Looking to potentially respec at level 7 (Ftr/Barb)

[Olds-cool]

Ok, so I'm about to be pressed up against level 8 (currently holding 7 with 90% of the xp to hit 9) with my 2nd life. My first life was a D.Axe wielding SD build who was a TWF'er 98.76% of the time that could also turtle up and intimidate with around an AC of 100 when that role was needed.

I started this 2nd life as a Dwarf and planned to breeze through a 2nd fighter life with a tactician and self buffing build. I was going with a 12 ftr/8 BARD. The Virtuoso type with enthrall and self buffs as well as tactics seemed like a fun 2nd fighter life.

Now I'm questioning (perhaps for no good reason) the 2nd fighter past life. This toon will race to 20, collect 20 tokens, and come back as another melee. This toon will end up as my main DPS toon whenever I get the past lives in line and the gear in place to decide exactly what that means.

Anyhow, I'm thinking of switching to get a barb life under his belt. I may end up getting another fighter life too but right now it seems that both the active and "purchased" past life feats would be tasty, if not necessary for a top DPS build in the future.

As I am already 1 bard/6 ftr here's what I've come up with. Keep in mind I'm hoping for UMD for weapons that already have, scrolls for self buffs and heals, and some trap skills to make the life a little more diverse.

Level 20 True Neutral Dwarf Male
(6 Fighter \ 12 Barbarian \ 2 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 428
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 19
Reflex: 13
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             18                    26
Dexterity            15                    18
Constitution         16                    22
Intelligence         12                    14
Wisdom                8                    10
Charisma              6                     8

Tomes Used

+1 Supreme Tome used at level 3
+2 Supreme Tome used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                    12
Disable Device        5                    24
Jump                  8                    12
Open Lock             6                     8
Search                5                    26
Tumble                6                     8
Use Magic Device      2                    22

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge


Level 4 (Fighter)


Level 5 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Sunder


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 7 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Stunning Blow
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Fighter Stalwart Defender I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) II
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Sunder) I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Sunder) II
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Trip) I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Trip) II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate I
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I


Level 8 (Barbarian)


Level 9 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Barbarian)


Level 11 (Barbarian)


Level 12 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Barbarian)


Level 14 (Barbarian)


Level 15 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 16 (Barbarian)


Level 17 (Barbarian)


Level 18 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Quick Draw


Level 19 (Barbarian)


Level 20 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost III
Enhancement: Barbarian Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker I
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker II
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
Enhancement: Rogue Wand and Scroll Mastery I

Please feel free to rip it apart or even talk me out of getting the barb life. I'm at a standstill until I can make the decision and am leveling other toons right now.

I went SD for the extra HPs but could see an argument for the tactics side of Kensei as well as the additional weapon bumps.

Thanks,
Olds

[Olds-cool]

Let me add that I have a +1 heart in the bank but would also consider some sort of 6/6/8 build that keeps the bard for some buffing if there are any viable ones out there...

And since I'm thinking long term let me add the question as to what the best past lives are when thinking of an end game melee build? I know the mystical racial and pre reset will likely make some of this change and become useless but I'm wondering what the consensus is. A fellow guildmate pointed out that Tactics DCs still use the D20 so planning 3 fighter lives is still a great option for a melee build.

[Olds-cool]

For example... a WC1/SD1/FB1 would have about 20 less HPs (before stance/buffs/items) and one less in the BAB field but have an additional +2/+3 with Inspire song + enhancements as well as an easier time scrolling some bardic/arcane scrolls in the mid levels assuming I hold off on barb levels until after bard/ftr. This would allow for all 3 prestiges to be in effect at 18 which I'd hold until cap.

[Olds-cool]

Anyone.... Beuller....???


Actually I couldn't wait so I took a 2nd bard level. So now the question is whether barbarian is a heavily sought past life for a planned melee toon. I will either continue with 12 ftr/8 bard for a 2nd tactics boost or will go 6/6/8 to get the barbarian past life.

Would love to hear from the peanut gallery.

[Kinerd]

Really neither past life is very important for a pure DPS character. I would stick with the fighter life from this sense: for 10 HP to be +5% HP, you would have 200 HP. You're clearly going to have way more than that, so 10 HP will be worth a lot less than the +5% on your Stunning Blow or Sunder. While it's true that as a DPS you will only rarely be using either, it's also true that as a DPS you will only rarely be down to 10 HP.

Personally I wouldn't bother with past lives on a DPS at this point. Your best bet would be monk for the +1 damage, but as a non-Lawful it would require an enormous amount of work for you to get there, and it's a really tiny increase anyway.

[Olds-cool]

Really neither past life is very important for a pure DPS character. I would stick with the fighter life from this sense: for 10 HP to be +5% HP, you would have 200 HP. You're clearly going to have way more than that, so 10 HP will be worth a lot less than the +5% on your Stunning Blow or Sunder. While it's true that as a DPS you will only rarely be using either, it's also true that as a DPS you will only rarely be down to 10 HP.

Personally I wouldn't bother with past lives on a DPS at this point. Your best bet would be monk for the +1 damage, but as a non-Lawful it would require an enormous amount of work for you to get there, and it's a really tiny increase anyway.

Okay... Fighter it is. I only thought barbarian for the rage and Strength boost available with the buyable past life feat.

So are you saying not even the healing amp of paladins it's worth it?

[voodoogroves]

I don't think pally life is worth it. "worth it" implies a cost and a benefit, and while the benefit is cool, I hate Pally lives ;-)


I did enjoy my multi-cleaving barb life; it was fun ... and now I take Barb PL instead of Toughness, but that's about the only change. I mostly forget to use the clickie.

[Olds-cool]

I don't think pally life is worth it. "worth it" implies a cost and a benefit, and while the benefit is cool, I hate Pally lives ;-)


I did enjoy my multi-cleaving barb life; it was fun ... and now I take Barb PL instead of Toughness, but that's about the only change. I mostly forget to use the clickie.

Ah.... so having the Barb past life will unlock the same APs for toughness that the Toughness feat would as well as giving you the mini (or additional) rage? Hrrmm... now I'm back to teetering...

[unbongwah]

So are you saying not even the healing amp of paladins it's worth it?

Having pally PL x3 for +15% heal amp on, say, a tank is a pretty nice bonus; whether it's "worth it" depends largely on how fast you can zerg thru TRs and how much you value your free time.

BTW, the only drawback to taking the barb PL feat instead of Toughness is it doesn't qualify for the feat pre-req for SD or epic Toughness; for those you need the "real McCoy."