Barb 10 level build? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barb 10 level build? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sneak
08-18-04, 12:16 PM Hi all, I'm working on a 10 level barb build and would like some advice.

I have a 32-point-buy, and looking for two concepts: combat monster OR unkillable (ie so tough, so many hit points, etc, that he just keeps going and going and going). I'm leaning toward a human or half-orc, for obvious reasons (feat or +2 strength).

I've checked out the excellent 3.5 Barb thread, and I have a question. The barb/ranger/horizon walker/holy liberator build there has Destructive Rage as a feat. Why is this feat useful? As far as I can tell it's just good for breaking things, so I'm not sure what the tactics are that bring it into play during combat. Is it a prereq for some other desirable feat?

Also, what's your opinion of the feat Righteous Wrath from BoED? A poster on the 3.5 Barb thread lauded it, but how good is being able to make your opponents shaken with your first hit (ie -2 on die rolls)?

Thanks a lot for any help you can offer. Full build progressions to 10 are appreciated.
insatium
08-18-04, 12:28 PM No real build advice, but some explanations:

1) Destructive Rage is a pre-req for Frenzied Berserker.

2) Righteous Wrath lets you distinguish friend from foe even in frenzy.
Sneak
08-18-04, 01:02 PM Aha, I figured it must be a pre-req, since kicking down doors just doesn't seem minimaxi enough. :)

Which book has the Frenzied Berzerker? I've been looking on the monstruous Barb thread, but haven't tracked it down yet.

Also, if anyone has advice on the 10 level Barb build, I'd appreciate it. I'm playing tonight. ;)
Aramas
08-18-04, 01:24 PM Human Barbarian 6 / Frenzied Berserker 4

This build is both a combat monster and nigh unkillable.
Unfortunately you might decide to kill your party if there aren't enough bad guys around.

Edit: Frenzied Berserker is in both Masters of the Wild and Complete Warrior. The FB wasn't changed between 3.0 and 3.5.
Sneak
08-18-04, 02:18 PM Thanks Aramas.

Do you suggest Righteous Wrath as a first level feat to counteract the Frenzy in later levels?

Also, what is the level/feat progression you recommend? Is it 6 levels of Barb, followed by 4 of FB or a mix? I have to wait until this evening to get a look at my friend's copy of CW, so FB is a mystery to me.

I was planning on going with S18, D14, C16 and the rest 8. Was planning on Power Attack and Cleave at first level, or Righteous Wrath if it's worthwhile.

Alternately, I was considering a half-orc for the S 20 that could get me.

I am also intrigued by using a polearm with some combo of Combat Reflexes and high movement rate, could be an interesting AoO getter.
Aramas
08-18-04, 02:44 PM To qualify for the FB as soon as possible requires you to utilize all of your feats.

Brb 1: Power Attack
Brb 1: Cleave
Brb 2
Brb 3: Intimidating Rage
Brb 4
Brb 5
Brb 6: Destructive Rage
FrB 1: Diehard
FrB 2
FrB 3: Iron Will
FrB 4

Righteous Wrath is a good feat, however it does not affect you ability to distinguish friend from foe during a frenzy, only during a rage. Therefore it is not a great feat for a FB. However, once you finish with the FB, you might consider going into the Champion of Gwynharwyf, which does have Righteous Wrath as a pre-req.

Alternately, you could switch out that 6th level of Barbarian for 1 level of fighter to gain another feat.

I chose Iron Will for the level 9 feat to offset your fairly weak will save so that you can make the save to prevent yourself from slaughtering your friends.
Sneak
08-18-04, 03:14 PM Aramas and Insatium seem to disagree on Righteous Wrath and whether it allows you to distinguish friend from foe during a Frenzy, but I would like to thank Aramas for the build.

Very helpful.

I decided to go with a half-orc because I start off as a captive of a bunch of goblinoids (orcs, kobolds, etc) and I think darkvision might be handy. Plus the S 20 is nothing to shake a stick at.
CompleteSatori
08-18-04, 03:19 PM Don't listen to Aramas, hes not telling the whole truth, since while the FB didn't change (that much) the game mechanics of 3.5 changed him.

I would advise against the Frenzied Berserk in a 10 level build, since you will spend lots of time almost killing your party (no real Will save yet from other classes), or they will spend lots of time messing with you.
A better Party Friendly build is:

Draconic Human- Barbarian 4/ Fighter 2/ Champion of Gwynharwfy 4

Feats-
1- Power Attack
1b- Knight of the Stars
3- Cleave
5b- Reckless Rage(RoS)
6- Righteous Wrath
6b- Improved Initiative
9- Skill Focus: Intimidate

Now, I know you are shaking your head at the Skill Focus feat, but your 4th PrC level in CoG gives you the ability to make an Intimidate check, and every opponent within 30'radius of you has to make a Will save or be shaken. Thats an awesome ability since its passive, and you don't have to do anything but be fighting to use it, may as well capitalize on it. And buy off the miserable +1 Level Adjustment at level 3 for 3,000xp, its totally worth it.

A better stat array for this build is as follows:
Str 16 (18) +2 race
Dex 12
Con 16 (18) +2 race
Int 12
Wis 10 (12) +2 level
Cha 12 (14) +2 race

Never buy a stat above 16 in a point buy system, especially with a Fighter character, the only classes that can afford to do that are Sorcerer and Wizard. This way you have excellent Charisma for your Intimidate and your Divine Grace abilities, an extra skill point (you need it), and your physical stats are outstanding.

Intimidate check at your level with this build is- 13 ranks +2 stat +2 racial +3 focus = 21 total, thats an average Intimidate check of 30! Now what CR10-15 creature is going to make that DC?

Your saves at this level with these point buy scores are as follows: 11/2/2 modified by scores and DG to: 17/5/5 (your Will saves vs Enchantment while Raging are at +9).

NOTE: You get lots of goodies from this build package, spellcasting (including Divine Favor) while raging, Divine Grace, bonus' against Enchantments, Detect Evil @will, DR 2/-, Smite Evil, plus all of the Barbarian goodies, and Reckless Rage lowers your AC by another 2 points, but gains you another +2 to Strength and Constitution when you Rage.
Also, you will have Greater Rage at level 13 of this build, and make sure that your weapon of choice has the Furious enhancement from Oriental Adventures (makes you Greater Rage if you are Rage, or Mighty Rage if you are Greater).

EDIT: Draconic grants you Low Light and Darkvision 60', and does not suck like Half Orc does. I urge against you going with Half-Orc, since it is sub optimal.
allenchan
08-18-04, 05:58 PM Originally posted by Aramas

Righteous Wrath is a good feat, however it does not affect you ability to distinguish friend from foe during a frenzy, only during a rage. Therefore it is not a great feat for a FB. However, once you finish with the FB, you might consider going into the Champion of Gwynharwyf, which does have Righteous Wrath as a pre-req.

True, but from what I gather, if you're raging -and- frenzying, it works since you -are- technically in a rage.

Also, Half-orcs really arent good at all, they're pretty weak. I'd suggest either a human or a straight up Orc if you want the str
ksbsnowowl
08-18-04, 06:32 PM Another interesting possibility that will be more party friendly than a FB is to go into Runescarred Berserker from Unapproachable East. UE is a Forgotten Realms product though, so you might not have access to it.

I'd go Human

1 Barb 1 - Power Attack, Iron Will
2 Barb 2
3 Barb 3 - Survivor
4 Barb 4
5 Barb 5
6 Fight 1 - Cleave, Berserker Lodge feat of choice
7 Fight 2 - ?
8 Rune 1
9 Rune 2 -?
10 Rune 3

You'll be able to rage 3 times per day, you'll have +1 natural armor from Runescarred Berserker, and you'll know 3 runescars; I'd suggest Cure Moderate Wounds, True Strike, and Protection from Elements.

You'll also be one level away from gaining DR 1/- and cold resistance 5.

Ettercap Berserker is probably the best all-around berserker lodge feat, but you might also find Ice Troll berserker or Great Stag berserker to you liking.
MoonWizard
08-18-04, 07:46 PM Here's one if you want to embrace the beast:

Half-Ogre: +6 STR, -2 DEX, INT, CHA, +2 CON, +4 Nat. AC, Darkvision, Large Size, can use Large weapons, LA +1

Feral: +4 STR, +2 WIS and CON, -2 DEX, -4 INT; 2 claws deal 2d6 damage each; +6 Nat. AC; Fast Healing 2, LA +1

Starting Equipment: Large Bastard Sword (2d8 damage), large javelins (1d8), large warhammer (2d6), and a chain shirt

1. Half-Ogre Combat Reflexes
2. Feral
3. Barbarian 1: (Fast Movement, Rage 1) Power Attack
4. Barbarian 2: (Uncanny Dodge) +1 DEX
5. Fighter 1: Cleave
6. Fighter 2: Great Cleave, EWP: Bastard Sword
7. Fighter 3
8. Tribal Protector 1: WF: Bastard Sword; +1 DEX
9. Tribal Protector 2: (Wild Fighting) Roll With It
10. Exotic Weapon Master 1: (Imp. Trip)
11. Exotic Weapon Master 2: (Uncanny Blow – 2x STR modifier to sword)
12. Exotic Weapon Master 3: (Imp. Sunder) Combat Brute
13. Fighter 4: Headlong Rush*
14-20 Barbarian 7 (Awesome Blow at 15)
MikeN
08-18-04, 09:21 PM If that were a legal build, maybe...

Feral doesn't work for type: giant and half ogre is type: giant according to the chart in ss (the one with loxo, desmodu, etc).
_______________

Most broken temps possible used to be White Dragonspawn from Dragonlance sourcebook and Half-Minotaur from Dragon magazine. Mineral warrior is quite strong as well.
_______________

The non-cheesy version:

SS Half-Ogre Lev 9

I'd go for a ground-control build with large chain (spiked or blunt). FB is a powerhouse and RSB is really good as well. Tribal protector is good except a DM might impose stringent RP stuff...
_______________

Full orc is better choice than half-orc. You have to burn a feat on Daylight Adaptation unless you're doing an all-underdark campaign but your stats are better and you're not such an outcast ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sneak 08-18-04, 12:16 PM	Hi all, I'm working on a 10 level barb build and would like some advice. I have a 32-point-buy, and looking for two concepts: combat monster OR unkillable (ie so tough, so many hit points, etc, that he just keeps going and going and going). I'm leaning toward a human or half-orc, for obvious reasons (feat or +2 strength). I've checked out the excellent 3.5 Barb thread, and I have a question. The barb/ranger/horizon walker/holy liberator build there has Destructive Rage as a feat. Why is this feat useful? As far as I can tell it's just good for breaking things, so I'm not sure what the tactics are that bring it into play during combat. Is it a prereq for some other desirable feat? Also, what's your opinion of the feat Righteous Wrath from BoED? A poster on the 3.5 Barb thread lauded it, but how good is being able to make your opponents shaken with your first hit (ie -2 on die rolls)? Thanks a lot for any help you can offer. Full build progressions to 10 are appreciated.
insatium 08-18-04, 12:28 PM	No real build advice, but some explanations: 1) Destructive Rage is a pre-req for Frenzied Berserker. 2) Righteous Wrath lets you distinguish friend from foe even in frenzy.
Sneak 08-18-04, 01:02 PM	Aha, I figured it must be a pre-req, since kicking down doors just doesn't seem minimaxi enough. :) Which book has the Frenzied Berzerker? I've been looking on the monstruous Barb thread, but haven't tracked it down yet. Also, if anyone has advice on the 10 level Barb build, I'd appreciate it. I'm playing tonight. ;)
Aramas 08-18-04, 01:24 PM	Human Barbarian 6 / Frenzied Berserker 4 This build is both a combat monster and nigh unkillable. Unfortunately you might decide to kill your party if there aren't enough bad guys around. Edit: Frenzied Berserker is in both Masters of the Wild and Complete Warrior. The FB wasn't changed between 3.0 and 3.5.
Sneak 08-18-04, 02:18 PM	Thanks Aramas. Do you suggest Righteous Wrath as a first level feat to counteract the Frenzy in later levels? Also, what is the level/feat progression you recommend? Is it 6 levels of Barb, followed by 4 of FB or a mix? I have to wait until this evening to get a look at my friend's copy of CW, so FB is a mystery to me. I was planning on going with S18, D14, C16 and the rest 8. Was planning on Power Attack and Cleave at first level, or Righteous Wrath if it's worthwhile. Alternately, I was considering a half-orc for the S 20 that could get me. I am also intrigued by using a polearm with some combo of Combat Reflexes and high movement rate, could be an interesting AoO getter.
Aramas 08-18-04, 02:44 PM	To qualify for the FB as soon as possible requires you to utilize all of your feats. Brb 1: Power Attack Brb 1: Cleave Brb 2 Brb 3: Intimidating Rage Brb 4 Brb 5 Brb 6: Destructive Rage FrB 1: Diehard FrB 2 FrB 3: Iron Will FrB 4 Righteous Wrath is a good feat, however it does not affect you ability to distinguish friend from foe during a frenzy, only during a rage. Therefore it is not a great feat for a FB. However, once you finish with the FB, you might consider going into the Champion of Gwynharwyf, which does have Righteous Wrath as a pre-req. Alternately, you could switch out that 6th level of Barbarian for 1 level of fighter to gain another feat. I chose Iron Will for the level 9 feat to offset your fairly weak will save so that you can make the save to prevent yourself from slaughtering your friends.
Sneak 08-18-04, 03:14 PM	Aramas and Insatium seem to disagree on Righteous Wrath and whether it allows you to distinguish friend from foe during a Frenzy, but I would like to thank Aramas for the build. Very helpful. I decided to go with a half-orc because I start off as a captive of a bunch of goblinoids (orcs, kobolds, etc) and I think darkvision might be handy. Plus the S 20 is nothing to shake a stick at.
CompleteSatori 08-18-04, 03:19 PM	Don't listen to Aramas, hes not telling the whole truth, since while the FB didn't change (that much) the game mechanics of 3.5 changed him. I would advise against the Frenzied Berserk in a 10 level build, since you will spend lots of time almost killing your party (no real Will save yet from other classes), or they will spend lots of time messing with you. A better Party Friendly build is: Draconic Human- Barbarian 4/ Fighter 2/ Champion of Gwynharwfy 4 Feats- 1- Power Attack 1b- Knight of the Stars 3- Cleave 5b- Reckless Rage(RoS) 6- Righteous Wrath 6b- Improved Initiative 9- Skill Focus: Intimidate Now, I know you are shaking your head at the Skill Focus feat, but your 4th PrC level in CoG gives you the ability to make an Intimidate check, and every opponent within 30'radius of you has to make a Will save or be shaken. Thats an awesome ability since its passive, and you don't have to do anything but be fighting to use it, may as well capitalize on it. And buy off the miserable +1 Level Adjustment at level 3 for 3,000xp, its totally worth it. A better stat array for this build is as follows: Str 16 (18) +2 race Dex 12 Con 16 (18) +2 race Int 12 Wis 10 (12) +2 level Cha 12 (14) +2 race Never buy a stat above 16 in a point buy system, especially with a Fighter character, the only classes that can afford to do that are Sorcerer and Wizard. This way you have excellent Charisma for your Intimidate and your Divine Grace abilities, an extra skill point (you need it), and your physical stats are outstanding. Intimidate check at your level with this build is- 13 ranks +2 stat +2 racial +3 focus = 21 total, thats an average Intimidate check of 30! Now what CR10-15 creature is going to make that DC? Your saves at this level with these point buy scores are as follows: 11/2/2 modified by scores and DG to: 17/5/5 (your Will saves vs Enchantment while Raging are at +9). NOTE: You get lots of goodies from this build package, spellcasting (including Divine Favor) while raging, Divine Grace, bonus' against Enchantments, Detect Evil @will, DR 2/-, Smite Evil, plus all of the Barbarian goodies, and Reckless Rage lowers your AC by another 2 points, but gains you another +2 to Strength and Constitution when you Rage. Also, you will have Greater Rage at level 13 of this build, and make sure that your weapon of choice has the Furious enhancement from Oriental Adventures (makes you Greater Rage if you are Rage, or Mighty Rage if you are Greater). EDIT: Draconic grants you Low Light and Darkvision 60', and does not suck like Half Orc does. I urge against you going with Half-Orc, since it is sub optimal.
allenchan 08-18-04, 05:58 PM	Originally posted by Aramas Righteous Wrath is a good feat, however it does not affect you ability to distinguish friend from foe during a frenzy, only during a rage. Therefore it is not a great feat for a FB. However, once you finish with the FB, you might consider going into the Champion of Gwynharwyf, which does have Righteous Wrath as a pre-req. True, but from what I gather, if you're raging -and- frenzying, it works since you -are- technically in a rage. Also, Half-orcs really arent good at all, they're pretty weak. I'd suggest either a human or a straight up Orc if you want the str
ksbsnowowl 08-18-04, 06:32 PM	Another interesting possibility that will be more party friendly than a FB is to go into Runescarred Berserker from Unapproachable East. UE is a Forgotten Realms product though, so you might not have access to it. I'd go Human 1 Barb 1 - Power Attack, Iron Will 2 Barb 2 3 Barb 3 - Survivor 4 Barb 4 5 Barb 5 6 Fight 1 - Cleave, Berserker Lodge feat of choice 7 Fight 2 - ? 8 Rune 1 9 Rune 2 -? 10 Rune 3 You'll be able to rage 3 times per day, you'll have +1 natural armor from Runescarred Berserker, and you'll know 3 runescars; I'd suggest Cure Moderate Wounds, True Strike, and Protection from Elements. You'll also be one level away from gaining DR 1/- and cold resistance 5. Ettercap Berserker is probably the best all-around berserker lodge feat, but you might also find Ice Troll berserker or Great Stag berserker to you liking.
MoonWizard 08-18-04, 07:46 PM	Here's one if you want to embrace the beast: Half-Ogre: +6 STR, -2 DEX, INT, CHA, +2 CON, +4 Nat. AC, Darkvision, Large Size, can use Large weapons, LA +1 Feral: +4 STR, +2 WIS and CON, -2 DEX, -4 INT; 2 claws deal 2d6 damage each; +6 Nat. AC; Fast Healing 2, LA +1 Starting Equipment: Large Bastard Sword (2d8 damage), large javelins (1d8), large warhammer (2d6), and a chain shirt 1. Half-Ogre Combat Reflexes 2. Feral 3. Barbarian 1: (Fast Movement, Rage 1) Power Attack 4. Barbarian 2: (Uncanny Dodge) +1 DEX 5. Fighter 1: Cleave 6. Fighter 2: Great Cleave, EWP: Bastard Sword 7. Fighter 3 8. Tribal Protector 1: WF: Bastard Sword; +1 DEX 9. Tribal Protector 2: (Wild Fighting) Roll With It 10. Exotic Weapon Master 1: (Imp. Trip) 11. Exotic Weapon Master 2: (Uncanny Blow – 2x STR modifier to sword) 12. Exotic Weapon Master 3: (Imp. Sunder) Combat Brute 13. Fighter 4: Headlong Rush* 14-20 Barbarian 7 (Awesome Blow at 15)
MikeN 08-18-04, 09:21 PM	If that were a legal build, maybe... Feral doesn't work for type: giant and half ogre is type: giant according to the chart in ss (the one with loxo, desmodu, etc). _______________ Most broken temps possible used to be White Dragonspawn from Dragonlance sourcebook and Half-Minotaur from Dragon magazine. Mineral warrior is quite strong as well. _______________ The non-cheesy version: SS Half-Ogre Lev 9 I'd go for a ground-control build with large chain (spiked or blunt). FB is a powerhouse and RSB is really good as well. Tribal protector is good except a DM might impose stringent RP stuff... _______________ Full orc is better choice than half-orc. You have to burn a feat on Daylight Adaptation unless you're doing an all-underdark campaign but your stats are better and you're not such an outcast ;)