Couple observations from a 20 barbarian

[Sydril]

Last week I got my pure barb to level 20. Its a twf build, drow with the following feats:

TWF
Stunning Blow
ITWF
IC pierce
GTWF
Power Attack
Cleave

With 500 HPs hes a bit weak but I use Two bodyfeeder rapiers to offset damage taken and Its the best combo I've found.

I've been able to solo a good deal of high level content using silver flame potions and the bodyfeeder rapiers.

It appears you get 3 additional multipliers on 19-20 hits. you get one at Frenzy II and one at Frenzy III. You also get an additional one while in a death frenzy.

For the most part ive found that you're better off just using death frenzy and rage and not using the regular frenzy unless you're fighting a mob that is immune to crits.

I've been doing between 250-300 points of weapon damage on 19-20 hits with the two +5 bodyfeeder Rapiers.

The additional damage done with a shroud weapon has seemed nominal compared to the control and balance I've had with the bodyfeeders too.

With Death frenzy off you still get the extra x2 crit and with 9 DR you mitigate up to 24 points of incoming damage (with the additional 15 from the feeders).

After killing a few of the red named rares while soloing in the subterrain I realized that Frenzied Berzerker is definitely no joke. I was a little hesitant about giving up improved crit but I certainly feel it was worth it now.

[Spisey]

Very nice. I have been struggling with the idea of dropping crit rage 2 on my tempest barb. I still have yet to make a swap knowing how permanent the decision is but I realize the additional critical hit damage is hard to pass up.

[Shade]

Mmmm yea you got me thinking.. It must be +3 multiplier, not +2. Because it doesn't add up...

On my lvl20 THF GS Greataxe..Maximum buffed, I crit for up to ~560. Yet my base damage max is only roughly 90.

90 x5 = 450. + seeker 4 (mentaus google) x5 = 20, = 470.
Add another multiplier, and thats 90 more damage, 4 more seeker or ~564 damage.

A revelation that really skews the DPS numbers being calculated up in the Barbarians favor. Monkeyarcher go redo ur numbers hehe.

Personally I go for damage. Bodyfeeder on a 19-20 sucks. So I use lightning strike. To keep my ass up thru the dmg, i had clerics stacks of hundreds of heal scrolls asnd ask them to use them only.. With max healing amp and mastery, a scroll hits me for 240+.

But yea I've also been trying silver flame pots and gota say they own.
Normally I sit at 800HP, 66 strength. So drinking a nice 300 point heal pot doesnt hurt me so much, drops me to 700 hp, 56 str - still pretty tough.

[Zenako]

Just a side comment (oh and thanks for the info on how lvl20 barb is playing out) it is nice to see others realizing how effective bodyfeeder weapons can be, especially when solo running. Sure they might end up costing you a little time, but I found I was a lot less likely to drop with all the extra hit point buffers. Tis extra nice to hear about a high end barb using them. (Most of the time it is a high AC defensive type build, where it can work quite well, as is well known by some.)

(anyone know if the bodyfeeder property procs on glancing blows too? with good THF builds)

[Nick_RC]

But yea I've also been trying silver flame pots and gota say they own.
Normally I sit at 800HP, 66 strength. So drinking a nice 300 point heal pot doesnt hurt me so much, drops me to 700 hp, 56 str - still pretty tough.

lol told ya so

OP Yeah FB is ROCKING man. confirmed my suspicions about another crit at 2 also. cant wait for 3 in 90k time when i hit 20.

N

[Shade]

lol told ya so

OP Yeah FB is ROCKING man. confirmed my suspicions about another crit at 2 also. cant wait for 3 in 90k time when i hit 20.

N

Yea you were way right on those man.. Sucked at lvl14, kicked ass at 20.

Love those things now.. Near unlimited survivability with max dps + 800 hp... Sins of Attrition elite - whole party goes down? No problems, few pots later all mobs dead hehe.

Even kept me alive thru inferno in abbot, tho rarely helps when the rest of the parties down heh.

tho on WF they don't heal as much right? I get like 340+ with max healing amp i think heh.

gona lvl my WF barb soon.

[Absolute-Omniscience]

+3 multiplier, not +2.

Can anyone confirm this, using low damage numbers and different crit ranges. That extra, if it exists might be on any confirmed crit.

Also wondering if it's intended if it works like this. It surely must as barbarians dps is far too low without an extra.

[Shade]

Can anyone confirm this, using low damage numbers and different crit ranges. That extra, if it exists might be on any confirmed crit.

Could be.. When I stunning blow and crit on less then a 19 I seem to remember doing over 300+ damage, which is still quite high for an x3 multi.

It's hard to say with all the bugs how it works exactly.. I just know I do insane DPS. In a group with a TWF crit rage barb lvl19 - one of Khybers best players I might add.. I was easily doing double his damage, neting tripple his kills in Sins of Atrition (massive AOE dmg FTW there, due to the figts setup of 8+ mobs at once)

Tho this unexplained extra DPS is awesome.. Wait tel you learn what KoTCH THF paladins can do.. 100% glancing blow procs on all bonus damage, vs almost all evil mobs even non-evil outsiders.. Crazy.

THF owns mod9.

[Sydril]

Mmmm yea you got me thinking.. It must be +3 multiplier, not +2. Because it doesn't add up...

It took me a little bit of research to figure out where the numbers were coming from, but yeah its definitely x3 total crit and for all 3 multipliers its only on a 19-20 regardless of your weapons intrinsic multiplers.

Another nice thing I noticed too was the crit multiplier affected my thrower damage. I was hitting for close to 200 damage on crits with a greensteel throwing dagger on a DQ solo attempt.

I suspect it affects bows as well but haven't tried it.

[Shade]

It took me a little bit of research to figure out where the numbers were coming from, but yeah its definitely x3 total crit and for all 3 multipliers its only on a 19-20 regardless of your weapons intrinsic multiplers.

Another nice thing I noticed too was the crit multiplier affected my thrower damage. I was hitting for close to 200 damage on crits with a greensteel throwing dagger on a DQ solo attempt.

I suspect it affects bows as well but haven't tried it.

Yep same with me, got a nice GS throwing axe.. 250+ crits on DQ the other night.

While on the topic however.. Olschool crit rage was always bugged with throwing weapons in a pretty interesting way: It provided double the crit increase!
So my old dwarven thrower.. Criticaled on 16+ instead of 18+. (without IC: Ranged)

[Sydril]

While on the topic however.. Olschool crit rage was always bugged with throwing weapons in a pretty interesting way: It provided double the crit increase!
So my old dwarven thrower.. Criticaled on 16+ instead of 18+. (without IC: Ranged)

I noticed the same thing, except it was only +1 range from what I saw.

with a throwing dagger I should have crit on a 17-20 (without the IC: ranged feat) but found that I got crits in a 16 as well but not on a 15.

[Shade]

Re-read the description and it sounds quite intended. Just been reading the description wrong.
Berserker II:
When Raging, the critical multiplier of all weapons you usei s increased by 1.
Berserker III:
When Raging, the critical multiplier of all weapons you usei s increased by 1.
Death Frenzy (seperate enhancement in list):
Expend 20 hit points to enter a death frenzy (which can stack) increasing your strength by 4, your critical multiplier by and additional 1, and adding the "Grater Vcious" property to your weapons (+4d6 damage / +1d3 damage to self)

So yea, ingame description = +3 multiplier, intended, and in effect. Berserker is the ultimate dps.

[Absolute-Omniscience]

Re-read the description and it sounds quite intended. Just been reading the description wrong.
Berserker II:
When Raging, the critical multiplier of all weapons you usei s increased by 1.
Berserker III:
When Raging, the critical multiplier of all weapons you usei s increased by 1.
Death Frenzy (seperate enhancement in list):
Expend 20 hit points to enter a death frenzy (which can stack) increasing your strength by 4, your critical multiplier by and additional 1, and adding the "Grater Vcious" property to your weapons (+4d6 damage / +1d3 damage to self)

So yea, ingame description = +3 multiplier, intended, and in effect. Berserker is the ultimate dps.

Ultimate is stretching it a bit far. But among the top and close to its rightful place; yea.

[Shade]

Ultimate is stretching it a bit far. But among the top and close to its rightful place; yea.

hah even the Barbairan hater has to admit it. Ultimate!

[Absolute-Omniscience]

hah even the Barbairan hater has to admit it. Ultimate!

What makes you think I'm a "barbarian hater", my opinion is always entierly based on facts.

[Tabun]

Mmmm yea you got me thinking.. It must be +3 multiplier, not +2. Because it doesn't add up...

On my lvl20 THF GS Greataxe..Maximum buffed, I crit for up to ~560. Yet my base damage max is only roughly 90.

90 x5 = 450. + seeker 4 (mentaus google) x5 = 20, = 470.
Add another multiplier, and thats 90 more damage, 4 more seeker or ~564 damage.

A revelation that really skews the DPS numbers being calculated up in the Barbarians favor. Monkeyarcher go redo ur numbers hehe.

Personally I go for damage. Bodyfeeder on a 19-20 sucks. So I use lightning strike. To keep my ass up thru the dmg, i had clerics stacks of hundreds of heal scrolls asnd ask them to use them only.. With max healing amp and mastery, a scroll hits me for 240+.

But yea I've also been trying silver flame pots and gota say they own.
Normally I sit at 800HP, 66 strength. So drinking a nice 300 point heal pot doesnt hurt me so much, drops me to 700 hp, 56 str - still pretty tough.

lady gaga has a peen!!!!!!!!

[Shade]

What makes you think I'm a "barbarian hater", my opinion is always entierly based on facts.

lololol.

Made up flawed numbers and unrealistic assumptions aren't facts.

You continously claim barbarians are "horrible/bad" DPS. When anyone with any idea of how the game works know they are entirely designed for it and awesome at it.

Your idea of DPS is seems to be some fantasy land where made up math that assumes 100% haste boosts and 100% sneak attacks happen. The real game, and anyone who plays it never agreed with you. They saw the facts.