Gear Progression for Newb Barbarians

[Teech]

So my Barb is getting closer to 20 and is obviously gimp. No need for us to discuss that at all. What I'd like to hear are any suggestions for gear for a 18+ Barb.
Easy stuff please. Nothing that requires too much grinding I hope...

Helm: Pirate Hat - Seeker & Balance
Goggles: REALLY **** stuff. Don't even look. Just suggest something.
Neck: +6 Con
Trinket: 16 Spyglass for True Seeing
Armor: 16 Calvary Plate
Cloak: All my greater resists
Bracers: Bracers of the Claw (also have Bracelet of Thaarak)
Gloves: Gloves of the Claw
Belt: Heavy Fort & Poison Immunity
Boots: 20% Striding
Ring1: +6 Strength
Ring2: Swap slot between underwater action, feather fall and disease immunity.
Weapons: Rubbish stuff again. I have a +1 Metalline Righteousness and a Holy Lawful Outsider Bane for normal Shroud?

So yes, that's my rubbish equips.
Help me improve on it!

I'm not looking for suggestions on what EPICS I should get. I see myself as far from that. I'd just like to know how I can improve my equips through the AH or by farming quests (preferably). Or perhaps anything I should have that I do not? (I have guild curse pots. =p)

========================================
The following gear list is my compilation of the gear that has been suggested by helpful forumites in this thread.

Helm: Minos Legen / Seeker Pirate Hat
Goggles: Goggles of Time Sensing / Tharnes / Blindness Ward of Battle Skill (Crafted)
Neck: Nightforge Gorget (H.Fort) / HP Neck (GS) / Jorgundal's collar
Trinket: Shimmering Arrowhead / The Bloodstone / Dusk Heart / Bold Trinket
Armor: 16 Calvary Plate / DT Armor (Healing Amp, Saves, Guards)
Cloak: All my greater resists / (No mention of cloaks as yet, maybe GS HP slot?)
Bracers: Bracelet of Thaarak (If not Minos) / Levik's Bracers / Claw Set
Gloves: Charged Gauntlets / Claw Set / +6 Str Item / Spectral Gloves
Belt: Knost's Belt
Boots: Madstone Boots
Ring1: ???
Ring2: ???
Weapons: Holy Burst of PG / MinII / LitII / PosII

Thank you all for your comments.
Am sure this will help newb barbs everywhere.
I'll continue to update the OP as more info comes in.

[somenewnoob]

How about for those goggles something like the goggles of time sensing from Chrono, haste clickie? Not the greatest thing in the world but nice to have if that slot has garbage in it now.

[Kourier]

Trinket: Shimmering Arrowhead from amrath
Goggles: Tharnes from VoD or GreenSteel OR Goggles of insight from Korthos
Bracers: Bracers of Tharaak
Belt: Get a con +6/GFL belt from Amrath quests (Ex: Vorne's)
Neck: Heavy Fort (Nightforge Gorget) (Maybe minII hp necklace?)
Armor: Dragontouched?

Upgrade to 30% striding (ring or boots) and pick up something for featherfalling.

Cloak is also another slot to consider for GS.

[Teech]

Just a quick thanks for the ideas so far.
Should I switch out the claw set for the bracers of Thaarak?
I ask because I hear good things about the claw set even non-epiced.
I'm at 500hp unbuffed so fully buffed and raged should be 600+ I think.

I'm working on getting the gems to be flagged for reavers reach so I can start on Dragontouched. I read that Barbs should choke it full of healing Amp and maybe destruction so I'll probably do that.

I missed out my rings so I'll edit those in.
+6 str on one
The other is a swap slot rotating between underwater action, feather fall and disease immunity.

I confess to having an unnatural fear of GS crafting as it looks terribly complicated...

[JollySwagMan]

With the new crafting system, you can currently create Blindness Ward of Battle Skill +2 Goggles (Competence bonus, same type of bonus as Korthos goggles, Necklace of Contemplation or Spectral Gloves), not the greatest but a solid slot before Tharnes or greensteel goggles. Disjunct some end reward goggles from the Sharn Syndicate, Waterworks or STK to make a bound to account version.

Do you have Improved/Greater False life on any slots? The Dusk Heart trinket (Improved False Life, 10% Blur) drops fairly often out in the Sands, and can be a good option on that slot when you don't need True Seeing (or can have someone hit you with a scroll/clickie). Alternately if you have the Bold trinket from the Pirate Event it can be pretty neat (especially on a character with a fast attack rate!)

Are there any slots which you prefer to keep as non-swap?

[Kourier]

The ideal dragontouched for you I think would be to have +5 saves/20% healing amp/radiance guard - barbs don't need destruction, generally.

You should definitely look into GS crafting, otherwise you deprive yourself of very very powerful items (45 hp from said items, for example).

[Rydin_Dirtay]

I'm working on getting the gems to be flagged for reavers reach so I can start on Dragontouched. I read that Barbs should choke it full of healing Amp and maybe destruction so I'll probably do that.

Nah I wouldn't go with Destruction on a barb, because you won't have problems hitting things, generally speaking.

Go for Guards and/or Healing amp instead.

[Postumus]

I confess to having an unnatural fear of GS crafting as it looks terribly complicated...

Don't fear the green steel!


I'm not a big crafting guy, but after spending untold hours in the new crafting hall, green steel seems downright quick.


The blanks are very easy to make. And the web tools make it - well- decipherable. Try this one (even I was able to figure it out): DDO Crafting Planner

[wolflordnexus]

http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~delallea/ddo/shroud/

That's the shroud planner I use lets you reverse engineer your loot very nice

[Trivle]

This thread is relevant to my interests. Trivle is my first character in this game, and this is my first MMO. I think I am pretty twinked for lv 13. THF Dwarf Barb

Head: Minos Legens
Neck: Sirens Charm +4 con
Trinket: The Bloodstone
Armor: +4 Mithral Full Plate
Bracers: Bracers of the Claw
Gloves: Gloves of the Claw
Rings: +5 Wis, Signet of Silver Flame
Cloak: Mantle of the Worldshaper
Boots: +5 Dex
Belt: Greater False Life
Goggles: +1 save or something pointless

I do have belts of disease and poison immunity I switch out.

I would like some feedback, maybe what I should seek out next. I feel like I have been ridiculously lucky, had someone give me my final 6 taps today, and got the Bloodstone on my 10th try.

[Bobthesponge]

Suggestions:

Helm: Minos Legens - easy to get and frees up your belt for a con item
Trinket: bloodstone - hard to get and nice to have but not essential.
Belt: Named +6 con belts drop all the time in Amrath. I think defender of sybaris is the +6 and GFL one
Boots: Madstone - medium to hard to get but stacking rage is awesome on a barb
Neck: Jorgundal's collar - medium to hard to get

[Zildoran]

Knost's Belt also has +6 con and GFL and is part of the frenzied berserker set drops from Genesis Point

[Maxallu]

If you are a fleshy barb, I would recommend that you skip the healing amp on the DT armor and go with something like:
+5 saves/Salt guard/Dust guard (two untyped damage guards that do big damage). Barbs are about damage and terrible ac, this only increases your damage and 18+ healers will have no problem healing you.

Get a tharnes goggles out of VOD
Grab a +6 con GFL belt from amrath
DT armor
madstone boots out of reaver
if you want healing amp grab a pair of bracers out of HOX
get yourself a bloodstone
and a minis for your head
If larges are short make yourself a triple earth hp item out of shroud for earthgrab guard and 45 hps.

[Feithlin]

Helm: Pirate Hat - Seeker & Balance
Goggles: REALLY **** stuff. Don't even look. Just suggest something.
Neck: +6 Con
Trinket: 16 Spyglass for True Seeing
Armor: 16 Calvary Plate
Cloak: All my greater resists
Bracers: Bracers of the Claw (also have Bracelet of Thaarak)
Gloves: Gloves of the Claw
Belt: Heavy Fort & Poison Immunity
Boots: 20% Striding
Ring1: +6 Strength
Ring2: Swap slot between underwater action, feather fall and disease immunity.
Weapons: Rubbish stuff again. I have a +1 Metalline Righteousness and a Holy Lawful Outsider Bane for normal Shroud?

Imo, your feeling of gimpness comes mainly from your weapons. Try to get some holy silver greataxe for shroud.
You didn't mention your other weapons. Don't use your boss beater all the time (seems obvious, but I meet some players who only have 1-2 weapons in their backpack).
Check regularly AH and House D/Amrath Pawn shops for something good to grab. No need to spend all your money, it's just a question of time before you find something really interesting. A holy (burst) of pure good is a fine all around weapon.

Start your GS greataxe(s) too. An option could be to start both your main weapon (Lit II or Min II) and a Pos II. No need to craft the last one to tier-3. It will be an efficient weapon to use for questing and it will give you a raise clicky. I would focus first on these 2 weapons, then start to think about items. However, if you have problems to get your large scales, you could have enough ingredients to do 1 or 2 tier-2 items (remember that you won't be able to wear both at the same time, so at least one will be something to swap). Some possibilities are a Displacement clicky, a Haste clicky or a HP item (+25 HP, low cost would be Earth/Earth).

For your armor, the CC plate is nice, as it gives you both GFL and resistance. You can stick to it until you finish a DT armor. Personnaly, I wouldn't focus on it though. It's nice to have, but getting decent weapons is certainly the most important for you atm.

Between the Claw set and the Bracelet of Thaarak, you basically, with the gear you possess or can get easily, have the alternative between:
* Claw set, Minos Legens: Gains +2 damage, toughness (+20 HP) and frees belt slot, but looses Seeker.
* Bracelet of Thaarak, Pirate hat: Gains toughness (+20 HP), Seeker and frees gloves slot, but looses +2 damage. (+2 dodge is pretty useless for you so I don't account for it).
The 2nd seems better, especially if you have Seeker +6 on your hat. For the gloves, you could either get +6 Str gloves and free the ring slot (many good thing to put there) or simply get the chrono gloves. They are very low level, but would give you lightning strike (or whatever it's called: +10d6 shock on a '20').
The first option would be better if you can get Arrowhead or Bloodstone as trinket. Another option on this slot would be to craft something. There are some nice possibilities, and there are not many good trinkets running around.

[Teech]

Thanks all for your suggestions.
I think what I'll do is compile those suggestions and edit them into my OP so that other barbs will have an easier time if they're in the same situation looking for gear.
(I'll get around to it ... soon...)

This thread is relevant to my interests. Trivle is my first character in this game, and this is my first MMO. I think I am pretty twinked for lv 13. THF Dwarf Barb

Head: Minos Legens
Neck: Sirens Charm +4 con
Trinket: The Bloodstone
Armor: +4 Mithral Full Plate
Bracers: Bracers of the Claw
Gloves: Gloves of the Claw
Rings: +5 Wis, Signet of Silver Flame
Cloak: Mantle of the Worldshaper
Boots: +5 Dex
Belt: Greater False Life
Goggles: +1 save or something pointless

I do have belts of disease and poison immunity I switch out.

I would like some feedback, maybe what I should seek out next. I feel like I have been ridiculously lucky, had someone give me my final 6 taps today, and got the Bloodstone on my 10th try.

You *&%$
Yes, I do think you are pretty lucky.
My short comment to a fellow barb is that your mithral full plate probably isn't going to help you for much longer. My personal estimate for useful AC is (lvl x 4), so if at 13, you're not hitting 52 AC or so, you may want to forego it and look for armor with other useful attributes. Crystal Cove plate is good from 16 onwards. If you have the Attack on Stormreach Pack, Crimson Chain could be a nice one.

Also, before I upgraded my belt to include Proof of Poison, I chucked my poison ring and just ran with potions. I'm hitting the stage (I think) where I'm thinking of getting tons of guild pots for everything and just chucking out gear so that I don't have to switch stuff around mid-combat. But that's just me... (Get guild remove curse pots if you have not. Guild pots can be used while raged. Very useful for a barb...)

[Trivle]

Thanks Teech, I was planning on running the Assault on Stormreach chain after my brother and I get done with Necropolis 3. I also didn't know that about the guild potions, that is helpful. I was confused why some potions worked while raging and some didn't. That way I don't have to take off my GFL belt.

[Cardtrick]

People always toss out Tharne's as though they're easy to get, but I have not found that to be the case. I have never pulled a pair on any of my characters. They don't drop all that frequently, and virtually every melee character in the raid is likely to roll on them.

(Part of why I love the epic gloves from the Crystal Cove so much.)

Tharne's are well worth searching for, but in the interim I would actually suggest crafting a pair of goggles. That may mean Green Steel, although that's a bit of a waste if your end-goal is Tharne's. But you can actually make some really useful goggles with the new crafting system, at relatively low levels of skill -- mine give +2 attack bonus (it's called "battle skill" in the crafting menu), blindness immunity, and a small guild slot slotted with +10 stacking HP.

Just something else to think about for that slot!

EDIT: I am dumb, just realized JollySwagMan posted virtually the same thing above. Not sure how I missed that. Disregard this.

[Teech]

People always toss out Tharne's as though they're easy to get, but I have not found that to be the case. I have never pulled a pair on any of my characters. They don't drop all that frequently, and virtually every melee character in the raid is likely to roll on them.

(Part of why I love the epic gloves from the Crystal Cove so much.)

Tharne's are well worth searching for, but in the interim I would actually suggest crafting a pair of goggles. That may mean Green Steel, although that's a bit of a waste if your end-goal is Tharne's. But you can actually make some really useful goggles with the new crafting system, at relatively low levels of skill -- mine give +2 attack bonus (it's called "battle skill" in the crafting menu), blindness immunity, and a small guild slot slotted with +10 stacking HP.

Just something else to think about for that slot!

EDIT: I am dumb, just realized JollySwagMan posted virtually the same thing above. Not sure how I missed that. Disregard this.

Err. Thanks for the bump anyway.

Seriously though, what you mentioned about Tharnes is useful info.
Now I won't sit on my hands waiting for it to drop and will seriously consider the crafted goggles route.

Honestly, thats the kind of info I'm looking for.
With all the helpful posts in here, I've decided to do the following:
1) Try to start finding groups to run Amrath...
2) Keep on running shroud and spend time between shrouds finding out more about GS
3) Get flagged for Reaver. (Only just bought the pack. Solo-ed Madstone & PoP. Anyone wanna show me Crucible? =p)
4) Check out some goggle crafting.
5) Maybe run OOB when bored for a shot at spectral gloves so I can ditch ghosttouched weapons...

For trash, i rotate between +4 Holy GLOB, paralyser, Bloody Cleaver, Blade of Fury, and Insanity. Pretty crappy stuff I know...

[Cardtrick]

For trash, i rotate between +4 Holy GLOB, paralyser, Bloody Cleaver, Blade of Fury, and Insanity. Pretty crappy stuff I know...

A +4 Holy GLOB is actually a great weapon for Amrath (it would be better if it was silver, but still great against trash). You'll definitely want to get a vorpal weapon, too -- preferably one that breaks trash devil DR (meaning vorpal of pure good, vorpal of righteousness, or any suffix but made of sliver or flametouched iron).

The paralyzer is still good for Vale quests (for green steel base ingredients) and other situational use (stuff with hard-hitting, low save enemies -- gianthold quests, reaver's refuge if you start working on Dragontouched armor, etc.). You're at the point where the Bloody Cleaver and Blade of Fury probably aren't worth using, though. Honestly you'd probably be doing better damage with a Carnifex, and you definitely would with a (non-epic) Sword of Shadows. I don't have a good sense of how useful Insanity is. It doesn't strike me as being particularly worthwhile, but I could be missing some redeeming value. You might want to just watch the auction house for a decent holy burst of righteousness or pure good falchion or greataxe as a general DPS weapon until you can get your first green steel weapon up to at least tier 2.

Not sure if you have them and just haven't mentioned them, but you should start looking for niche weapons to deal with "annoying" and usually crit-immune enemies -- something for constructs (Ideally a Holy of Smiting to rip through Shroud portals), something for elementals (banishing of elemental bane would be ideal, but any banishing is likely to be better than whatever else you're using, and will also rip through most Vale enemies), something for undead (holy of greater undead bane or disruption until you can craft a triple pos green steel maul).

And yeah, you really should running the Amrath quests at this point. The loot is fantastic (the named loot, the chance at large Shroud ingredients, and the valuable trash loot). They're actually some of my favorite content in the game. (Well, except for Weapons Shipment, which is deathly boring.) The four ToD flagging quests are very challenging when you're ungeared, but they're also a lot of fun, and Wrath of the Flame is an easy but fast quest to blast through when you have 6 or 7 minutes to kill and want to make some money.

When soloing Amrath content, you'll probably find that the +4 Holy GLOB takes devils down fastest before getting a tier 3 green steel weapon, but in a group I suspect you'll want to be using a vorpal, at least against orthons (their HP scales up quite high in a full group, to the point that a vorpal will usually be worthwhile except on the very highest-DPS characters).

[Jhaeran]

Just as a reference point (obviously not ideal) I have a 17 barb with a banked 18th lvl that I'm close to maxing out.

Helm: Minos Legen / Seeker Pirate Hat
Goggles: Goggles of Time Sensing / Goal - Tharnes
Neck: +6 Con (on my lvl 20 I use neck for my utility, disease, poison, etc)
Trinket: Bold Trinket/Voice/Stalwart trinket
Armor: 16 Calvary Plate / working on DT Armor (Fort, Amp, Guards) and have epic cav plate in bank
Cloak: All my greater resists / Goal GS HP slot
Bracers: +6 Str - Goal Levik's/tharnes set
Gloves: Spectral Gloves (not impossible to window farm quickly on norm with a good group) - once tharne's set then spiked gloves from event
Belt: heavy fort when seeker, otherwise utility/gird
Boots: 30 striding, goal Madstone Boots
Ring1+2: Resists, featherfall. Goal ToD +str
Weapons: Switch between carnifex (yeah..still good in some cases), paralyzer, GCB, GT of disruption, vorpal. Default is +3 holy burst falchion of righteousness.
Haven't found a good banisher, elementals are annoying
Goal - min2 falchion and...