Human Barbarian AC

[ddobard1]

Without shield, potions, and external buffs. Not a tank build or blocking build just a first line melee without best DPS (However good DPS!) and with AC.

Without Shield: AC = Base (10) + DT Leather Armor (8) + Dexterity (7) + Protection (5) + Combat Expertise (5) + Spell (4) + Greensteel Weapon Insight (4) + Epic Seal of the Earth (5) + DT Dodge Tier 3 (3) + Dodge Feat (1) + Alchemical Armor Ritual (1) + Improved Uncanny Dodge 30 Seconds (6) + Human Versatility Armor Class Boost 20 Seconds (5) = 53 + 6 + 5

With Shield: AC = Base (10) + DT Leather Armor (8) + Dexterity (7) + Protection (5) + Combat Expertise (5) + 5 Twilight Mithral Heavy Shield (7) + Greensteel Weapon Insight (4) + Epic Seal of the Earth (5) + DT Dodge Tier 3 (3) + Dodge Feat (1) + Alchemical Armor Ritual (1) + Alchemical Shield Ritual (1) + Improved Uncanny Dodge 30 Seconds (6) + Human Versatility Armor Class Boost 20 Seconds (5) = 57 + 6 + 5

Right now it is at 64 AC without shield, and 68 AC with shield.

Spell Haste (+1)
Spell Recitation (+2)
Bard Inspire Heroics (+4)
Paladin Aura of Good (+5)
Halfling Hero's Companion IV (+3)

So with these buffs i hit 64 + 15 = 79 AC without shield, or 68 + 15 = 83 AC with shield! It isn't negligible i suppose.


If i can i would improve it.

[Consumer]

Taking an already DPS nerfed class and applying AC...

You must hate Barbs

[khaldan]

ignore this post

[testing1234]

dont want to be a hater of other peoples ideas but i am.
Yuck, what are you thinking.

these days each time you upgrade your rage with a extra +1str you lose 1 AC so your rage hits for -6AC if i counted it correctly.

all equipment slot on a barb should be guards/hp/dps/saves/healing amp trying to fit in more then 1 item for AC seems to worst kind of madness to me

[hydra_ex]

Without shield, potions, and external buffs.

AC = Base (10) + DT Leather Armor (8) + Dexterity (7) + Protection (5) + Combat Expertise (5) + Spell (4) + Greensteel Weapon Insight (4) + Seal of Earth (3) + DT Tier 3 (3) + Dodge Feat (1) + Alchemical Armor Ritual (1) + Improved Uncanny Dodge 30 Seconds (6) + Human Versatility Armor Class Boost 20 Seconds (5) = 51 + 6 + 5


Sure it could be improved! If i can i would edit later.

+7 Dex. That's a 24! Assuming you start at 14, then you'll need a +6 item, a +3 tome and +1 exceptional. Good luck fitting in that. Doable, yes. Bad for DPS, yes. 22 is much more reasonable.

+5 Prot. Shield of faith mass, or another DPS loss slot.

CE. 13 Int. Not going to happen. Even with base 10 +3 tome. Even so, barbarians can't fit it in.

Sheild spell. Who's going to clicky while raged?

Seal of Earth. Why not just Barkskin? Another +2.

Human versatility: Absolute waste of AP.

Dodge on a barbarian? Waste of feat.

Also missing Paladin Aura, bard song.

Also missing rage

With a shield it can go higher.

So, revised:
AC = Base (10) + DT Leather Armor (8) + Dexterity (6) + Protection (5) + Greensteel Weapon Insight (4) + Barkskin (5) + DT Tier 3 (3) + Alchemical Armor Ritual (1) + Bard Song (4) + Paladin Aura (5) + -8* Rages + +5 Heavy Shield (7) + Defensive Fighting (2) + Improved Uncanny Dodge 30 Seconds (6)= 36Base/45 Buffed/62 Tanking (unraged)/68 Very situational

36 AC is abysmal. Even 45 is abysmal. You can't tank much with 62 AC. 68 is decent enough, I suppose. But your main numbers are still 45.

So a barbarian if geared properly can get an AC good enough - if he's shield blocking in shroud. Great.

*-2 Spell, -2 Base, -4 Power Rage

[ddobard1]

I prefer to sacrifice DPS to get AC!
When using AC i don't use Rage! I enjoy Rage with discretion not as an easy button.
I don't use Power Rage!
Human Adaptability I: Dexterity!
+5 Protection Underwater Action Ring!
Human get extra Feat, splash Fighter if needed!
Before Rage cast Shield and Expeditious Retreat, splash Arcane class if needed!
Without potions, and +3 better than +2!
Human Versatility for AC, Damage, etc. excels!
Human get extra Feat, splash Fighter if needed!
When using AC i don't use Rage or spell Rage, and i don't use Power Rage!

[ddobard1]

Instead of writing "Ignore this post.", i'd rather see written valid arguments against this suggestion!

[hydra_ex]

I prefer to sacrifice DPS to get AC!

And that's where I should be done talking to you. If you don't understand that, then there's no point arguing. Sacrificing DPS to gain a barely useful AC is meaningless. IMO, sacrificing any DPS to obtain any AC is also quite pointless in the vast majority of situations. However, I owe it to you to answer this.

When using AC i don't use Rage! I enjoy Rage with discretion not as an easy button.

Which is why I didn't include it in the tanking AC.

I don't use Power Rage!

Bad move.

Human Adaptability I: Dexterity!

Granted. +1 AC for 46. Moot. Max 69. Looking a bit better.

+5 Protection Underwater Action Ring!

I included it, but wouldn't you rather Kyosho's Ring and the Encrusted Ring? I would

Human get extra Feat, splash Fighter if needed!

8 Feats, 10 with fighter splash on a human
TWF/THF
ITWF/ITHF
GTWF/GTHF
PA
IC
Cleave (please say you take FB.)
Stunning Blow (If not human/without fighter stop here)
Dodge
Misc. Stuff.

Either way, that 1 AC is quite meaningless. +1 AC for 47 base. Still moot. Max 70. Congratz. You can now block very well if you're built a bit for it.

Before Rage cast Shield and Expeditious Retreat, splash Arcane class if needed!

Doesn't last long enough. You're a gimp if you splash an arcane class.

Without potions, and +3 better than +2!

Don't understand what you mean here.

Human Versatility for AC, Damage, etc. excels!

Let's say you got that 54 AC. Happy? Still stinks. Also, there's a cooldown, and other miscellaneous things which make your blocking even more situational.

So even if you gimp yourself, you're still looking at less than 55 AC. Helpful in shroud? Yes. In any quest which isn't a total pushover? Absolutely not.

[Quikster]

Instead of writing "Ignore this post.", i'd rather see written valid arguments against this suggestion!

How about your ac will be to low to be effective, and your dps will suck.

[khaldan]

Instead of writing "Ignore this post.", i'd rather see written valid arguments against this suggestion!

Ignore this post was because I screwed up on a bunch of numbers and didn't want to redo the entire thing.

[ddobard1]

Now let's calculate with external buffs, right now it is at 62 AC, and don't forget i made the build without shield, potions, and external buffs.

Ranger Barkskin (+5 - (+3) = +2)
Spell Haste (+1)
Spell Recitation (+2)
Bard Inspire Heroics (+4)
Paladin Aura of Good (+5)

So with these buffs i hit 62 + 14 = 76 AC! It isn't negligible at end game content i suppose.

May it can be improved with some Epic item, i will search later.

[hydra_ex]

Now let's calculate with external buffs, right now it is at 62 AC, and don't forget i made the build is without shield, potions, and external buffs.

Ranger Barkskin (+5 - (+3) = +2)
Spell Haste (+1)
Spell Recitation (+2)
Bard Inspire Heroics (+4)
Paladin Aura of Good (+5)

So with these buffs i hit 62 + 14 = 76 AC! It isn't negligible at end game content i suppose.

May it can be improved with some Epic item, i will search later.

Already calculated in bard and paladin. Forgot your +2 from haste and recitation.

So 52 standing. Point remains. Good for shroud, bad for anything else.

And you had a decent tanking AC before. That's not the point.

Also, learn to read. I see a reason to try to convince an intelligent person. I don't see a reason who fails to accurately read the entirety of someone's post before posting.

And one last thing: Generally, the one person arguing against the rest is wrong. One in a million he's right. And trust me, with practical breakdowns and rationale's going one way, but not really any new arguments coming from the other, that one guy is definitely wrong.

[Quikster]

Already calculated in bard and paladin. Forgot your +2 from haste and recitation.

So 52 standing. Point remains. Good for shroud, bad for anything else.

And you had a decent tanking AC before. That's not the point.

Also, learn to read. I see a reason to try to convince an intelligent person. I don't see a reason who fails to accurately read the entirety of someone's post before posting.

And one last thing: Generally, the one person arguing against the rest is wrong. One in a million he's right. And trust me, with practical breakdowns and rationale's going one way, but not really any new arguments coming from the other, that one guy is definitely wrong.

Yeah i guess 52 is average for weak shroud trash. If you want to totally gimp your barb to have average ac against craptastic mobs, sure go for it.

[ddobard1]

I am not getting DPS to 50%. 76 AC is meaningful everywhere! Do not be dogmatic in D&D, plz!
There are happenings for AC and happenings for Rage. Depends. This isn't a tanking build, it doesn't use Shield!
Power Rage is a tiny increment on DPS, not a good move.
I like +5 Protection Underwater Action Ring!
+76 AC without shield, this isn't for blocking as i already said!
It isn't about lasting, it is about useful at certain times. One arcane caster level isn't compromising. One level!
Seal of Earth = +3, Potion = +2. By the way you give me an idea about Seal of Earth Epic. I will check!
It isn't 55 AC, it is 62 AC without buffs! 76 AC with buffs!

Nice sentences are always nice to read! I prefer my numbers!

I only read what you posted.

[hydra_ex]

Nice sentences are always nice to read! I prefer my numbers...

...which are both deluded and wrong. I'm sorry, even being very generous, I can't get over 60 standing.

But hey, do what you want. If you're on Thelanis, you wouldn't make it into my groups.

[ddobard1]

It isn't 52 AC, it is 63 AC. Check my numbers!
Updated with Epic Seal of the Earth. (+1)
Fortunately i ain't on Thelanis.

[Khanyth]

I respect what you are saying and what you are trying to do, DDObard1.

I won't speak for other players on other servers (I've only played on Orien) but:

when I have joined pugs with my barb, the other members of the pug had the expectation that they were getting a character who would kill fast and quickly. That's what barbs do. That's what barbs are expected to do. That is the expectation of the class. I've seen barbs be kicked out of groups for not killing fast enough.

If you grouped with a cleric, would you expect to be healed?
Would you group with a cleric who didn't want to heal?

Play your character however you wish, but be prepared for a backlash. People expect barbs to be killing machine/mana sponges. If they want a melee with AC, they'll get a pali or a fighter. People expect barbs to be low AC, high DPS.

My 2 cents.

[Quikster]

It isn't 52 AC, it is 63 AC. Check my numbers!
Updated with Epic Seal of the Earth. (+1)
Fortunately i ain't on Thelanis.

Youre numbers are bogus. Your ac will be craptastic. But hey, what do I know, Ive only had 6 or 7 melee that can reach 80 + ac and 1 over 100. Youre right, roll it up, have fun.

[ddobard1]

Khanyth when i put a LFM, i don't have pre-defined expectations about any Character. That's more fun! A Battle Cleric, a DPS Paladin, a Ranged Fighter, a Caster Melee, it's fine! They can all be great, and make smooth runs.
I prefer to get out of parties who can't accept alternative builds. 63 AC, 77 AC buffed without Shield is acceptable.
I don't expect nothing from no one a priori, the Cleric may prefer to nuke! Need healings, cast Expeditious Retreat, Sprint Boost, Invisible potion and try to loose aggro, don't expect healing, only when unconcious i expect if anyone can.

[khaldan]

It's not that AC is bad(it is in most cases, but let's say it's alright to have AC for now), it's that you could do it so much better if you were a different build. Why play a class whose main ability reduces AC for an AC build?