Useful Stunning Blow DC in U11 endgame

[Micron]

Thinking about the last feat on my TWF barbarian and Stunning Blow is one of the alternatives but as he's more of a fun to play gimp than a straightforward barb build, I'm not quite certain if I could reach a useful stun DC on him.

Any clues on what sort of DC (stunning gear included) I need to be going for if I want to have a reasonable chance of stunning standard epic trash and other high level stuff (Shavarath, House C etc.)?

Current feats are TWF, ITWF, GTWF, Toughness, PA and Cleave; for the last one I'm considering Stunning Blow, IC Slash (I dual min IIs most of the time so can live without it) and Improved Sunder. Comments and other recommendations are welcome.

Thanks!

[Memek]

Improved Sunder as a preparation move lowers the fort save, so makes stunning stuff much easier. Currently, when dualwielding it most of the time applies -6 to fort save; But i guess this will sooner or later get changed to only apply -3 on first hit.

In any case, together with Imp Sunder your Barb should easily reach a Stun DC to reliably stun anything with a stunning weapon equipped.

In my last life i had a Stunning Fist DC of 43, Stunning Blow about the same i think (i suppose it was a bit higher). ImpSunder and Fist would knock out a Devil in eDA pretty reliably although not all the time. Orthons have higher saves and an ImpSunder + Fist combo would take them out with maybe 50% chance.

Other Epics, IS+SF knocked out everything, and Fist alone was good enough for most stuff.
Preparing with IS was very useful on the Priests in Deeps, the orange giant in Claw and i guess some brutes in a few other epics.

[Micron]

Yes, but if I wanted both Imp Sunder and Stunning Blow, I'd have to give up one of the current feats, and I don't like the sound of that tbh. I want to keep all of them.
I suppose I could splash 1 or 2 ftr for extra feats, I've already got 2 rogue levels anyway, not worried about capstone. But I'd lose Frenzied Barb III. Wonder if I could live with that.

[Memek]

Ah yes, i misread it and thought you already had Imp Sunder. Calculate your Stunning DC and decide then.

[gloopygloop]

I like to get my spell DC's up to 38+ before I think about going into Epic quests. As long as you're targeting appropriate enemies (low fort types like casters), then a 38+ DC on your Stunning Blow will be very effective.

[Rusty_Can]

Any clues on what sort of DC (stunning gear included) I need to be going for if I want to have a reasonable chance of stunning standard epic trash and other high level stuff (Shavarath, House C etc.)?

Wizards are comfortable with 40+ on their necromancy spells, which usually target Fortitude saves.

Stunning Blow targets the same save, ergo I reckon 40+ looks reliable.

In my experience, 37-38 starts to be enough in lesser epic content, such as Carnival and Sentinels quests, especially against casters.

[Micron]

There you go, I play two capped wizards and I didn't think of using their Necro DCs as a guide for Stun DC...

DC 40, that's Str 50 and a +10 stunner. Any other ways to increase it (apart from getting higher Str obviously)?

Thanks for all the replies so far.

[Vandervagast]

What´s your barb race? warforged and dwarfs have a line of enhancements for improve combat tactics DC´s (like stun); expensive in points, but maybe tier 1 or 2 it´s enough. More Strenght, ToD rings would help you, and a good weapon: I use Epic Ratkiller on my barb, for a total of 47 Stun DC

[K_0tiC]

Numbers range from high 30s to 50+ on some mobs epic desert stuff like gnolls have some really high saves. From toying with sb on builds pre auto crit nerf I wouldnt bother if you cant sit 42+ not worth carrying a weighted weapon vs a dps option then switching to dps if your failing most of the time.

[Micron]

Given my sub-optimal strength, DC 42 would only be sustainable in Death Frenzy while being nannied and that wouldn't work. It'll probably be better to just grab Improved Crit and craft some LitIIs.. (and TR into something more useful once I've farmed some raid gear ).

Thanks everyone nonetheless.

[Astraghal]

I started with this and could stun most Epic mobs reliably.

10 base
10 weapon
03 pre
06 enhancements
15 strength
04 power surge
01 rage
01 madstone
01 ship buff
-----
51 self buffed

I changed my gear and dropped my DC by 3 and started noticing a difference. The hobgoblins in Crystal Cove seem to have higher DC's than Epic trash. DC's went up by about 5 in the u9 spell pass, which was a nerf to tactical melee. I'd say you would notice about an 80% success rate with DC 50, but that would drop off to about 50% at DC 40 (against harder Epic mobs). It's one of those things that you have to go all or nothing with, there's no point in having Stunning Blow if it doesn't land ~75% of the time.

[K_0tiC]

Given my sub-optimal strength, DC 42 would only be sustainable in Death Frenzy while being nannied and that wouldn't work. It'll probably be better to just grab Improved Crit and craft some LitIIs.. (and TR into something more useful once I've farmed some raid gear ).

Thanks everyone nonetheless.

IC is bread and butter for anyone that calls themself a DPS toon as well as minII are pretty crappy damage compared to say LS or even can be replaced by some basic +4 holy of lob or cob from cannith crafting for DR breaking.