16 Str really that bad?

[Drekisen]

I concur......ur starting stats are actually very good, in fact I would even go so far as to say with the level 20 increase coming in mind u would be ok with only 2-3 level up points in str and the rest con.

Either way, u have a solid build with those starting stats and u can always swap feats and enhancements later if u choose to change ur path somewhat.

[boldarblood]

If you are going to be spending a lot of time with raid gear / tomes / etc. Then yes I would reroll. If you are a casual player, do not worry about it. As the charcter is playable.

Every point makes a difference. If you are going to plan to raid the heck out of the character, and deck the barb out with all shroud items, tomes, etc. There is no reason NOT to maximize all your stats. I play from a power gamer point of view, and I do not think you should waste all the tomes/items/etc on a character that is not fully optomized.

[boldarblood]

I concur......ur starting stats are actually very good, in fact I would even go so far as to say with the level 20 increase coming in mind u would be ok with only 2-3 level up points in str and the rest con.

Either way, u have a solid build with those starting stats and u can always swap feats and enhancements later if u choose to change ur path somewhat.

I dont agree with this advice at all. Do not put your points into Con, wtih already lower strength, not maxing out strength would gimp this character.

[Burtle]

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.

ROFL +1 rep on the dorf reference...LOL...dude that's tooo funny

[Roman]

Your paying a huge premium in build points to go with 18 strength. But the typical raged up 2H barbarian is hitting for +50 damage. So an extra 1.5 dmg is about 3% more DPS. And if you're in the d20 window where your missing on more than a 1 then the extra +1 to hit is giving you an extra 5% chance to hit.

Best case scenario 18 strength will give you +3% DPS and and extra 5% chance to hit. What other stat will give you as much benefit on a barb.

• DEX: Reflex save is difficult to get high enough to really be worth the build point investment, unless you splash rogue for evasion and invest in items to boost reflex save. Could be worthwhile but requires careful planning and equipment.
• CON: An extra 22hp and a few seconds more on rage are not even close to being worth the build point cost.
• INT: I'm a skill point junkie, but at best your getting 1 more skill or half a cross class skill. Probably not worth the investment.
• WIS: Higher will saves are always nice, but again, another +1 probably not worth the cost.
• CHA: Helpful for intimidate, and possibly UMD, although its hard to get a useful UMD ona pure barb. And, if staying pure barb, I would rather put the points into STR.

16 Strength won't kill you, but is the extra Dex really buying you anything useful? If your not multiclassing, and not picking up evasion and have no plans for TwF then put the points into Strength.

From a min/max perspective you should max out strength. But that said, I never min/max I always build balanced builds. And by staying with your stats the way they are you will be in a better position to adapt to future changes in game mechanics and you have the option of going TwF later if you want.

Good luck, and have fun

[Shade]

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.

Ok so with that logic.. Starting 14 str: only 5.4% less DPS! Starting 12 str, only 8.1% less DPS.

... right.

They are some made up figures you put together using rudimentary math. The game is FAR more complex then to put it into some small equation and say thats that.

Your scenerio is weighted towards your arguement.
Here is another weighted towards mine:

I think it can make the difference of winning a quest and failing one. Example:
Lets say your running The Hound raid.. Your bard unforunately like yourself, decided not to go warchanter, and not to max out the dmg enhance - He thought, eh it's only 2 points.. So it takes a while and the beholders come up and your tasked with killing 1 before it reachs the center to dispell teh dogs, kill it = vicotry, fail, and its over.
You sprint up, you hit your stuning blow, at a DC of say 29. Lets pretend this particular beholder has a 25 fortitude save. He rolls a 4 on the saving throw and saves, then kills you with a flesh to stone (you roll a 1) and some scroching rays - the raid is failed. If you had +2 str more, he would of been stunned, and killed, and victory would be yours.

Biased scenerio? yea. But not anymore then yours was.

But I get that he's a casual player and doesn't care much.. So the topic is pointless, his mind was made up before he created it.

[Khurse]

Wow, didn't expect it to go this long..

Thanks all. I think I'll keep him at 16/16/16, it'll make switching to TWF simple enough if I deceide to do it.
(and will keep his dex score up if I decide to go 2 rogue instead of pure)

Figure I can min/max my second barb, after I figure out what I like/don't like about the first.

[Asketes]

i'm a forum zerger, so i only read most of the original post..


a 16 str isn't gonna kill you vs an 18. it's a -1 to atk and damage.. big whoop.. you can now eat a +1 dex tome for your greater two weapon fighting (instead of using a +2)..

if you stay pure, at lvl 20 you will get a +2 ham bonus to str from a prestige enhancement

[Gornn]

Wow, didn't expect it to go this long..

Thanks all. I think I'll keep him at 16/16/16, it'll make switching to TWF simple enough if I deceide to do it.
(and will keep his dex score up if I decide to go 2 rogue instead of pure)

Figure I can min/max my second barb, after I figure out what I like/don't like about the first.

Your guy is fine as is. Don't even worry about it.

[Asketes]

Your guy is fine as is. Don't even worry about it.

you didn't even give him a hug to supplement your advice?

sheesh

ps: how've you been Gornn ole boy?

[Gornn]

you didn't even give him a hug to supplement your advice?

sheesh

ps: how've you been Gornn ole boy?

hah! Nope. I guess I should have huh? Too late now.

Goood man, and you?

[Asketes]

hah! Nope. I guess I should have huh? Too late now.

Goood man, and you?

i'm glad to be back home.. Started a great new job and changed to a better gym.. i can't ask for more