So: in the upcoming patch we'll be introducing a few changes to give a boost to melee build survivability, particularly in the epic range. Because of the variety of builds and playstyles, this will be a multi-step process that will involve adding some features which will be generally available to anyone, with changes that target specific classes or builds, such as the barbarian changes listed below.

Epic Defensive Fighting
Your hero has learned to enter a reactive state, protecting themselves in the chaos of battle by rolling with the punches, but this hampers their ability to engage ranged threats.
  • New Epic Feat
  • Auto granted at level 21
  • Toggled Ability
  • While Toggle is active:
    • 10% Competence Bonus to max hit points, with an additional 10% for every combat "fighting" style feat you have, to a max of 50%. (Exact list below)
    • All spell or spell like abilities that are effected by metamagics have their ranged reduced to touch range (think shocking grasp)
    • Reduces your Doubleshot and Ranged Power to 0 while active.
    • Exclusive from Range stances (Improved Precise Shot, Archers Focus, Shiradi stances, Warlock Blast stances.)
    • Exclusive from the Enlarge Spell Metamagic toggle
    • Remains active while dead
    • Can be used with other defensive/offensive stances & Rage
  • The Complete list of "Fighting Feats" that apply:
    • Single Weapon Fighting
    • Improved Single Weapon Fighting
    • Greater Single Weapon Fighting
    • Perfect Single Weapon Fighting

    • Two Handed Fighting
    • Improved Two Handed Fighting
    • Greater Two Handed Fighting
    • Perfect Two Handed Fighting

    • Two Weapon Fighting
    • Improved Two Weapon Fighting
    • Greater Two Weapon Fighting
    • Perfect Two Weapon Fighting

    • Natural Fighting (Counts each time taken)
  • Additional:
    • Paladin Defensive Stance HP buff bonus will be changed to competency (which it appears it always was, but the text was incorrect)
    • Aasimar racial hp bonus will be changed to Sacred (should now stack)

Barbarian DR Class Feature Revamp
  • Barbarian DR no longer gives "classic" damage reduction like in old 3.5 of -1 damage per strike.
  • Instead Barbarians now start with a 3% damage absorption to all damage except bane (this is a straight percentage of damage reduced BEFORE PRR/MRR calculation)
    • This resistance is increased at levels barbarians normal got DR increases, by 1%, net of 9% by level 20
    • Enhancements in the barbarian occult slayer line increase this by 1% instead of the DR they once increased for a total of 4% available from the tree.
    • The Fury of the Wild passive "Damage Reduction" increases this absorption by an additional 1% at the third rank.
  • Total max: 14% damage absorption to all damage except bane. Requires a Pure Barbarian with the fifth Core in Occult Slayer and a tier 2 Fury of the Wild ability to achieve.



-T

P.S. We recognize that the general hp boost will be not be sufficient for many builds on the more extreme difficulties, and it's a wheee bit more complicated, hence this is a first step. Once we see how the current meta adjusts to these changes we'll be doing some follow up.