Am I squishy?

[Martdon]

DR was kind of mentioned, so on top of other advice you were given, I would make sure you take Barbarian Damage Reduction I and II. 2/- DR may not seem like much, but when you are getting hit by multiple mobs, it can add up quickly. That and barbarians get 1/- DR at level 2, then they don't starting getting it again, until around your level. So over the next few levels, your automatic DR will go up, and that will start helping more as well. DR is a barbarian's AC, and every little bit added is useful unlike AC is for most people.

[sephiroth1084]

Plenty of good advice already, so let me add just a four more points:


- If it hurts, just f***ing kill it. In other words, maximize your damage output. You may say "D'oh, I'm a barbarian.", but I'm specifically addressing the advice to use a paralyzing weapon. From my experience, there are few situations where it is actually preferable to use a paralyzer (on a barbarian), because by the time the effect sticks, you may as well have already killed the enemies if only you had used a real weapon. Of course this doesn't mean "Never use a paralyzer." - but effect weapons should be very situational on a barbarian, imho.

At level 15 Paralyzing is incredibly powerful and well worth using in most content, even on a bard. The amount of damage you lose by not using something with a DPS enhancement is much less than the amount of damage the party avoids (and consequently the amount of SP everyone else saves) by using a paralyzing weapon. It's really not until the after the Vale that they cease to very good (though they are still useful into epic content, albeit marginally so).

[bryanmeerkat]

That's rushing, badly.. Zerging is something else entirely.

Well yeah but generally you shouldnt be zerging anything that you couldnt solo given more time . And as the reply I was replying to said you should just zerg stuff either if "you can solo it yourself" or " you want fast xp" . Which to me seems like a recipe for a stone-runner .

[k1ngp1n]

Well yeah but generally you shouldnt be zerging anything that you couldnt solo given more time . And as the reply I was replying to said you should just zerg stuff either if "you can solo it yourself" or " you want fast xp" . Which to me seems like a recipe for a stone-runner .

Nay, young one. Learn to embrace red alert. There is where wisdom lies.

[testing1234]

not sure if OP is still reading this thread but...

1bodyfeeder weapon
ive always liked to have a bodyfeeder weapon on hand you need a highest crit weapon falchion or scimitar, rapier.
this does not lessen the damage team take (self only) like a paralysing but does not have a save so its a sure thing.

2caster quests
in certain odd quests it comes down to the caster/cleric on occasion to be main character in party, learning when to chill back and let the caster disable kill can be useful.
as a example that is the acid wit quests were a melee trying to run up to elementals and beating em down is going to feel squishy even on normal and a single caster can do the headless chicken in a fw much more effective over and over the 50times he needs to.
brute melee dps does not translate well in acid wit best let the caster take agro and do his thing while u add little dps while not taking agro.

3fire/cold/acid... resistances
learning how much of your damage taken is elemental in nature then asking for or carry greater res robes/rings.
in some quests u can cut damage taken by half by getting a single res done on you at start of quest or switching to right res cloak.
if you dont know what you need ask at entrace to quest do i need any reses in this q.
if possible get the res from the paladin or ranger many of them only happy to feel of use giving you a res you need.
when it comes to acid res items often a 10 or 20 res item is enough to work as well as a 30.
many enemies does not do only blunt/piercing/slashing damage they also use a elemental 1d6 weapon and a res item cuts this down to 0 many archers has sonic or acid arrows/bows and many fire teamed quest has enemies using fire weapons same with cold and acid.

[Poffel]

At level 15 Paralyzing is incredibly powerful and well worth using in most content, even on a bard. The amount of damage you lose by not using something with a DPS enhancement is much less than the amount of damage the party avoids (and consequently the amount of SP everyone else saves) by using a paralyzing weapon. It's really not until the after the Vale that they cease to very good (though they are still useful into epic content, albeit marginally so).

I have to say, my experience differs from yours. While paralyzers are indeed very useful in certain quests, from my point of view they have already lost their edge for most quests at the OP's level range. But there's also a lot more that plays into it... party setup, enemy types etc.

Hence, you're addressing the only important point: To situationally estimate the loss of damage output vs. the reduction of damage taken. If you get the impression that you're coming out on top with a paralyzer in a particular situation, by all means, use it. But don't overestimate an item's usefulness by focusing its strengths and neglecting its shortcomings, and - most importantly - don't confuse the damage taken individually with the total damage taken.

[Aeolwind]

Nay, young one. Learn to embrace red alert. There is where wisdom lies.

I always knew that red skull was lighting the way to enlightenment.

[PopeJual]

Also, You shoulndt really zerg in a quest except you can solo it without a hireling.

Unless you're all zerging together.

Sprinting ahead of the party is a good idea when you can handle it and a terrible idea when you can't handle it.

Sprinting ahead *with* the party, on the other hand is pure awesome.



As for the OP, the biggest change in my squishiness came when I got in the habit of running around an enemy while I attacked it so that its buddies ended up spending all their time chasing me instead of surrounding and attacking me. It is possible to fight one enemy at a time even when you are facing a swarm of enemies that are all aggroed on you.

[GBantaR]

WOW a lot of advice! OK here goes.

If you are on Khyber, send a mail to Felgor and I will mail you a +10 stunning Warhammer ML14 for use in the off hand, since you deserve it

Oh are you THF or TWF?

I thought THF but you mentioned GTWF in the last post...

Oops! I meant GTHF. Edited. And sadly I'm on Orien I hear Khyber is a great place to be.

Yep everyone knows the quick xp comes from dying , wiping and ragequitting the group because the healer cant heal through walls .

LOL! No, I'm not one of "those" players. I rarely die, and I'm not too proud to kite (away from the group!) if I somehow do find that I've bit off more than I can chew. Also, I've never rage quit in my life, although I was SERIOUSLY considering it last night when I ran Tomb of the Tormented for the first time! BLOODY RATS!

I usually hate to heal Barb's on my healers due to the fact that most monsters in a dungeon can hit you sneezing from across the room on a 1, this you become a mana sponge for the healer, causing the others to suffer at times. Zerging barbs i will let die, plain and simple. try offering your healers some heal scrolls or wands for the extra effort it takes to keep you up and carry plenty of your own pots.

I do apologize on behalf of bad barbs you've run with. I know people like that for sure, and it's because I was afraid I was becoming one of them that I started this thread in the first place. At least I'm a HOrc instead of a WF with no Healer's Friend

Plenty of good advice already, so let me add just a four more points:

- Use Uncanny Dodge to get your reflex save to a score that matters....

I'm proud to say I thought of this all on my lonesome one of my other mains is a Rogue so when that feat was granted to my Barb, I said, "+ WHAT to my Reflex?!" and began spamming it whenever appropriate.

- If it hurts, just f***ing kill it...From my experience, there are few situations where it is actually preferable to use a paralyzer (on a barbarian)...

I found this to be true as well. The one situation I was really having "trouble" with where I found the paralyzer incredibly useful was in the Lordsmarch quests against the Droam Infantry. Those mother lovers are TOUGH and they like to gang up on me. One cleave with my Paralyzer usually procs on most of them, then I have time to chip down their massive HP.

Most situations though I'm still using Carnifex because I just haven't found anything better - a few swings with that while Raged and I've landed a crit for 250-300 - Paralyzed, you say? Try dead.

- Carry a shield, then hope to never have to use it....

Had not thought of this. I will give it a shot. Hey, can't I mount a shield on either arm? :P

- There are a couple of not-so-easy-to-get items out there which would further improve your survivability....

I'm looking forward most to Earthgrab guard when I make it to Shroud. Auto-crit sounds GOOD to papa Dag!

DR was kind of mentioned, so on top of other advice you were given, I would make sure you take Barbarian Damage Reduction I and II. 2/- DR may not seem like much, but when you are getting hit by multiple mobs, it can add up quickly. That and barbarians get 1/- DR at level 2, then they don't starting getting it again, until around your level. So over the next few levels, your automatic DR will go up, and that will start helping more as well. DR is a barbarian's AC, and every little bit added is useful unlike AC is for most people.

Cool, I hadn't invested ANY AP in DR. (Hehe, multiple actonyms make me smile). As soon as I have some to spare (I.e. once I've finished locking in FB III I'll invest in improved DR.

not sure if OP is still reading this thread but...

1bodyfeeder weapon
ive always liked to have a bodyfeeder weapon on hand...

Looking for a bodyfeeder falchion to show up on the AH, haven't seen one so far. I like this idea though. The way I think about it is every crit gives me DR15 on the next hit I take.

2caster quests
in certain odd quests it comes down to the caster/cleric on occasion to be main character in party...

Cool will keep this in mind.

3fire/cold/acid... resistances...

Definitely a big fan of the resistances. I will start searching out Greater Res outfits that I can switch out between (I refuse to wear robes for obvious reasons. I'm not some poncy elf).

Unless you're all zerging together.

Sprinting ahead of the party is a good idea when you can handle it and a terrible idea when you can't handle it.

Sprinting ahead *with* the party, on the other hand is pure awesome.

^^This

...is how I roll.

[Mr.Tripod]

As a side question on paralyzers, does a paralyzing axe of maim auto crit on the paralysis, or does it only work on a crit. swing? Sorry to go off topic a bit, I promise it'll be my only question.

[sirgog]

One more thing you might want to look into is trying to acquire one of the (quite rare) items that grant Healing Amplification.

Levik's Bracers are a fairly common drop from the Hound of Xoriat raid, provide the +6 Strength you need to have on an item somewhere, and also provide 20% healing amplification - meaning that a Heal spell from an ungeared Clr11 that would have hit you for 154 instead hits for 185. HoX can be done at level 14, although if you don't know the raid you might be better off waiting a couple more levels.

Dragontouched armor (from the Reaver's Refuge pack) can give 10% and 20% (stacking) healing amplification. Two 20% healing amp effects don't stack with each other.

Much later on, you can get 20% healing amp on the rings that are raid loot in Tower of Despair, and also 30% on the Epic Gloves of the Claw.

Also, WF and Humans (and I think halfelves too) have racial enhancements that improve their healing amplification (although for WF, it's reducing a penalty rather than providing a bonus). Both are worth serious consideration.

[Baloran]

Looking for a bodyfeeder falchion to show up on the AH, haven't seen one so far. I like this idea though. The way I think about it is every crit gives me DR15 on the next hit I take.

I was lucky and got a Bloody Cleaver from the AH (for 30k plat) which I use as my main weapon on my level 17 barb. I hope I can add vampiric with the next update. Of course you can just farm Frame Work for the weapon.



Nice thing is this basically feeds my vicious damage from frenzy so I don't kill myself when I go frenzy.



Another thing I want to add since it was not mentioned before:

Depending on your the level of your guild you can also get additional +10-20 hp from guild augment crystals (I have striding boots with a medium crystal slot - another 15 hp)


Cheers

Baloran

[Lleren]

As a side question on paralyzers, does a paralyzing axe of maim auto crit on the paralysis, or does it only work on a crit. swing? Sorry to go off topic a bit, I promise it'll be my only question.

Paralyzers do not provide auto crit =/

However they do tend to make some pug healers happier with you and the party as a paralyzed mob isn't beating on anyone. Many times in Gianthold for example mobs will end up paralyzed on the first hit, this can save a lot of incoming damage, especially to the squishier members who can then go on and kill the paralyzed mob.

I think of a Paralyzer as a good addition to your toolbox, but not the entire thing.

[Daedalis]

My advice would be to learn to use the dungeons layout to your advantage. Use areas that constrict the mob flow like doorways or narrow halls, this way your only being attacked from the front. In cases where this is not possible, put your back to the wall so that mobs can't get the +4 attack bonus from flanking you....I know on a barbarian not a big deal because of the low AC, but my main is the squishist squishy around and I do a lot of soloing and this is one tactic I use to help keep from getting overwhelmed.

Just my 2 cp

[Khanyth]

[PopeJual]

My advice would be to learn to use the dungeons layout to your advantage. Use areas that constrict the mob flow like doorways or narrow halls, this way your only being attacked from the front. In cases where this is not possible, put your back to the wall so that mobs can't get the +4 attack bonus from flanking you....I know on a barbarian not a big deal because of the low AC, but my main is the squishist squishy around and I do a lot of soloing and this is one tactic I use to help keep from getting overwhelmed.

Just my 2 cp

In addition to this, there is a difference in how PCs are allowed to move vs. how monsters are allowed to move. PCs can move through each other and even stand in the exact same space. Monsters cannot pass through each other, though.

That means that you can use monsters as mobile terrain to do something similar even in the middle of a big, open room.

Just keep circling one monster as you attack it and its friends will spend their time chasing you around their buddy instead of swinging their weapons.

[TheBroken_JPK]

I've come back to the game after a 2 month break. I'm about to TR to a barb. I saw someone mention barbs should carry potions. Obviously, its a great idea, and I encourage this to everyone. However, are barbs able to drink potions while raged now? Cuz that would be really awesome. Or did the poster just mean when the barb happens to not be raged.

[EKKM]

As a side question on paralyzers, does a paralyzing axe of maim auto crit on the paralysis, or does it only work on a crit. swing? Sorry to go off topic a bit, I promise it'll be my only question.

I've come back to the game after a 2 month break. I'm about to TR to a barb. I saw someone mention barbs should carry potions. Obviously, its a great idea, and I encourage this to everyone. However, are barbs able to drink potions while raged now? Cuz that would be really awesome. Or did the poster just mean when the barb happens to not be raged.

You should be able to use cure pots while rages. Certain potions are coded as spells so they can be used on others, so you cant use them while raged. In short, if it can affect others, it cant be used while raged (remove curse, blindness, restoration etc).

[TitoJ]

Yep everyone knows the quick xp comes from dying , wiping and ragequitting the group because the healer cant heal through walls .

Quite frankly, it's well known that the largest, fastest producers usually have certain margin's for error.

Just because a zerging group wipes every now and again, doesn't mean that's an inefficient way to level. It just means they're off getting more xp most of the time.

I work at a large scale printing company. We would be considered the 'zergers' of any printshop around us. Sure we take on a lot, but we have the resources to do so. Some days we 'wipe', but no shop around us will even come close to our production, despite the mistakes that working at a fast pace will inevitably happen.

[PopeJual]

I've come back to the game after a 2 month break. I'm about to TR to a barb. I saw someone mention barbs should carry potions. Obviously, its a great idea, and I encourage this to everyone. However, are barbs able to drink potions while raged now? Cuz that would be really awesome. Or did the poster just mean when the barb happens to not be raged.

Guild potions are useable when raged because guild pots cannot be funneled to other players.