HP item: Where, what kind, best for future?

[HalfORCastrator]

I'm on my first character's(20 Dwarf FB Barb, Shade build) first life. I'll be wanting to TR into different melees, tanks/dps/hybrid, whether barb again, fighter, or some mix of those or others. I've been holding off on making a HP item because I don't really know what slot and what type is best for general use and maximizing for the future, and I can't afford throwing away 3-5 Large Scales and other larges. Currently, I'm thinking the goggles slot is best, but it could be cloak, or something else entirely.

From what I've seen and heard, cloak is a no-go since there are very good options there(Mabar, eEnvenomed), while goggles just has Tharne's Goggles which is a bit hard for me to get since I've never seen them looted in my VOD runs, and usually there are four or more people in the group looking to loot it anyway. I've seen heavy fort hp goggles in multiple tanking builds, and along with the fact that heavy fort on the goggles enables me to look for a replacement for Minos, this makes me lean towards goggles with heavy fort.

But I was playing around with the GS calculator, and I found the 20% Blur/Displacement clicky spec(Aspect of Smoke 2). Why isn't this talked about more often? It seems really good, but is it actually much worse? Is it because some caster can just slap on Blur anyway? What about the Displacement, or if there is nobody that can cast these two?


What I'm using currently:
Helm: Minos Legens
Necklace: Cannith +6 Con, +boosts, +20 alchemical hp
Goggles: Blindness Immunity, +10 Spot
Cloak: Greater Resistance variety
Belt: Disease Immunity, Greater False Life
Ring1: +6 Dexterity
Ring2: Greater Fire Resistance
Boots: Cannith Boots of Propulsion
Bracers: Fab Bracers unlocked
Gloves: Fab Gloves unlocked
Weapon: epic Antique Greataxe


I'm premium, the packs I have are:
Vale of Twilight
Vault of Night
Phiarlan Carnival
Delera's Graveyard
Tangleroot Gorge
Ruins of Gianthold
Devils of Shavarath
Necros 1-4
Catacombs
Secrets of the Artificers
Red Fens
Devil Assault
Sentinels of Stormreach
Demon Sands

(I jedi mindtricked myself out of Reaver's Refuge a week ago, during the 20% discount, for some reason)


Thanks for your help.

[WruntJunior]

On a barbarian, goggles without a doubt are best slot for HP item. If you are going to have aggro (namely, not doing a raid where a better tank would be better, you can usually plan on having aggro on a good barbarian), the hp item will do you more good than Tharne's Goggles (which you do want and will eventually get). When you don't have aggro, the 600+ hp you should have without a problem will be more than enough.

BTW, I really like earthgrab guard hp goggles on melee toons (where I'm just going to be sliding the goggles on short-term on rare occasion) as the guard is amazing for epics.

[Varashad]

On a barbarian, goggles without a doubt are best slot for HP item. If you are going to have aggro (namely, not doing a raid where a better tank would be better, you can usually plan on having aggro on a good barbarian), the hp item will do you more good than Tharne's Goggles (which you do want and will eventually get). When you don't have aggro, the 600+ hp you should have without a problem will be more than enough.

BTW, I really like earthgrab guard hp goggles on melee toons (where I'm just going to be sliding the goggles on short-term on rare occasion) as the guard is amazing for epics.

This. Tharnes for DPS, GS hp goggles for hate tanking. My barbarian hasn't used his HP goggles since the SD and DoS buffs though. Real tanks are just too common now.

[WruntJunior]

In all honesty, Wruntblender doesn't even use an hp item for tanking...but then again, he's an ac/healing amp tank when he does tank, and only for suulo. If you clear 600-700 hp, you honestly might as well not waste scales at the moment making an hp item.

[HalfORCastrator]

Really? Your advice is to not make one? Now I'm REALLY confused!

BTW, I really like earthgrab guard hp goggles on melee toons (where I'm just going to be sliding the goggles on short-term on rare occasion) as the guard is amazing for epics.

Only 35 DC, isn't it low for epics?


What about the Smoke spec? What do you guys think of that? (HP GS aside)

[WruntJunior]

Really? Your advice is to not make one? Now I'm REALLY confused!



Only 35 DC, isn't it low for epics?


What about the Smoke spec? What do you guys think of that? (HP GS aside)

Earthgrab is a reflex save. Enemies tend to have a much lower reflex.

Also, my advice isn't not to make one - it's that it's not really a high-priority item...to the point where you can live without ever having one.

[HalfORCastrator]

Also, my advice isn't not to make one - it's that it's not really a high-priority item...to the point where you can live without ever having one.

Well, I'm doing just fine without it on my 28 pt Barb, but is a GS HP item(any slot) optimal for a general DPS or role specific setup for a melee, assuming any and all epics/GS/named items?

[WruntJunior]

Well, I'm doing just fine without it on my 28 pt Barb, but is a GS HP item(any slot) optimal for a general DPS or role specific setup for a melee, assuming any and all epics/GS/named items?

In a dps role, you'll not be using a gs hp item in optimal gear.

[MrWizard]

i built 15 and 20 hp slots into different greensteel items, never made a 10.
wasting a slot for 45hp is a bit much to ask,

[Such755]

Personaly I have conc-opp goggles with HP, but I am looking forward to make earth guard and trap the soul guard items. They look really great, and frim my friend's experience - trap the soul is awesome.