Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 madoushi Feb 03, 2014 6:21:55	Okay this is the first character i have made myself and would like some advice from skilled d&d players. first off its a 4e character and want him to be a big beat stick. anyway heres the info. will this work?   Human Strength +2 Bonus at-will power Bonus feat Bonus skill Human defense bonuses +1 fortitude, reflex and will Barbarian Armour: cloth, leather, Hide Weapon proficiencies: simple melee, military melee Bonus to defense +2 fortitude Bonus to ac and reflex +1    Trained skills acrobatics (dex based) Athletics (Str based) Endurance (con based)   Rampage - once per round when you score a critical hit you can make a basic melee attack as free action.   Rageblood Vigor: You gain the swift charge power. In addition, whenever your attack reduces an enemy to 0 hit points, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier. The number of temporary hit points equals 5 + your Constitution modifier at 11th level and 10 + your Constitution modifier at 21st level.   At-will powers: Howling Strike Recuperating Strike Devastating Strike (Extra via race)   Encounter Powers Bloodletting Avalanche Strike   Daily Power Rage Drake’s Frenzy   Feats Weapon Focus +1 damage Rising Fury +2 damage when monster reduced to 0 hp Weapon - Execution axe Armour - Hide or leather   Languages: comman and abyssal   Stats by prioity  Strength 16-20 dex 13-16+ Con 13-16+ cha any wis any int any
#2 Jerico_Mason Feb 03, 2014 11:17:56	Madoushi, you probably want to go over to the character optimization forum and post there for feedback about your character's mechanics.  That forum gets more traffic and is probably more appropriate.  Getting a Dnd insider subscription will allow access to the online character builder which can be invaluable in tinkering with your build.   If you haven't already, read up on the barbarian handbook (I think this is the most recent: "Appetite for Destruction: The Barbarian's Handbook"  But even so, some powers/themes/ feats aren't rated.).  That being said, your character looks like a pretty good start.   I would make the following changes:   Change the human extra at will to heroic effort, in most cases you will want to use howling strike rather than anything else.  +4 to hit or a save once per encounter will be more useful for you in the long run.   Grab a gouge.  It will cost you an extra feat (which you would have to spend anyways to be able to use the execution axe), but a gouge is a very good weapon to be using because it has access to spear and axe support.  Another very competitive option is the fullblade due to the higher proficiency bonus, but for charging gouge is superior.  If you really like the description of the executioner’s axe, you can certainly keep that while using the mechanics of the gouge or fullblade.   Pick up an expertise feat.  If you're going to be doing much charging, (most barbs will go this route, unless you try to run something similar to the "Stand and Bang" build which armisael posted or the "bookish barbarian" by Zelink, both of which are advanced builds that require hybriding) you want two-handed weapon expertise or spear expertise (Two-handed expertise if you go with fullblade and spear if you go with gouge).  That nets you +1 to damage when you charge and another +1 to attack.  Note that this would stack with the bonus from weapon focus as it is not a feat bonus.   Lose one of the encounter powers.  I'm not seeing a way for you to pick up an extra encounter power, so I'm not sure why you have two of them.  If this character is level three I would recommend that you take Thundering howl instead of whichever one you took at level 3.  If this character is level 1 I would suggest Savage cut.   Armor: choose hide armor.  If you find you're getting hit too much I like the marauder’s armor enchantment for hide armor, but you will have to wait till you start to get magic items. (edited for clarity)   Language:  I'm not sure how you ended up with abyssal, but in most cases you cannot speak that at level 1 as it is one of the two languages which give some, albeit minor, mechanical benefit.  If this is something you worked out with your DM, then disregard my commentary.   As you level you will likely want to try and acquire some of the items commonly called the charge package, which can be found at this very handy guide:  "When everyone is super"   Stats: You want 18 or 20 Str post racial adjustment.  You should also be concerned with boosting wisdom to 13 so that you can eventually qualify for the superior will feat.  You have high surges and hp so con is hit or miss in my opinion, but you certainly could do worse than put points there. Dexterity needs a little love as well as it boosts your AC, Initiative, and reflex scores, all of which are important to you.
#3 madoushi Feb 03, 2014 9:30:45	thank i will check them links out cheers for quick reply
#4 Matyr Feb 03, 2014 10:52:30	madoushi wrote: