My THF guy dominates this quest, the only way to even come close to his killing speed is by copying him, or playing a ranger with 1000s of greater slaying arrows.
Bit less often ran:
Coalenscence - Banishers do rule here, even on elite, I will admit that. However in terms of ruling the killcount its actaully pretty dumb how you can do it - 2 hander - find bat swarms, swing away.. The TWF animation will miss them, while big 2handers glancing blows will rip them apart. Really killing much here doesn't even matter so its a silly contest but still won by THF slashing builds. All the melee really counts for is the end boss where casters are often outa mana - so red named - DPS, duh on whos more effective there.
Running with the devils - Dominated by wounding/puncturing. It's just a weird quest like that - could even by called bugged due to the fact the gaele heal doesn't remove con dmg like the real heal spell does. I prefer to play casters due to that, CC'ing the mobs to prevent them from ever healing or attack at all has a much larger impact then killing them fast on a good melee. That said I have killed the entier dungeon on my slashing THF build with no CC and no one using wounders on elite - hard as hell to do and rather in-effecient yes - but also pretty fun in terms of challenge.

So pretty much 2/5 quests piercing is better, and 0 of 1 raids. Sorry grenfeld, but no piercing/puncturing is NOT ruling mod6, not by a longshot. Im sad to hear you gave up on your slashing build, but don't for a second think everyone else has.

[WeaselKing]

Well thank you all for the comments so far they are all helpful. I will be sticking with slashing largely because if I do ever loot a W/P rapier or short sword my ranger has precedence but a future respec is not out of the question. I have a while to get to level 15 but I may just take PA instead of toughness as that seems like a reasonable idea. Thank you all again and feel free to continue commenting, I am up to level 3 already but still have alot of building to go.