DR vs Toughness

[Deathseeker]

Curious what the view is on taking improved DR feats vs taking toughness feats.

Build is a WF 20 Ftr, max str and con. DPS focus, no AC, Kensai THF (Falchion).

I have 5 general feats open in my build (not class feats). I can take Adamantine armor and 4 DR feats, or toughness 5 times, or a combo in between.

The question is whether to max out DR at the expense of HP, or max out HP at the expense of DR, or a blend? Similar question on AP usage (take the DR line all the way, or max out the HP enhancments, or a combo thereof)?

Ultimately, I guess the question is...what's more useful...a 10 DR or 140+ additional HP or something in between?

[Daunth]

1 toughness feat is enough to unlock the toughness enhancements (racial and fighter) , the rest may go to DR

[Trillea]

If you have or ever plan on getting docent of defiance, I would go HP all the way because it will make your built in DR obsolete.

[Gercho]

Enhancements and feat are something different, cause enhancements have increasing costs, while for feat is constant, so, maybe for feats could be better to go all the way the same route (except 1 thoughness of course) but for enhancements is better to pick at least the 2 cheapier of each.

[sephiroth1084]

The WF DR is x/adamantine isn't it?

If so, do you really want to spend a bunch of feats and AP on Stoneskin?

[Aesop]

just to note at higher levels Casters can use Stoneskin on you so you'd gain DR 10/Adamantine

That is the same DR type as the Warforged Armor DR.

The only benefit of having the WF DR is that it doesn't need to be reapplied every few hits


However without knowing the rest of your build we really can't say what the other 5 feats should be spent on...

Aesop

[sephiroth1084]

just to note at higher levels Casters can use Stoneskin on you so you'd gain DR 10/Adamantine

That is the same DR type as the Warforged Armor DR.

The only benefit of having the WF DR is that it doesn't need to be reapplied every few hits


However without knowing the rest of your build we really can't say what the other 5 feats should be spent on...

Aesop

As early as level 7 you can be getting DR 10/adamantine for 75 points of damage. If casters aren't carrying it, buy a wand and tell them to buff you with it. Later on you can craft Greensteel stuff with CL 15 clickies of SS (150 points). 4 of those is almost always enough for my tank who wants to be the center of every mobs' attention.

I just can't imagine it to be worth the investment.

[blitzschlag]

As early as level 7 you can be getting DR 10/adamantine for 75 points of damage. If casters aren't carrying it, buy a wand and tell them to buff you with it. Later on you can craft Greensteel stuff with CL 15 clickies of SS (150 points). 4 of those is almost always enough for my tank who wants to be the center of every mobs' attention.

I just can't imagine it to be worth the investment.

this.

adamantine body + enhancement I is enough to shrug of most glancing/arrow damage up to lvl 10. after that get the wands in the 12 and let it be used on you. there are too many good feats a pure fighter can take over the dr ones (and more than one toughness one)

[Crazyfruit]

Prior to epic/ToD I'd have suggested giving the DR a try. It actually is pretty useful and fun. But things just plain deal too much damage these days

Warchanter DR songs don't stack with the feats either if you'd be running with one. I hope people don't really expect casters to use their mana keeping stoneskin on them.. they're better off just casting reconstruction and hitting you for 250+ with that instead.

[sephiroth1084]

Prior to epic/ToD I'd have suggested giving the DR a try. It actually is pretty useful and fun. But things just plain deal too much damage these days

Warchanter DR songs don't stack with the feats either if you'd be running with one. I hope people don't really expect casters to use their mana keeping stoneskin on them.. they're better off just casting reconstruction and hitting you for 250+ with that instead.

How is casting Reconstruct more efficient than Stoneskin? One heals for 250ish, the other prevents 250 damage. One costs 25 SP, the other 35. One prevents dying in a passive way, the other in an active. One may resent over-healing, kind of, whereas the other likely doesn't. Sure, you may not need to pass out 6-12 Reconstructs from one shrine to the next, but those Stoneskins will probably make the quest go much more smoothly than trying to Reconstruct people as they need it. Not to mention, a wizard can't help healing non-WF in the same way that they can apply SS.

[Ghoste]

If you have or ever plan on getting docent of defiance, I would go HP all the way because it will make your built in DR obsolete.

Or a stoneskin wand.

[Murderface]

Curious what the view is on taking improved DR feats vs taking toughness feats.

Build is a WF 20 Ftr, max str and con. DPS focus, no AC, Kensai THF (Falchion).

I have 5 general feats open in my build (not class feats). I can take Adamantine armor and 4 DR feats, or toughness 5 times, or a combo in between.

The question is whether to max out DR at the expense of HP, or max out HP at the expense of DR, or a blend? Similar question on AP usage (take the DR line all the way, or max out the HP enhancments, or a combo thereof)?

Ultimately, I guess the question is...what's more useful...a 10 DR or 140+ additional HP or something in between?

i would say take all your kensai feats then take your six general feats and put them all into toughness u want dr get a dod heh or earthen gaurd dont waste your time with dr feats oh and switch your body feat if you have one to stunning blow or quickdraw for quicker boosting action

[JOTMON]

I would go toughness and only take a WF DR enhancement or 2 for lower levels, DR items are fairly easy to come by at mid-levels (Kielu's trinket, golden greaves, even some docents, etc... Stoneskin clickies fron greensteel and from caster buffs are readily available. A high HP tank is usually more desirable.

[Alavatar]

How is casting Reconstruct more efficient than Stoneskin? One heals for 250ish, the other prevents 250 damage.

Just a small correction, but Stoneskin caps at 150 points of damage prevention.

[sephiroth1084]

Just a small correction, but Stoneskin caps at 150 points of damage prevention.

And that's what happens when I post while going on about 24 hours without sleep.

Maybe the extra 100 came from the monsters being too afraid of these strange stoney humanoids and not knowing whether to attack or run away?

[Deathseeker]

Thanks guys, a lot of good feedback here.

The issue I have with Stoneskin is that I just never see a caster re-applying it mid run. At shrines yes, but mid run very rarely. I can't cast my own wand, and again counting on a caster to use my wand on me can be tough (tough to get them to even use a repair wand between fights sometimes). However, the clickies are very reliable, as on my other toons I use the mineral II clickies all the time, so that's a good reminder.

The bard DR point is a good point as well. I'll pay closer attention to see how often Im getting it in groups.

Love the Quickdraw recommendation. One annoyance I have with the Kensai build is the time it takes to fire off the boosts. I will definitely have to try this! Thanks!

Im still not 100% sold on dumping DR for the HP, but Im starting to lean that way. Guess it may depend on how much I raid vs run short man/solo. The DR combined with a bodyfeeder weapon on solo runs makes a MASSIVE difference to potion consumption...but becomes much less relevant on group stuff. And on tougher runs, having the lower HP is very noticable when eating things like DFB's to the face with my **** reflex save and lack of evasion.

Thanks for input!