Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Captain Casualty 03-02-05, 07:03 AM	Ok folks – my problem is one of character optimization! I do not want to get into the fighter/barbarian debate. Both are great at what they do ok? Despite that my question is this, fighter or barbarian levels….. My Current character is Uargggghhh (think of the scream made whilst charging) a half orc fighter barbarian (4/4). Coming close to levelling up and now is when I need to chose my dominant class. Stats Str 18 Dex 18 Con 18 Int 10 Wis 16 Cha 9 (yes sick dice. +1 Str at 4th and +1 Wis at 8th) HP 84 Alignment CG (heavy on the C) Feats In addition to fighter standard set of proficiencies in all armours and weapons Combat Reflexes Power attack Cleave Mounted combat Great axe - Weapon focus Great Axe Weapon specialisation Skills Climb 6 ranks Handle animal 6 ranks Listen 6 ranks Ride 10 ranks Survival 6 ranks Swim 2 ranks Items (of note) Chain shirt +2, light fortification Great axe +1,Wounding MW Comp longbow (+4 Mighty) Cloak of resistance +1 Amulet natural armour +1 Gloves of storing Short sword +1(right glove) Small Shield (left glove) Other features Dark vision 60’ Rage twice a day Fast movement Uncanny dodge Comments Mounted combat has been a total waste of a feat. Only used once. Uargggghhh is not a subtle soul and tends to just dive into the nearest melee relying on his hit rolls, high damage and cleave to keep him alive. Although he has the gloves of storing for backup weapons in a fight he is lost without his axe. Recently spent every penny getting wounding put on it . This guy is a one trick pony-the trick works though. In tactical terms think of him as a shock trooper designed to meet the foe head on and survive by dishing out damage faster than he takes it. Role playing wise I play down to every barbarian adventuring with forensic accountant’s stereo type. Recently started to wind down the reckless savage routine as it was starting to annoy people. The party consists of  9th level human cleric of Baldur (War & sun domains)  10th level Elven monk  10th level Barbarian Rogue (Barb1, Rogue 9)  8th Level Wizard (illusionist)  8th Level Fighter Barbarian - Uargggghhh The Barb/Rogue RIP’d last night and will be replaced with a 9th level warmage. This will cause us to have one less able combatant but hopefully more REMF support. Dilemma Ok for the next four levels do I go for fighter or barbarian? Fighter Pro’s Feat progression. Looking to get improved crit, Great cleave, improved sunder and improved overrun. If I take the next four levels as fighter get all these by L12. Fighter Con’s We know them all really. Lower hitpoints, less barbarian abilities. Less skill points. No DR, no extra rage. Improved Crit- raises my chance of a crit from 1 in 20 to one in ten Great cleave – Mow the low cr’s down. Get them out of the way. Improved sunder – Disarm for good. Most BBEG’s have a snacky weapon, depriving them of it is always fun Improved overrun – take the fight to the enemy. Barbarian Pros Gains trap sense +2. Improved uncanny dodge. Damage reduction. An extra rage per day. More skill points and more hitpoints. Barbarian Con’s Fewer feats - will only get two out of my desired four. Trap sense I will treat with the contempt it so richly deserves. DR1 at 12th level, irrelevant? Improved uncanny dodge – nice! An extra rage? Not needed it yet. So options 1. Four levels of fighter and get four feats in four levels 2. Four levels of barbarian – ignore the feats and just go for the barb route 3. Two levels of Barbarian and two levels of fighter, three feats and four levels + DR1.Still no dominant class. If this is the way to go then sequence? That’s how I see it. What does everybody else think? Going to ignore any GISH suggestions. The party needs a dedicated front line fighter. In addition if anyone wants to comment on my feat choices (I am not crazy and being let out of the secure psychiatric accommodation proves it) I am open to suggestions about those as well. Whilst I sadly must accept munchkin comments this is all about maximizing the front lmpact As an asisde a lot of people talk about one class being overpowered compared to others - Always had a a dilemma choosing. to me that shows they are balanced against each other.
On_the_wings_of_TPK 03-02-05, 10:33 AM	personally i would look into the freenzed berserker PrC, but barb over fighter fior me any day. If your gonna be in melee, the d12 HD and DR+rage overed by the barbarain will serve you better then any feets I can think of.
Anthus_Longblade 03-02-05, 11:08 AM	Improved Crit- raises my chance of a crit from 1 in 20 to one in ten Great cleave – Mow the low cr’s down. Get them out of the way. Improved sunder – Disarm for good. Most BBEG’s have a snacky weapon, depriving them of it is always fun Improved overrun – take the fight to the enemy. That's four feats, and with the normal feat progression, you still have four feat slots remaining. (9th, 12th, 15th, and 18th.) If you take all of your remaining levels in Barbarian, you'll still be able to get all of those feats, just not as fast (But the space between will be filled with nifty class features).
Count Arioch the 28th 03-02-05, 11:19 AM	If you haven't doen this already, you should try HERE (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=339). That leads to teh character optimization boards, they'll give you lots of neat ideas.
PaTRiXXX 03-03-05, 05:38 AM	I would strongly advise you against taking Frenzied Bersker. On paper it's great, but when you start killing your companions the picture gets ugly. Because you know you will fail the will save and you will start hacking your companions.
anders 03-03-05, 06:47 AM	With those stats you're pretty much optimized no matter what you choose. imho figher is only useful the first 4 levels (because of teh feats). After that you should level dip into anything but fighter.