Can I have some Help Optimizing a Barbarian? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can I have some Help Optimizing a Barbarian? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Loki594
11-18-03, 03:26 PM Hey guys, I'm playing in a 3.0/3.5 hybrid kinda game of Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil and I'm playing a barbarian and would like some help if possible.

my Stats are:
Str:18
Dex:16
Con:16
Int:14
Wis:15
Cha:13

I'm at level 4 ruight now and am Human, I choose the Feats Power Attack, cLeave, and Destructive Rage. If I want to tho I can drop the cleave feat and pick up something else. What I am planning on doing right now is going till barbarian 6 then hit Frenzied Berserker till lvl 16 and the plan was to go back to barbarian after that to get more rages per day and dmg reduction, but I've recently been thinking, well hell why not just qualify for another prc and go for that one. Problem is not sure what prc I should go for. This is where I need the help, I was thinking maybe rune scarred berserker but I'm not sure. Tell me what you think, any and all help would be greatly appreciated. If you need any more info just ask.
Kalanth
11-18-03, 03:31 PM I personally like this build, from the 3.5 Core Build thread:

Ranger 3/ Fighter 2/ Barbarian 14/ Horizon Walker 1

BAB +20, lots of bonus feats, take Desert for Horizon Walker and you never get tired. Basically a build that lets you trade Barbarian 20 rage abilities for a couple of feats.

Its a pretty good build overall, certainly one that I would like to take advantage of.
Neonsamurai
11-18-03, 03:34 PM I strongly suggest to have a 3 level dip in holy liberator (defenders of the faith). Without a good will save your character will be dead meat in RttToEE.

something like rogue3/barbarian2 is a good base to start holy liberator probably following this class sequence :

1 rogue iron will, power attack
2 barbarian
3 rogue destructive rage
4 fightercleave
5 rogue
6 holy liberatorintimidating rage
7 holy liberator
8 holy liberator
9 frenzied berserker divine might (if cha 14+)

.
.
.

a cha-boosting item would be handy

here's a sample build (http://minmax.neonsamurai.de/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=37&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0)
Loki594
11-18-03, 03:42 PM Ok, maybe I didn't make this clear, I'm already lvl 4 in the barbarian class, we had our first session last night, I doubt that I would be allowed to trade class levels away, sorry if I didn't make that clear.
Neonsamurai
11-18-03, 03:46 PM Hmm ... then i would delay frenzied berserker till level 13. i DMed RttToEE and got a TPK because of a dominated frenzied berserker.
Funny Slaughter
11-18-03, 04:19 PM barbarian4. no problem.
add in a few levels of rogue instead of more barbarian, eventually 3. this will also help you surviving the temple due to the possibility of higher spot, search, listen, move silently etc.

you can enter HL at 7th or 8th, delaying your FB to 10th or 11th. a bit later for the temple, but still inline.

and i would say HL increases your survivability a great bit and synergizes quite good with FB.

gs
Funny
Loki594
11-18-03, 04:31 PM Ok, so we're saying Barbarian 4/Rogue 3/HL 3/Frenzied Berserker 10?

Wow, I just looked at the Holy Liberator, that would be really really good for me.

Thank you guys for the quick responses.
Kwyn
11-22-03, 12:14 PM I don't see how the level 3 Holy Liberator ability helps prevent the problems associated with frenzy.

Beginning at 3rd level, the Holy Liberator gains immunity to all charm and compulsion effects. His mind is his own and no other creature can control his thoughts or actions

I believe that the definition in the DMG shows that "compulsion" is a form of enchantment.

I can see how the flavor description might lead someone to believe that the frenzy is a form of compulsion, but since it is not an outside effect, but rather an effect inherent to the character, I don't see how it could be considered to fall within the definition of "compulsion" as described in the DMG.

I just don't see anywhere that frenzy can be considered a "compulsion".

I would assume you guys had hashed this out ages ago, but I couldn't find a thread where it was debated except as it relates to a character being controlled by an intelligent weapon, which again would be an outside force exerting control.

Thanks!
A Man In Black
11-22-03, 01:03 PM Originally posted by Kwyn
I don't see how the level 3 Holy Liberator ability helps prevent the problems associated with frenzy.

Well, that ability doesn't help with the frenzy ability. It's just that a dominated party tank can rip apart an unsuspecting party.

Now, the Holy Liberator does have an ability that helps deal with the problems associated with frenzy.

From Defenders of the Faith
Divine Grace (Su): At 2nd level, a holy liberator gains a bonus equal to his Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws.

THAT is what helps.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Loki594 11-18-03, 03:26 PM	Hey guys, I'm playing in a 3.0/3.5 hybrid kinda game of Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil and I'm playing a barbarian and would like some help if possible. my Stats are: Str:18 Dex:16 Con:16 Int:14 Wis:15 Cha:13 I'm at level 4 ruight now and am Human, I choose the Feats Power Attack, cLeave, and Destructive Rage. If I want to tho I can drop the cleave feat and pick up something else. What I am planning on doing right now is going till barbarian 6 then hit Frenzied Berserker till lvl 16 and the plan was to go back to barbarian after that to get more rages per day and dmg reduction, but I've recently been thinking, well hell why not just qualify for another prc and go for that one. Problem is not sure what prc I should go for. This is where I need the help, I was thinking maybe rune scarred berserker but I'm not sure. Tell me what you think, any and all help would be greatly appreciated. If you need any more info just ask.
Kalanth 11-18-03, 03:31 PM	I personally like this build, from the 3.5 Core Build thread: Ranger 3/ Fighter 2/ Barbarian 14/ Horizon Walker 1 BAB +20, lots of bonus feats, take Desert for Horizon Walker and you never get tired. Basically a build that lets you trade Barbarian 20 rage abilities for a couple of feats. Its a pretty good build overall, certainly one that I would like to take advantage of.
Neonsamurai 11-18-03, 03:34 PM	I strongly suggest to have a 3 level dip in holy liberator (defenders of the faith). Without a good will save your character will be dead meat in RttToEE. something like rogue3/barbarian2 is a good base to start holy liberator probably following this class sequence : 1 rogue iron will, power attack 2 barbarian 3 rogue destructive rage 4 fightercleave 5 rogue 6 holy liberatorintimidating rage 7 holy liberator 8 holy liberator 9 frenzied berserker divine might (if cha 14+) . . . a cha-boosting item would be handy here's a sample build (http://minmax.neonsamurai.de/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=37&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0)
Loki594 11-18-03, 03:42 PM	Ok, maybe I didn't make this clear, I'm already lvl 4 in the barbarian class, we had our first session last night, I doubt that I would be allowed to trade class levels away, sorry if I didn't make that clear.
Neonsamurai 11-18-03, 03:46 PM	Hmm ... then i would delay frenzied berserker till level 13. i DMed RttToEE and got a TPK because of a dominated frenzied berserker.
Funny Slaughter 11-18-03, 04:19 PM	barbarian4. no problem. add in a few levels of rogue instead of more barbarian, eventually 3. this will also help you surviving the temple due to the possibility of higher spot, search, listen, move silently etc. you can enter HL at 7th or 8th, delaying your FB to 10th or 11th. a bit later for the temple, but still inline. and i would say HL increases your survivability a great bit and synergizes quite good with FB. gs Funny
Loki594 11-18-03, 04:31 PM	Ok, so we're saying Barbarian 4/Rogue 3/HL 3/Frenzied Berserker 10? Wow, I just looked at the Holy Liberator, that would be really really good for me. Thank you guys for the quick responses.
Kwyn 11-22-03, 12:14 PM	I don't see how the level 3 Holy Liberator ability helps prevent the problems associated with frenzy. Beginning at 3rd level, the Holy Liberator gains immunity to all charm and compulsion effects. His mind is his own and no other creature can control his thoughts or actions I believe that the definition in the DMG shows that "compulsion" is a form of enchantment. I can see how the flavor description might lead someone to believe that the frenzy is a form of compulsion, but since it is not an outside effect, but rather an effect inherent to the character, I don't see how it could be considered to fall within the definition of "compulsion" as described in the DMG. I just don't see anywhere that frenzy can be considered a "compulsion". I would assume you guys had hashed this out ages ago, but I couldn't find a thread where it was debated except as it relates to a character being controlled by an intelligent weapon, which again would be an outside force exerting control. Thanks!
A Man In Black 11-22-03, 01:03 PM	Originally posted by Kwyn I don't see how the level 3 Holy Liberator ability helps prevent the problems associated with frenzy. Well, that ability doesn't help with the frenzy ability. It's just that a dominated party tank can rip apart an unsuspecting party. Now, the Holy Liberator does have an ability that helps deal with the problems associated with frenzy. From Defenders of the Faith Divine Grace (Su): At 2nd level, a holy liberator gains a bonus equal to his Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws. THAT is what helps.