Help a new barbarian...

[SINIBYTE]

Maybe I messed up, maybe I didn't, just started a new barbarian, you're basic oversized giant moron:
18/14/14/8/8/8

I took toughness (HP boost, barbarian enhancement too) and bastard sword feats (don't know why i chose this?!).

Where should I go from here? Dual Wield? Sword + Shield? Heavy armor proficiency? TWF feat?

I'm only level 2 so far, but I have afeat coming up at 3, so I'm not sure what direction to go. I just don;t want to die, so a big HP pool, and lots of damage output is what I'm looking for.

I just want to make a simple hack n slash moron, suggestions?

[ArloOne]

Max out strength and Constitution then the rest in Dex.
Go with THF(2-handed fighting)
Go with a dwarf or Warforged.
Go kill stuff and ave fun!

[TechNoFear]

I would go for the Frenzied Beserker Barbarian PrEnhancement line.

I would swap ExWep:Bastard Sword for THF using the free feat exchange.
Taking Power Attack at 3rd and ImpTHF at 6th.

[Pallol_One-Eye]

I would go for the Frenzied Beserker Barbarian PrEnhancement line.

I would swap ExWep:Bastard Sword for THF using the free feat exchange.
Taking Power Attack at 3rd and ImpTHF at 6th.

I agree with TechNo here. I just converted my 19 WF Barb to FB and holy **** is he a DPS machine now.

And before it gets beaten to death, yes...god-yes do I realize that the Monster/Ravager/whatever multi-from-hell and gear intensive build is the most uber DPS in the game. I'm just talking my experience here.

I you want a pure Barb who will mow down most of what is in front of you, FB is the way to go.

[SINIBYTE]

So, I've decided to just stick with what I have, and roll through it til I unlock 32 point build...

I've gone the route of treating my barbarian like a tank... toughness, extra toughness, barbarian toughness, full plate heavy armor, extra constituion, bastard sword and shield (all +2). He's an extremely sturdy guy. As a test, I did that "kobold prophet, steal the gem" quest, aggro'd everything in the entire dungeon, and by the time I got to the gem, I had 116/117 HP. So while the barb might now be the right class to build a tank with... I'm having fun with it. When I get 32 point builds unlocked... I'll build my proper TWF barbarian.

[Mav145]

Dude.......just......dude? I mean........dude?

Go take your free feat and do this man up right. You are not broken beyond repair.....yet.

Seriously, you are one free feat exchange from having a dps machine. Go do it. Right now.

You are good still with the toughness and con enhancements, just drop bastard swards and get a greataxe - you are golden. You will not survive aggro once you get to level 10, maybe not even past level 8.

The only way a barb will survive is to deal massive amounts of damage.

You are so close to a thing of DPS beauty. Please, don't mangle this guy....especially since respecs are right around the corner and you will be able to easily convert a 28-pt. build into a 32-pt. build.

[SINIBYTE]

so it's really that bad eh?

[Mav145]

No, it's not that bad. It's like....the difference between the generic brand of chocolate ice cream and the Ben&Jerry's brand of ice cream. It's still chocolate and it will do when you are starving but.....it could be so much better.

Frenzy Barb rocks. I don't really mean to be harsh to you. It's just that you are so close. I hate to see you make a big mistake and really regret it in a few more levels. The feat exchange is free/cheap right now - there is no reason not to do this baby up right.

Here's why....you will never be a tank and you will never be a good barbarian (generic ice cream) if you don't make this switch.

A fully death-frenzied barb will put out somewhere around 400-800 dps.....easily. I see 400's pop up on my screen almsot every third or fourth hit. You will do massive damage.

The longer that you wait, the more expensive this change becomes and you will want to make this change. You will keep this character and greater res (I think) him into a 32-pt. build. Make him the right way and you will love playing him.

[SINIBYTE]

Should I exchange heavy armor for something else as well?

[WeaselKing]

should I Exchange Heavy Armor For Something Else As Well?

Yes!!!!

[WeaselKing]

DO NOT wear a shield and/or heavy armor as a barbarian!!

You can have a shield for those times when you have agro of something you can't kill yet and want some dr but DO NOT pull it out any other time.

If you really want to wear full plate find some Mithral FP, it is considered medium armor.