Post by regnar on Sept 1, 2009 6:45:16 GMT
The ideas of Fallen_Wizard and myself lead to the creation of this build. Thanks Fallen for your help! 
I have recently started playing in HG, copying Tyran's Gnoll Barbarian build from the wiki. A very solid open-race build for new players. Thanks to Tyran too! I learn a lot reading your posts in the forum.
But there are some aspects i want to improve, using a secret race and changing the build:
-depending less on +skill gear if possible and maxing out taunt and intimidate easier
-increasing the already good damage output(with more bonus damage, crits and listen), but no less defense(it does however lose a few hps, but its still beefy)
-get good saves using less feats
-and most important, i want to play my own build not a copy! hehe
There are 2 variations possible for this idea: the Unholy Berserker, and the Holy Berserker(using Paladin levels)
Unholy PROs:
-the build comes together nicely because of shared prerequisite feats. its a more elegant solution. besides evil is cool and opens to more roleplay.. muahaha
-you have no alignment issues during level up or in LL runs
-one sneak attack dice.... because every little helps!
Holy PROs:
-fear and disease inmunity(extremely tempting since it makes gearing easier)
-getting 1 more barbarian level for +1 sonic damage with mighty rage
As for the race, it can be done easily with Half-Guardinal, Pharlan and Hound Archon. Archon has more feats; Pharlan has strider, +5SR and wings, Half-Guardinal less feats but Evasion and no SR. Probably Pharlan is the strongest but it comes down to personal choice.
So my decision is to use the Hound Archon race in a 32Barbarian / 4Fighter / 4Blackguard setup and doing this:
-Higher charisma for maximum possible Rage Aura DC
-Higher charisma for maximum taunt, not needing ESF:taunt
-Most importantly the charisma is used for stronger saves using less feats and for extra damage with divine might (up to 16 uses per day of +13 divine dmg)
-Meeting dex, con and cha requirements; the rest of points go to strength for AB and damage.
-Getting both weapon especialization and epic weapon especialization, even with only 4 fighter levels, for +6 extra physical damage.
-Getting Devastating Critical for even more extra damage.
-The +1d6 blackguard sneak is the icing on the cake.
-It is a pure strength build. It has only enough dex for dualwielding, and cannot afford more dex anyway.
Here it goes, please report of any mistakes so i can correct before reincarnating (atm the build has not been tested):
Base race: Human
Subrace: Hound Archon
+4STR, +2CON, +2WIS, +4CHA, FC: Paladin, SR 10+1/lvl; Feats: Extra Smiting, Great Smite 1,Power Attack
Alignment: Neutral Evil or Chaotic Evil
Starting Stats:
STR 14 (18)
DEX 15
CON 14 (16)
INT 12
WIS 8 (10)
CHA 14 (18)
PRE-EPIC
Level 1 (1/0/0) Blooded, Exotic Proficiency
Level 2 (1/1/0) Cleave
Level 3 (1/2/0) Ambidexterity, Weapon Focus(Double Weapon)
Level 4 (1/3/0)
Stat Bonus: Choose Constitution
Level 5 (2/3/0)
Level 6 (3/3/0) Great Cleave
Level 7 (4/3/0)
putting 5 cross-class skill points in Hide to take BGuard next level
Level 8 (4/3/1)
Stat Bonus: Choose Constitution
Level 9 (4/3/2) Two-Weapon Fighting
Level 10 (4/3/3)
Level 11 (5/3/3)
Level 12 (5/3/4) Divine Might
Stat Bonus: Always choose Strength from now on
Level 13 (6/3/4)
Level 14 (7/3/4)
Level 15 (8/3/4) Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Level 16 (9/3/4)
Level 17 (10/3/4)
putting 20 skill points in Listen(securing ESF:Listen for later on)
Level 18 (11/3/4) Improved Critical(Double Weapon)
Level 19 (12/3/4)
Level 20 (13/3/4)
base saves:
15/6/6
EPIC
Level 21 (14/3/4) Epic Prowess
Level 22 (15/3/4)
putting 25 skill points in Intimidate(secures Terrifying Rage for later)
Level 23 (16/3/4)
Level 24 (17/3/4) Terrifying Rage
Level 25 (18/3/4)
Level 26 (19/3/4)
Level 27 (20/3/4) Armor Skin
Level 28 (21/3/4)
at this point we have 23 strength, opening Overwelming Critical
Level 29 (22/3/4)
Level 30 (23/3/4) Epic Will
Level 31 (24/3/4) Epic Weapon Focus(Double Weapon)
Level 32 (25/3/4)
Level 33 (26/3/4) ESF:Listen.This feat allows this low-WIS toon to potentially reach maximum 127Listen skill
Level 34 (27/3/4)
Level 35 (28/3/4) Overwhelming Critical(Double Weapon)
Level 36 (28/4/4) Weapon Espec.(Double Weapon) and Epic Weapon Espec.(Double Weapon)
at this point we have 25 strength, opening Thundering Rage feat and Dev.Crit
Level 37 (29/4/4)
Level 38 (30/4/4)
Level 39 (31/4/4) Thundering Rage
Level 40 (32/4/4) Devastating Critical(Double Weapon)
LEGENDARY
Level 41 (33/4/4)
Level 42 (34/4/4) LSA:Tumble
Level 43 (35/4/4)
Level 44 (36/4/4)
Level 45 (37/4/4) LWF(double weapon)
Automatic: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution
Level 46 (38/4/4)
Level 47 (39/4/4)
Level 48 (40/4/4) Great Dexterity I
Level 49 (41/4/4)
Level 50 (42/4/4)
Automatic: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution
Level 51 (43/4/4) LSF:Intimidate (it counts towards the +50 cap, so what? It can be traded for another feat if your gear can afford it)
Level 52 (44/4/4)
Level 53 (45/4/4)
Level 54 (46/4/4) LSF:Taunt (same as intimidate)
Level 55 (47/4/4)
Automatic: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution (at this point we have base con21)
Level 56 (48/4/4)
Level 57 (49/4/4) Mighty Rage
Level 58 (50/4/4)
Level 59 (51/4/4)
Level 60 (52/4/4) LSF:Listen (same as taunt)
Automatic: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution
STATS ans SAVES at Level 60
base / +12items / 2xdemi+14items
STR 40 / 52 / 58
DEX 16 / 28 / 34
CON 22 / 34 / 40
INT 12 / 24 / 30
WIS 10 / 22 / 28
CHA 18 / 30 / 36
Fortitude 60 / 72 / 78
Reflex 48 / 60 / 66
Will 49 / 61 / 67
AB 91/94 buffed, not counting craft weapon's bonus(up to +3), and no artifact. can reach 98ab at 2xdemi
not too bad considering you can virtually spam taunt using "!action tau opponent" to taunt your current target. Surrounding enemies can be taunted normally before being engaged with the targetable feat icon.
with no artifact used (str...)
and no pandect used (Blind Fighting...)
The SKILL POINTS:
5Hide
60Tumble
63Discipline, Intimidate, Taunt, Listen and Craft Weapon
20Concentration
17Craft Armor (or should these go to concentration too?)
It should work especially well coordinating with the bard. It goes like this:
-bard helps you by opening with mind fogif available, and of course curse song
-dc63 will save barbarian aura can lower -2 to all saves, to make casters happy
-during the fight, u help bard back by taunting some mobs, making tanks happy
-dealing nice damage makes the berserk happy
Is is possible to assign a !role for every other tank in the party, so u can automatically taunt the target they are fighting with a macro(no need to target manualy on messy fights). However a hotkey would be needed for each aditional tank.
I'll be coming back here to update again.
Hope you guys like it.
Hasta luego!
Several corrections added
I have recently started playing in HG, copying Tyran's Gnoll Barbarian build from the wiki. A very solid open-race build for new players. Thanks to Tyran too! I learn a lot reading your posts in the forum.
But there are some aspects i want to improve, using a secret race and changing the build:
-depending less on +skill gear if possible and maxing out taunt and intimidate easier
-increasing the already good damage output(with more bonus damage, crits and listen), but no less defense(it does however lose a few hps, but its still beefy)
-get good saves using less feats
-and most important, i want to play my own build not a copy! hehe
There are 2 variations possible for this idea: the Unholy Berserker, and the Holy Berserker(using Paladin levels)
Unholy PROs:
-the build comes together nicely because of shared prerequisite feats. its a more elegant solution. besides evil is cool and opens to more roleplay.. muahaha
-you have no alignment issues during level up or in LL runs
-one sneak attack dice.... because every little helps!
Holy PROs:
-fear and disease inmunity(extremely tempting since it makes gearing easier)
-getting 1 more barbarian level for +1 sonic damage with mighty rage
As for the race, it can be done easily with Half-Guardinal, Pharlan and Hound Archon. Archon has more feats; Pharlan has strider, +5SR and wings, Half-Guardinal less feats but Evasion and no SR. Probably Pharlan is the strongest but it comes down to personal choice.
So my decision is to use the Hound Archon race in a 32Barbarian / 4Fighter / 4Blackguard setup and doing this:
-Higher charisma for maximum possible Rage Aura DC
-Higher charisma for maximum taunt, not needing ESF:taunt
-Most importantly the charisma is used for stronger saves using less feats and for extra damage with divine might (up to 16 uses per day of +13 divine dmg)
-Meeting dex, con and cha requirements; the rest of points go to strength for AB and damage.
-Getting both weapon especialization and epic weapon especialization, even with only 4 fighter levels, for +6 extra physical damage.
-Getting Devastating Critical for even more extra damage.
-The +1d6 blackguard sneak is the icing on the cake.
-It is a pure strength build. It has only enough dex for dualwielding, and cannot afford more dex anyway.
Here it goes, please report of any mistakes so i can correct before reincarnating (atm the build has not been tested):
Base race: Human
Subrace: Hound Archon
+4STR, +2CON, +2WIS, +4CHA, FC: Paladin, SR 10+1/lvl; Feats: Extra Smiting, Great Smite 1,Power Attack
Alignment: Neutral Evil or Chaotic Evil
Starting Stats:
STR 14 (18)
DEX 15
CON 14 (16)
INT 12
WIS 8 (10)
CHA 14 (18)
PRE-EPIC
Level 1 (1/0/0) Blooded, Exotic Proficiency
Level 2 (1/1/0) Cleave
Level 3 (1/2/0) Ambidexterity, Weapon Focus(Double Weapon)
Level 4 (1/3/0)
Stat Bonus: Choose Constitution
Level 5 (2/3/0)
Level 6 (3/3/0) Great Cleave
Level 7 (4/3/0)
putting 5 cross-class skill points in Hide to take BGuard next level
Level 8 (4/3/1)
Stat Bonus: Choose Constitution
Level 9 (4/3/2) Two-Weapon Fighting
Level 10 (4/3/3)
Level 11 (5/3/3)
Level 12 (5/3/4) Divine Might
Stat Bonus: Always choose Strength from now on
Level 13 (6/3/4)
Level 14 (7/3/4)
Level 15 (8/3/4) Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Level 16 (9/3/4)
Level 17 (10/3/4)
putting 20 skill points in Listen(securing ESF:Listen for later on)
Level 18 (11/3/4) Improved Critical(Double Weapon)
Level 19 (12/3/4)
Level 20 (13/3/4)
base saves:
15/6/6
EPIC
Level 21 (14/3/4) Epic Prowess
Level 22 (15/3/4)
putting 25 skill points in Intimidate(secures Terrifying Rage for later)
Level 23 (16/3/4)
Level 24 (17/3/4) Terrifying Rage
Level 25 (18/3/4)
Level 26 (19/3/4)
Level 27 (20/3/4) Armor Skin
Level 28 (21/3/4)
at this point we have 23 strength, opening Overwelming Critical
Level 29 (22/3/4)
Level 30 (23/3/4) Epic Will
Level 31 (24/3/4) Epic Weapon Focus(Double Weapon)
Level 32 (25/3/4)
Level 33 (26/3/4) ESF:Listen.This feat allows this low-WIS toon to potentially reach maximum 127Listen skill
Level 34 (27/3/4)
Level 35 (28/3/4) Overwhelming Critical(Double Weapon)
Level 36 (28/4/4) Weapon Espec.(Double Weapon) and Epic Weapon Espec.(Double Weapon)
at this point we have 25 strength, opening Thundering Rage feat and Dev.Crit
Level 37 (29/4/4)
Level 38 (30/4/4)
Level 39 (31/4/4) Thundering Rage
Level 40 (32/4/4) Devastating Critical(Double Weapon)
LEGENDARY
Level 41 (33/4/4)
Level 42 (34/4/4) LSA:Tumble
Level 43 (35/4/4)
Level 44 (36/4/4)
Level 45 (37/4/4) LWF(double weapon)
Automatic: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution
Level 46 (38/4/4)
Level 47 (39/4/4)
Level 48 (40/4/4) Great Dexterity I
Level 49 (41/4/4)
Level 50 (42/4/4)
Automatic: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution
Level 51 (43/4/4) LSF:Intimidate (it counts towards the +50 cap, so what? It can be traded for another feat if your gear can afford it)
Level 52 (44/4/4)
Level 53 (45/4/4)
Level 54 (46/4/4) LSF:Taunt (same as intimidate)
Level 55 (47/4/4)
Automatic: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution (at this point we have base con21)
Level 56 (48/4/4)
Level 57 (49/4/4) Mighty Rage
Level 58 (50/4/4)
Level 59 (51/4/4)
Level 60 (52/4/4) LSF:Listen (same as taunt)
Automatic: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution
STATS ans SAVES at Level 60
base / +12items / 2xdemi+14items
STR 40 / 52 / 58
DEX 16 / 28 / 34
CON 22 / 34 / 40
INT 12 / 24 / 30
WIS 10 / 22 / 28
CHA 18 / 30 / 36
Fortitude 60 / 72 / 78
Reflex 48 / 60 / 66
Will 49 / 61 / 67
AB 91/94 buffed, not counting craft weapon's bonus(up to +3), and no artifact. can reach 98ab at 2xdemi
not too bad considering you can virtually spam taunt using "!action tau opponent" to taunt your current target. Surrounding enemies can be taunted normally before being engaged with the targetable feat icon.
with no artifact used (str...)
and no pandect used (Blind Fighting...)
The SKILL POINTS:
5Hide
60Tumble
63Discipline, Intimidate, Taunt, Listen and Craft Weapon
20Concentration
17Craft Armor (or should these go to concentration too?)
It should work especially well coordinating with the bard. It goes like this:
-bard helps you by opening with mind fogif available, and of course curse song
-dc63 will save barbarian aura can lower -2 to all saves, to make casters happy
-during the fight, u help bard back by taunting some mobs, making tanks happy
-dealing nice damage makes the berserk happy
Is is possible to assign a !role for every other tank in the party, so u can automatically taunt the target they are fighting with a macro(no need to target manualy on messy fights). However a hotkey would be needed for each aditional tank.
I'll be coming back here to update again.
Hope you guys like it.
Hasta luego!
Several corrections added
