16 Str really that bad?

[Khurse]

So I may (admitting nothing) have started my Barb with a 16 str /16 dex/16 con.
Was in a group last night, pretty much the entire told me to reroll now (lvl 6) as by the time I capped I'd be missing not starting at 18.
isn't it a simple -1 to hit (and damage) over someone starting with an 18?
First melee toon, so I completely admit I may be missing something, but I don't see a -1 to hit as game breaking at cap.

Am I missing something?

[Lorien_the_First_One]

So I may (admitting nothing) have started my Barb with a 16 str /16 dex/16 con.
Was in a group last night, pretty much the entire told me to reroll now (lvl 6) as by the time I capped I'd be missing not starting at 18.
isn't it a simple -1 to hit (and damage) over someone starting with an 18?
First melee toon, so I completely admit I may be missing something, but I don't see a -1 to hit as game breaking at cap.

Am I missing something?

Just take every level up in STR, get the STR rage enhancments when they become availalbe to you, and you will be fine. There are just a lot of "min/maxers" out there who try to squeeze every 0.1DPS out of every build.

[Gornn]

So I may (admitting nothing) have started my Barb with a 16 str /16 dex/16 con.
Was in a group last night, pretty much the entire told me to reroll now (lvl 6) as by the time I capped I'd be missing not starting at 18.
isn't it a simple -1 to hit (and damage) over someone starting with an 18?
First melee toon, so I completely admit I may be missing something, but I don't see a -1 to hit as game breaking at cap.

Am I missing something?

You'll be fine! Don't even worry about it. Just make sure you put all your level bumps into strength.

[Draccus]

You're fine. Unless you have another pressing need to reroll (you changed your mind on Skills, you don't like your nose, you realized that dwarves are so ugly that it's not worth the small benefit to play them, etc.), then keep what you've got.

[dopey69]

You're fine. Unless you have another pressing need to reroll (you changed your mind on Skills, you don't like your nose, you realized that dwarves are so ugly that it's not worth the small benefit to play them, etc.), then keep what you've got.

funny +rep

[Shade]

It's just that every single point of strength really does matter. Maybe not game breaking, but it can make a difference. And Barbs don't really have much other stats that benefit them much, so maxing 1 stat just makes sense. I can understand on a 28-pnt TWF build going 17 str. not 16. THF should always be 18.. TWF 32 pnt should be 18.

It's not "just 1 to hit, 1 dmg"

It's +1 to hit - for 2 rolls, and +1.5 to damage minimum. Because THF = 150% str bonus, or TWF = 100% mainhand, 50% offhand.

And the to-hit counts twice because GTWF = 2 roll per every attack. THF = 2 rolls per most attacks (glancing blows have a roll too)

Then also: -1 trip, sunder, stun DC. -1 to jump skill. -1 to str savaes vs knockdown.. Str effects allot for a barb.

Personally I have 1 TWF barb taht started 17 str and it annoys me.. But he has been capped for years with allot of raidloot so i cant bring myself to reroll him.

Lvl6? reroll.. Because it takes some players 3-4 hours or less to get to 6.. If it takes you a ton longer then that... i dunno.

[spifflove]

16 is fine on my halfling.

[Khurse]

16 is fine on my halfling.

So my Warforge has the same Str as a halfling? Guess I better reroll quick

Thanks for the opinions all, went with the 16 dex so it'd be simple to grab a tome for GTWF if I went that way, having enough fun (at,uhmm lvl 6..) with THF so I might not bother with the 16. (I have multiple 2 dex tomes, just wasn't sure if I wanted to use one or sell them)

Although (as a casual player for a while now) How the heck do you hit 6 in 3 hours?
Think I spend 3 hours checking out the sights on the island..

[Gornn]

So my Warforge has the same Str as a halfling? Guess I better reroll quick

Thanks for the opinions all, went with the 16 dex so it'd be simple to grab a tome for GTWF if I went that way, having enough fun (at,uhmm lvl 6..) with THF so I might not bother with the 16. (I have multiple 2 dex tomes, just wasn't sure if I wanted to use one or sell them)

Although (as a casual player for a while now) How the heck do you hit 6 in 3 hours?
Think I spend 3 hours checking out the sights on the island..

That halfling was injected with steroids right in the womb, don't be jealous..since you're a robot, you didn't have a womb to inject the 'roids into....hehe

Seriously, your character is fine as he is. Ignore the calls to reroll and have fun with him. Besides, if you don't tell anyone you started with 16 Str...nobody will know but you.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

It's just that every single point of strength really does matter. Maybe not game breaking, but it can make a difference. And Barbs don't really have much other stats that benefit them much, so maxing 1 stat just makes sense. I can understand on a 28-pnt TWF build going 17 str. not 16. THF should always be 18.. TWF 32 pnt should be 18.

It's not "just 1 to hit, 1 dmg"

It's +1 to hit - for 2 rolls, and +1.5 to damage minimum. Because THF = 150% str bonus, or TWF = 100% mainhand, 50% offhand.

And the to-hit counts twice because GTWF = 2 roll per every attack. THF = 2 rolls per most attacks (glancing blows have a roll too)

Then also: -1 trip, sunder, stun DC. -1 to jump skill. -1 to str savaes vs knockdown.. Str effects allot for a barb.

Personally I have 1 TWF barb taht started 17 str and it annoys me.. But he has been capped for years with allot of raidloot so i cant bring myself to reroll him.

Lvl6? reroll.. Because it takes some players 3-4 hours or less to get to 6.. If it takes you a ton longer then that... i dunno.

Barb, 44 STR, GS Min II GreatAxe, force ritual, DPS = 85.52
Same Barb, 46 STR, DPS = 87.87

Additional damage with 2 STR, 2.7%.

Assuming you are one of 4 melee attacking a red named at high level, you 2 STR shortage will result in the boss dying 0.7% slower. How much difference do you think that actually makes?

Yes, max STR gives you more, but not enough that anyone would notice. You might as well worry that your Barb is gimp because he only has a +1 tome and not a +3.

You get a larger difference based on player skill, caster/bard buffs, correct weapon for the job, etc.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Although (as a casual player for a while now) How the heck do you hit 6 in 3 hours?
Think I spend 3 hours checking out the sights on the island..

Some people know the XP of quest by heart and they power through the high XP quests repeatedly for maximum effect (ie - run the same quest 8 times in a row then move on to the next high XP quest ).

Enjoy the game, your way is a lot more fun, they are just bored...

[jmonty]

don't sweat it.

[herzkos]

concur with most of the posters in this thread(so far):
If you're having fun, keep playing him/her.

[kaelis]

Don't tell anyone but my barb started 16 strength... I always regretted it. Why? because everytime he hits i mentally add +1 and go /sigh. But regardless thats just because he's a gimp to bgein with If its fun to play now the 1 strength modifier won't make or break the game for you be assured. Unless of course you fail, that one knock down check in X raid where your trying to res the cleric and end up not getting it off, because you failed that trip check causing the party to wipe.. but the only place that comes to mind you shouldn't be wiping anyways.

[jddonkeykong]

Just a note, that WF Barbs are getting love in the coming Mod via abilities and enhancement lines to start proc weapon effects on glancing blows, some playing i did on lama with my barb showed a near consatnt cloud of red numbers using a Frost of PG Great Ax.

I mention this because you had commented that you may like to go GTWF in the future and after M9 when the crit rage goes bye bye as a WF BARB it is my opinion that since he is built as THF already he will be better off styaing that way.

If you are on Argo and decide to reroll shoot me a PM ill show you how to get to level 6 as expediently as possible =D.( 4-41/2 hours ish)

[Noctus]

Barb, 44 STR, GS Min II GreatAxe, force ritual, DPS = 85.52
Same Barb, 46 STR, DPS = 87.87

Additional damage with 2 STR, 2.7%.

Assuming you are one of 4 melee attacking a red named at high level, you 2 STR shortage will result in the boss dying 0.7% slower. How much difference do you think that actually makes?

Yes, max STR gives you more, but not enough that anyone would notice. You might as well worry that your Barb is gimp because he only has a +1 tome and not a +3.

You get a larger difference based on player skill, caster/bard buffs, correct weapon for the job, etc.

Thats what it boils down to.

And as you didnt waste your attributepoints you saved but instead made yourself TWF ready i wouldn´t reroll.

[Grosbeak07]

My wife is building a barb/fighter that started with a 16 str, she is up to level 9 (I think) and has no trouble tanking and often leads in kill counts. Plus if high level barbs get bonus to rage, which should allow you to get close to 30 str with an item while raging, which is plenty in my opinion.

[BLAKROC]

as most have said 16 str is fine, no need to reroll, min/maxers will always say you need 18 but that is a false statement. it makes a small difference but not big enough to notice unless your a number cruncher. your starting stats are a good spread. Enjoy.

[Samadhi]

I very rarely start any non-caster with maxed of any attribute anymore. In earlier incarnations of the game (think original tempest spine), it was pretty necessary to start with 18 Str on melees, because the AC of certain mobs was virtually impossible without getting every point you could. That is far from the case these days; and it makes 100% sense IMO to take advantage of more total stat points by less min-maxing.

[Phidius]

I very rarely start any non-caster with maxed of any attribute anymore. In earlier incarnations of the game (think original tempest spine), it was pretty necessary to start with 18 Str on melees, because the AC of certain mobs was virtually impossible without getting every point you could. That is far from the case these days; and it makes 100% sense IMO to take advantage of more total stat points by less min-maxing.

Agreed - 2 for 1 is a hard bargain to pass up, let alone 3 for 1...