Best Barb Build?

[sephiroth1084]

Good point. I don't even know why I bother to read his posts. Didn't he just post (as fact of course, that's how he posts) that melees are completely obsolete and casters totally rule?

And now he's asking about a barbarian build (and like someone else said, no one but Shade even posts barbarian builds, because there's absolutely nothing to it... STR, CON, and the same 7 feats for pretty much every pure barbarian).

Haha, yeah. That's partly why my first post was so "helpful." Partly also because it really was an inane question.

I'm pretty sure he just has a big board with different questions that he throws darts at. Nothing else can adequately explain the sheer randomness of his questions.

That sounds incredibyl likely.

Toughness, PL barb, PA, THF, ITHF, GTHF or IC Slashing, Stunning Blow,

Ill drop one of those not sure which, maybe the GTHF since more crits is always better now that I had time to think of it, I want SB because I obvioulsy will have an awesome DC to stun everything on epics.

Drop Toughness. Barb PL does the same exact thing, -2 HP. Now you don't have to give up anything important.

[smithj_2020]

Haha, yeah. That's partly why my first post was so "helpful." Partly also because it really was an inane question.

That sounds incredibyl likely.

Drop Toughness. Barb PL does the same exact thing, -2 HP. Now you don't have to give up anything important.

I didn't realize taking PL barb gave me access to racial and barb toughness enhancements, thanks

[Boromirs]

I didn't realize taking PL barb gave me access to racial and barb toughness enhancements, thanks

Further its the "Special attacks" like stun blow, trip, sunder that make melees worthwhile anymore. My original assessment is correct that melees are completely useless in epics or otherwise when DPS is compared. However, this will all change when the expansion hits. The new drow especially in epics will have ultra high SR, and will also use melee tactics to disable OUR casters.

This will ultimately balance out the vast power gap between melees and casters...possibly.

[Inferno346]

Further its the "Special attacks" like stun blow, trip, sunder that make melees worthwhile anymore. My original assessment is correct that melees are completely useless in epics or otherwise when DPS is compared. However, this will all change when the expansion hits. The new drow especially in epics will have ultra high SR, and will also use melee tactics to disable OUR casters.

This will ultimately balance out the vast power gap between melees and casters...possibly.

How much marriage urges a windmill to pinch infinity?

[Vissarion]

How much marriage urges a windmill to pinch infinity?

Only as many pigeons to excoriate the porridge.

[Boromirs]

You mark my words... its a coming... melees will get their day in the sun.

[Hanam]

Mark my words.... it's coming......... you WILL eventually retain information......

[sephiroth1084]

Mark my words.... it's coming......... you WILL eventually retain information......

No he won't.

[smithj_2020]

Yea, melee is far far far far behind casters. Casters cannot only solo most quests but they can scroll farm and solo alot of epics by themselves, it is very discouraging as a melee no matter what you do the gap is way to big to catch up.

[eulogy098]

Building a pure barbarian is completely linear.

Max strength (with all level ups here)
Max con
rest in dex (yes, reflex save is worth while)

1.Power attack
3.Stunning Blow *or Past life *or Toughness
6.Cleave
9.Improved Critical
12.Two Handed Fighting
15.Improved Two Handed Fighting
18.Greater Two Handed Fighting

There's really not much to discuss or debate.

You could drop con down to 16 and spread those points around but there's really not much benefit or loss either way.

[Havok.cry]

I read somewhere that TWF barbs were supposed to be good... Was I reading something old/plain wrong? If not would anyone care to point me in the right direction with a build for one?

[eulogy098]

I have a TWF Dwarf barb, hes lots of fun but far from optimal.


Barbs have advantages for THF that don't effect TWF. Frenzy boosts Glancing Blow damage, as does the capstone, but has no effect on Off-hand attacks.

Also, Cleave and Supreme cleave do not work with offhand attacks. At all.


Barbs are undeniably better at THF then TWF currently.

[sephiroth1084]

You could drop con down to 16 and spread those points around but there's really not much benefit or loss either way.

Silver Flame pots would argue otherwise.