Barbarian Common templates

[Tankraide]

Hi there im a total noob to ddo and a casual player.

after reading for 2 days about templates * i wanted to make a paladin at first * i became so lost with all the information and maths of the game i ended up not playing at all and almost giving up.

what i mean is i dont want to powerplay but at the same time i dont want to regret later on choices i made because i wasent carefull.

i rolled a barbarian dwarf with the automatic system of skills/feats and picked the first one wich gives me 18 strenght etc.

im wondering if i continue to stay on the automated path of skills/feats that my trainer gives me will i ended up beign totally gimped or ill just lack a few % in effectiveness. ?

i am level 2 now and im wondering if its okay to continue to keep auto/training or i should use my brain and read another 2-3 days about what to train etc..

thx

[CSFurious]

you are automatically given 28-point builds & starting 18 str with that is too much

re-roll & start with 17 str, put con up to 15, 16 or 17 & then use some points to make dex & wis higher if you can; always level up str

int & chr are complete dump stats; you only need to put points into jump to about 15 or 16; put points into balance, swim & spot/listen

fight with a greataxe & take the thf feat line so you can keep your dex down at 10 or 12

(1) thf

(3) power attack

(6) cleave

(9) toughness (some will say do not take it, as a new player you will need it on your first barb)

(12) ithf

(15) imp crit: slash

(18) gthf

frenzied berzerker is the greatest sustainable dps currently in the game

i would use a wf but a dwarf can be a good barb & you will not suffer problems with having to be healed by clerics & using 5,000 plat on potions in between quests at the higher levels

good luck

[Gnorbert]

I know how you feel with the multitude of options and everyone else has their own opinion about how to make the best character. The truth is you don't need the BEST character... you just need one that you enjoy playing. A dwarf barbarian is an excellent place to start.

I'll have to disagree with Furious above me and say that there is no reason not to start with an 18 strength, especially on a THF barbarian. It's not that you NEED that 18 strength, just that later, when you are looking at getting the most out of your character... you'll regret that 1 missing strength.. it will gnaw at you.

I don't know the feat choices of the path you chose but here is a very simple template for a Dwarf Barb that will be fun to play, survivable and perform well in any quest. Remember that no character can do EVERYTHING well. Just focus on what you enjoy and develop your own tactics in the game based on your play style.


Dwarf Barbarian
Chaotic Good (people suggest a true neutral for end game but I suggest Chaotic Good)

Str: 18
Dex: 12
Con: 16
Int: 8
Wis: 10
Cha: 6

Feats:
1) Toughness (I don't care what the min/maxers say... having as much HP as you can early makes it a lot more fun)
3) Two Handed Fighting
6) Power Attack
9) Cleave (power attack and cleave are pre-reqs for the Frenzied Berserker enhancement, you want this)
12) Improved Critical: Slashing
15) Improved Two Handed Fighting
18) Greater Two Handed Fighting

Once you get to level 9 and 12 you will have a better understanding of the game (and more HP) so you might decide to change toughness or the order of feats. That's your call and should not affect the overall playability of the character.


Just get out there and have fun with it.

[Gnorbert]

Figured I'd add another one in case you are keen on using two weapons instead of big two handed axes and swords.

Note: this is a build for beginners and so I've started it with a higher dex than I would normally. Notice I also started with less than an 18 Strength, this is entirely due to the dex needed to qualify for the later two weapon fighting feats. If you are ok with the idea of buying a +2 dex tome later in the character's life (before level 12) then you could start at 15 dex, 14 con and bump Str back to 18.

Dwarf TWF barbarian

Str: 16
Dex: 17 (would normally start at 15 and use a +2 tome to get to 17)
Con: 15
Int: 8
Wis: 8
Cha: 6

Feat order is the same as the previous one, swapping in the TWF feats for the THF, except I moved Imp Crit until later. ITWF is important as you get more attacks in your sequence.

Feats:
1) Toughness (I don't care what the min/maxers say... having as much HP as you can early makes it a lot more fun)
3) Two Weapon Fighting
6) Power Attack
9) Cleave (power attack and cleave are pre-reqs for the Frenzied Berserker enhancement, you want this)
12) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
15) Improved Critical: Slashing
18) Greater Two Handed Fighting

[DragonMageT]

Good suggestions by Gnorbert.

I would create a new character and think for yourself. Helps you learn the game.
If you mess up, later on you can correct it, TR, Lessor or Greater reincarnate.

First decide what type of fighting Two Weapon or Two-Handed ?
Whichever fits your play style.

Two-Handed then put most points in Str and Con, balance them trying to keep them on even numbers if possible.

Two-Weapon, spread the love around between Str, Con, and Dex. I would go no higher than 15 on Dex and
use a +2 tome later on to get GTWF, you will need the extra points in Str or Con.

First time, pick Dwarf. WF will require more resources for pots.
I have 2 WF Barb tanks and never would play a Dwarf but that's me and I have resources.

Feat selection, go with what Gnorbert suggested.

Later in the game, once/if you get a Mineral 2 weapon(s), you can swap out Improved Critical Slashing for a different feat. Keen on the Min 2 does not stack with Improved Critical Slashing.

[tihocan]

The path you picked is ok, its main flaw is you have to wait till L15 before you can pick the FB line. See this post for a revised version.

[alcmaeon]

Figured I'd add another one in case you are keen on using two weapons instead of big two handed axes and swords.

Note: this is a build for beginners and so I've started it with a higher dex than I would normally. Notice I also started with less than an 18 Strength, this is entirely due to the dex needed to qualify for the later two weapon fighting feats. If you are ok with the idea of buying a +2 dex tome later in the character's life (before level 12) then you could start at 15 dex, 14 con and bump Str back to 18.

Dwarf TWF barbarian

Str: 16
Dex: 17 (would normally start at 15 and use a +2 tome to get to 17)
Con: 15
Int: 8
Wis: 8
Cha: 6

Feat order is the same as the previous one, swapping in the TWF feats for the THF, except I moved Imp Crit until later. ITWF is important as you get more attacks in your sequence.

Feats:
1) Toughness (I don't care what the min/maxers say... having as much HP as you can early makes it a lot more fun)
3) Two Weapon Fighting
6) Power Attack
9) Cleave (power attack and cleave are pre-reqs for the Frenzied Berserker enhancement, you want this)
12) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
15) Improved Critical: Slashing
18) Greater Two WEAPON Fighting

fixed a minor error for ya, don't want to confuse somebody who don't know better.

[alcmaeon]

Oh and my own opinion: Dorf, WF, both are fine go with which ever you like. In the end its your gear and your twitch skills that will have more impact than race. Also, Humans get extra feats, which on a feat starved barb can be nice. I got them all. All are fine.


Another tome option is to go 16 dex on a twf build. Getting a +1 Dex tome is easy and cheaper than a +2.

If you are new to the game and poor, a THF is cheaper to run- ya only need 1 weapon at a time. I think TWF are better, but thats me. Nothing wrong with THF. You twf lets you do things like put a vorp/dps weapon in one hand and a para in the other--making for good crowd control.

But, in the end. Just pick a path and go. By the time you get a toon to 20 you will know whats what.

[Gnorbert]

fixed a minor error for ya, don't want to confuse somebody who don't know better.

Thanks... copy and paste error

[vindicater]

Dwarf might be the one race it is actully cheaper to go two weapon fighting than two handed. Decent dwarven axes are cheap. Decent greataxes are expensive. Really good dwarven axes are expensive. Really good greataxes are really really hard to find often running into the 1.5 million plat and higher range.
Just saying no other comparable one handed weapon sells for anywere near as cheap as dwarven axes, and they kick rear.