Now you all have me looking tier 5s barbarian

[Coffey]

With a 5 barbarian splash to my build (1 fighter 5 cleric presently, looking at 9 cleric/ 6 fighter/ 5 barbarian)

At BAB 8 Improved critical feat is available to all classes.
Description
This feat adds 1, 2, or 3 to critical threat range based on the weapon type's unmodified threat range.

+3 for falchion, great crossbow, kukri, rapier, and scimitar.
+2 for bastard sword, dagger, greatsword, heavy crossbow, khopesh, light crossbow, long sword, repeating heavy crossbow, repeating light crossbow, short sword, and throwing dagger.
+1 to all other weapons.
Improved Critical does not stack with the Keen or Impact weapon enchantments.

There are 3 options from barbarian all a form of critical bonuses.

1. Frenzied Berserker Focused Wrath: 2 competence bonus to Critical Multiplier. (works on shields as well)

2. Occult Slayer- Occult Metalline: +1 Competence Bonus to Critical Threat Range and Critical Multiplier.

3. Ravager- Critical Rage: Increases your Critical Threat Range by +2 (competence bonus). Does not require rage.

I can see why this is such a popular splash right now. There is some nice adds for all builds here.

So for myself with a khopesh the weapon itself has + 1 crit threat range +3 crit multiplier
With IC feat i have a total of +3 and +3 nice balance.

Now the barbarian tier 5 choice i thought about what would be best and taking into account that bonuses dont stack:
I have kensai core 3 available for +1 crit multiplier (fighter level 6).

So i would be best to take Ravager tier 5 Critical Rage?
+5 crit threat range +4 crit damage multiplier.

My potential critical with my current build plan:
tier 5 keen edge +1 crit threat range and kensai core 3 strike without thought +1 crit multiplier
+4 crit threat range +4 crit damage multiplier.

Is one critical threat range worth it?

[xenon211]

I personally don't like the ravager tree on barb splashes (outside of the t1 imp PA). You can certainly throw 32 or more pts into a better crit profile with a barb splash, but much of the time you'll be better served just going t5 kensei and putting your spare points into stalwart for more defenses and health. T5 Kensei is really solid and very cheap! The t5's there all cost only 1 AP each and they are all solid options unlike many other classes' t5's.

[Xgya]

Kensei is probably a better pick overall.

You get a lot more out of the points you spent before reaching T5, albeit I'll say Blood Strength is still a powerhouse given the fact it isn't affected by the Reaper penalty - or wasn't when I played Barb.

With a weapon that already scales so well naturally, you don't need to fetch for the crit ranges to the point of forgetting about the rest.

[Coffey]

I personally don't like the ravager tree on barb splashes (outside of the t1 imp PA). You can certainly throw 32 or more pts into a better crit profile with a barb splash, but much of the time you'll be better served just going t5 kensei and putting your spare points into stalwart for more defenses and health. T5 Kensei is really solid and very cheap! The t5's there all cost only 1 AP each and they are all solid options unlike many other classes' t5's.

Yea i think damage wise kensai has the advantage taking into account improved destruction and the total adds for weapon damage with the added feats and enhancements makes it a really good choice. Cores 5 and 6 are really nice too for a pure fighter build.

Kensei is probably a better pick overall.

You get a lot more out of the points you spent before reaching T5, albeit I'll say Blood Strength is still a powerhouse given the fact it isn't affected by the Reaper penalty - or wasn't when I played Barb.

With a weapon that already scales so well naturally, you don't need to fetch for the crit ranges to the point of forgetting about the rest.

I was eyeing blood strength as well for the healing and i imagine on a SWF it should process a lot more often. With a 5 splash would that be enough levels barbarian to make it heal well enough though even though its not nerfed in reaper?