Questions on techniques to learn

[DarkNebula]

All,

I'm new to the game and I am enjoying playing my THW dwarven barbarian (lvl6), and have the FB. I would like some suggestions on how to effectively play and the barbarian so I can further help any parties I am with and maximize my fun. Currently when in a pug I go after spell caster 1st then then try and get the mobs off of my parties spell casters. Also, I have learned not to run off from the group. I tend to go where the cleric or FVS moves to, I know who helps keep me alive.

Some specifice questions I would also liked answered are: What is twitching? What type of equipment should I be looking for, i.e. high con/str items? When should I rage?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thx.

In game barb is Carlyann on Kyber

[Bloodhaven]

To help you not get hit so much as a barbarian you should learn how to strafe around your meele targets. Try to always stay behind your enemy even when you have agro.

[Shade]

When should I rage?

All the time.

If you reach a rest shrine an have any rages left, and were not raged 100% of the time up to that point.. You have failed.

Rage early and often, don't worry about not having any for the "bossfight" As there are not any really challenging boss encounters at low lvl (Turbine nerfed them all upon request,)

and by request I mean whiners.

At higher level its actaully beneficial to partially waste your rages by dismissing them and doing clickies/re-raging before encounters. As a dwarf barb with a decent con score, you should have plenty of rage.

[Morrissey]

I'll address twitching since no one else has yet. There are 6 basic attack animations for a two handed fighter.

Standing still:
1)Horizontal swing/2)downward stroke/3)upward stroke/4)reverse horizontal swing

Moving:
5)Downward swing from right to left/6)upward swing from left to right

The idea of twitching is to interrupt the standard attack chain so that after swing 2 in standing still, you make a small movement to force a movement swing 1. You should ideally make a small enough move that causes stationary swing 2 again. and repeat until the mob in front of you is dead. So attack 2, slight step, attack 5, then attack 2.

Pros: A faster overall attack sequence, allowing you put out more damage to a single target. If done properly, it's nearly the equivalent of having a second haste. Becomes a pretty massive improvement when you get GTWF because of glancing blow damage.

Cons: Lower DPS against a group of mobs. If you do it wrong and move to much, and get the second moving attack animation, you're significantly decreasing your overall DPS. You lose your standing attack bonus, which can cause misses. It's difficult to master at low levels, because your BAB changes as you level, changing the timing needed. Also, if you're using tactical feats, you'd want to stand still to make sure you connect solidly.

Unrelated -
As you said, dont outrun your heals. Taking down casters first is a great idea, but dont allow yourself to get surrounded by jumping to the back of a pack of enemies. And use your tactics, primarily against casters if possible. Generally they'll have lower fort saves/ STR & DEX checks, making them land more often.

Hope this helps.

[ajspjs]

You lose your standing attack bonus, which can cause misses. Also, if you're using tactical feats, you'd want to stand still to make sure you connect solidly.

You will notice this more on Elite. I turn off Power Attack and try to plant my feet so I can get some solid hits. Depending on buffs and gear this will vary from group to group.

[TheDjinnFor]

I'm new to the game and I am enjoying playing my THW dwarven barbarian (lvl6), and have the FB. I would like some suggestions on how to effectively play and the barbarian so I can further help any parties I am with and maximize my fun.

Use clickies.

Try to get a heroism 5/day (or less) clicky and/or a greater heroism (e.g. the Planar Gird belt from Xorian Cipher) or substituting potions in for that. Heroism, most importantly, gives you a +2 to hit bonus (and GH gives you +4) which will allow you to turn on Power Attack in more content and do more DPS. Later you can expect GH from casters, but for soloing and to ensure that you can be self-sufficient when no casters are present you should always have heroism on. It also gives you a saves boost, which is always nice.

Another good clicky is rage. Not barbarian rage, mind you, but a simple +2 str, +2 con rage potion/clicky/spell. These last a decent while (a minute and a half), give you a minor hp boost as well as a +1 to hit and to damage. Again, this helps you turn on Power Attack more often. This can be costly to potion, however, so be mindful that you'll run low on funds quickly.

Lesser restoration is another great choice for clickies (or in potion form). It dispels the fatigue you get from raging (always nice) but can also restore lost ability point damage (good for every toon, really).

Finally, last but not least you'll want to try for a haste clicky. Personally I haven't seen a 5/day haste clicky yet so I'm not sure how common they are. Haste, though, gives you a nice boost to attack speed and, while costly for a new player, is probably going to be your largest DPS boost (even though they only last 30 seconds). Great for solo play, but it's always important to be self-sufficient because you never know when the caster party member won't have it, or you won't even have a caster party member.

What is twitching?

A demonstration of twitching (Thanks shade). You should really always be doing it; I find that twitching with power attack off is more useful than not twitching with it on, so if you're missing a lot turn power attack off before you stop twitching. Of course, if you're still missing, that's a problem... with haste (+1 to hit), rage (+1 to hit), barbarian rage (up to +6 to hit), heroism/GH (+2/+4 to hit), and your regular strength, you should be hitting every time.

What type of equipment should I be looking for, i.e. high con/str items?

Yup. Also consider investing in high dexterity items (and maybe wisdom items) for the saves (and AC early on); you'll hardly have anything else to put in the head and glove spots as a lowbie barb. Feather fall and underwater action items are also good for every toon, of course.

When should I rage?

Pretty much all the time. The AC penalty is pretty minor when you actually care about AC (the first ten levels of the game). Once you stop caring about AC, of course, you really should rage all the time.

[Consumer]

To rub in the importance of twitching, following the normal attack chain with madstone rage will give you 112-114 attacks per minute. Whilst twitching you will reach up to ~140. On every swing a well equipped barb can reach:

str
18 base
5 level up
2 tome
8 rage
4 barb power rage
2 capstone
6 item
2 rage spell
2 madstone
2 yugo pot
3 crafted tower of despair ring
2 frenzy
4 Death frenzy
2 FB tod set

= 62 str

Damage with min II:

3d6 GA
5 Weapon
16 PA
~30 damage from str
6d6 frenzy
2 Dwarf axe mastery
2d6 holy
1d6 acid
1d4 slicing
9 bard

= around 104.5 damage per swing (hopefully I didnt miss anything)

at 35 extra swings per minute thats an extra 61 DPS or 3658 damage per minute not including critical hits. You do lose glacing blows but you do so much more damage in return.


You will find that most THF you group with will not twitch, most won't even know what it is. Make sure you use it whenever your to hit lets you.

[KylarJ]

I'll address twitching since no one else has yet. There are 6 basic attack animations for a two handed fighter.

Standing still:
1)Horizontal swing/2)downward stroke/3)upward stroke/4)reverse horizontal swing

Moving:
5)Downward swing from right to left/6)upward swing from left to right

The idea of twitching is to interrupt the standard attack chain so that after swing 2 in standing still, you make a small movement to force a movement swing 1. You should ideally make a small enough move that causes stationary swing 2 again. and repeat until the mob in front of you is dead. So attack 2, slight step, attack 5, then attack 2.

Pros: A faster overall attack sequence, allowing you put out more damage to a single target. If done properly, it's nearly the equivalent of having a second haste. Becomes a pretty massive improvement when you get GTWF because of glancing blow damage.

Cons: Lower DPS against a group of mobs. If you do it wrong and move to much, and get the second moving attack animation, you're significantly decreasing your overall DPS. You lose your standing attack bonus, which can cause misses. It's difficult to master at low levels, because your BAB changes as you level, changing the timing needed. Also, if you're using tactical feats, you'd want to stand still to make sure you connect solidly.

Unrelated -
As you said, dont outrun your heals. Taking down casters first is a great idea, but dont allow yourself to get surrounded by jumping to the back of a pack of enemies. And use your tactics, primarily against casters if possible. Generally they'll have lower fort saves/ STR & DEX checks, making them land more often.

Hope this helps.

+1 rep

[lolwatboomer]

I'll address twitching since no one else has yet. There are 6 basic attack animations for a two handed fighter.

Standing still:
1)Horizontal swing/2)downward stroke/3)upward stroke/4)reverse horizontal swing

Moving:
5)Downward swing from right to left/6)upward swing from left to right

The idea of twitching is to interrupt the standard attack chain so that after swing 2 in standing still, you make a small movement to force a movement swing 1. You should ideally make a small enough move that causes stationary swing 2 again. and repeat until the mob in front of you is dead. So attack 2, slight step, attack 5, then attack 2.

Pros: A faster overall attack sequence, allowing you put out more damage to a single target. If done properly, it's nearly the equivalent of having a second haste. Becomes a pretty massive improvement when you get GTWF because of glancing blow damage.

Cons: Lower DPS against a group of mobs. If you do it wrong and move to much, and get the second moving attack animation, you're significantly decreasing your overall DPS. You lose your standing attack bonus, which can cause misses. It's difficult to master at low levels, because your BAB changes as you level, changing the timing needed. Also, if you're using tactical feats, you'd want to stand still to make sure you connect solidly.
Hope this helps.

very nice explanation!