Barb splash

[Erulas]

Hi,

Maybe I'm not the first to have this crazyness, but I'd like to ask you whether is it reasonable to play a 18 fighter/2 barbarian?

I realized that after having the kensai enhancements I find very few valuable ones - except the strenght and toughness enhancements and of course the haste boost. I thought to spice up my build with some damage reduction boosts, damage boosts and barb power attack. Of course rage is nice, but i don't find it the most important.

On the other hand I don't know whether does sacrificing the capstone woth it?

Thanks for your responses.

[Samadhi]

You will lose DPS by not getting the capstone.

However, I make almost any sacrifice on a build possible for greater running speed, so absolutely do it is my motto!!

[Thrudh]

I have one (but I plan to TR him again someday, so I wasn't worried about min/max DPS).

The 10% extra speed, combined with the sprint boost is very nice... I have a hard time playing my characters that don't have sprint boost I like it so much...

And two rages are nice...

[eonfreon]

The greater running speed is nice and the sprint boost, but not worth losing the Cap Stone in my opinion.
I love speed but I just loaded up on a few Anger's Step boots (you can earn as many of those as you want) and I just keep Ex. Retreat going most of the time.

I had a Fighter with a couple of levels of Barbarian, but that was a long time ago. The game has changed quite a bit since then.

[Dragavon]

X'cuse me both but didnt the very nice fighter capstone get hit with the nerfbat and become rather pants?

I see no reason to not splash a couple of levels of coolness into your boring fighter

[Sani_Medicor]

I'm leveling a 12ftr/6rgr/2brb build and like it so far. I'm still trying to adjust to having to cancel my rage for emergency heals though. I may have to try a bodyfeeder weapon for soloing.

[eonfreon]

Lol, if you say so Dragavon.
Personally I like my doublestrikes.

[Consumer]

Copy pasta because you obviously didn't bother looking.

10% double strike
1 feat
20 HP

vs

24 HP
5 con
4 str
1 PA
10% movement speed
35% sprint boost
Uncanny Dodge

HO

24 HP
5 con
6 str
1 PA
10% movement speed
35% sprint boost
Uncanny Dodge

Barb PL + HO

24 HP
9 con
10 str
1 PA
10% movement speed
35% sprint boost
Uncanny Dodge


The Fighter capstone gives more DPS but the Barb levels still give damage and also bring movement speed, HP and up to +5 tactics DC.

Ideally you would wait until you have the past life to make this build.

[Erulas]

Thanks for all the replies. If I understood well, playing a pure fighter or fighter/barbarian would depend on my playing style :-)

With the latter I sacrifice quick hits on the altar of higher damage. As I see it there's no significant difference, and I won't be a lame fighter with it.

All the responses were good for me not to feel stupid to use the previously mentioned build. Actually I think I'll sleep on it, but you reassure my soul.

[Kriogen]

My general rule for this is: Capstone or Evasion.

I would not go Fighter18/Barb2. Maybe Fighter12/Barb6/Rogue2 or Fighter12/Rogue7/Barb1 or Fighter18/Rogue2.

Most likely i'd go Fighter12/Rogue7/Barb1. Kensai2, nice sneak attack bonus, lots of skills and better running speed.

[unbongwah]

Personally I'm not fond of barb splashes in general. In this case, I'm with Kriogen: Evasion is worth sacrificing the ftr capstone (on a build which can hit high enough Reflex saves and doesn't suffer too much from wearing light armor or robes instead of med or hvy); a run speed boost is not (unless you think this char will never hit lvl cap or you plan to TR as soon as you do). So I would consider rogue 2 / ftr 18 or monk 2 / ftr 18; I wouldn't do barb 2 / ftr 18.