Balance DC

[Pingshot]

How high balance DC to recover from being prone? Is it really required to maximize this skill, or 5 ranks + 15 item is enough?

[cdr]

How high balance DC to recover from being prone? Is it really required to maximize this skill, or 5 ranks + 15 item is enough?

Most trip/knockdown effects are a strength/dexterity check (higher of the two). Balance is the check for getting back up. It's a very useful skill to put points into so you spend less time flat on your back. The DC to get back up is generally equal to the DC of the effect that knocked you down.

There are a few special effects that have a balance check, such as the Warforged Titan knockdown, and having Balance there can be crucial.

Not sure I'd say it's "required to maximize", but if I have ability points that aren't taken by an essential core ability they go into Balance before most anything else.

[Pingshot]

The DC to get back up is generally equal to the DC of the effect that knocked you down.
There are a few special effects that have a balance check, such as the Warforged Titan knockdown, and having Balance there can be crucial.

so i.e.:

Hammer Drop: He will drop his massive hammer arm down, shaking the ground and severely damaging (bludgeoning) all it hits. In addition to the damage it deals, it will often (seems to be a ~75% proc chance) automatically knock down anyone it strikes. It sometimes shows a strength save when you get hit, but even with a 80 strength, you cannot save against this unless you roll a 20. Additionally, all nearby allies in a moderate AOE will also get knocked away and onto there backs if they fail a hidden DC35 balance check. Bring your balance equipment!

current top-DPS built barbarians (NO BALANCE ITEMS: abishai (helm/cloak/boots)+claw set+FB set+shintao set+marilith chain)
DEX 16 (8 base + 2 tome + 6 item) = +3 balance
cross-class balance = +11 balance
---
14 balance
will recover ONLY ON 20???
hmm... there is something wrong

[PurdueDave]

Here's an old thread. Not a lot of discussion but it hits the high points.
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=314730

[DrNuegebauer]

Here's an old thread. Not a lot of discussion but it hits the high points.
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=314730

Unless I'm wrong, then I don't think that thread is very useful!

Towards the end they spend much of the time talking about not getting knocked down due to various balance skills.

However balance in no way affects getting knocked down; it affects how quickly you get up AFTER you've been knocked down.
It's hearsay, but apparently something like 25 balance is as high as you need - allegedly you don't get up any faster with higher skill than that.

edit: if I could read it looks like a total of 34 from an earlier post!

[cdr]

so i.e.:

current top-DPS built barbarians (NO BALANCE ITEMS: abishai (helm/cloak/boots)+claw set+FB set+shintao set+marilith chain)
DEX 16 (8 base + 2 tome + 6 item) = +3 balance
cross-class balance = +11 balance
---
14 balance
will recover ONLY ON 20???
hmm... there is something wrong

The second part is what I was referring to - "Additionally, all nearby allies in a moderate AOE will also get knocked away and onto thier backs if they fail a hidden DC35 balance check." That part is a pure balance check, and can make it really hard to get anything done if you're failing it all the time.

The part about a 20 is that you need to roll a 20 if directly hit to not get knocked down.

[Jendrak]

Unless I'm wrong, then I don't think that thread is very useful!

Towards the end they spend much of the time talking about not getting knocked down due to various balance skills.

However balance in no way affects getting knocked down; it affects how quickly you get up AFTER you've been knocked down.
It's hearsay, but apparently something like 25 balance is as high as you need - allegedly you don't get up any faster with higher skill than that.

edit: if I could read it looks like a total of 34 from an earlier post!

Not exactly correct, while balance doesnt affect a players save vs trip it DOES affect wether a player gets knocked down by some attacks like the titans hammer and a minotaurs charge attacks (i may be wrong about this one, would need more testing to be sure). IIRC, the benchmark for the titans hammer is 34.

[Astraghal]

..it DOES affect wether a player gets knocked down by some attacks like the titans hammer and a minotaurs charge attacks (i may be wrong about this one, would need more testing to be sure). IIRC, the benchmark for the titans hammer is 34.

Can you check and get back to us on this with a test or source so we can know for a fact, once and for all, what requires a Balance check and what doesn't. I see a lot of speculative threads on these subjects but not much factual, sourceable information.