Please help with my Barb

[Gegabyte]

I have just started playing DIIEXP again after a year off. I have built a barb that was whooping everything in Norm ( I mean more than ususal ) However waited until lvl 50 until going to NM and am now at lvl 67, but my problem is i am not putting out much damage. Defence wise I can hold my own, if not I use shout at lvl 1 + 1 (item) plus sysnergies from lvl 4+1 BO.

Here is my build (roughly)

STR 200
Dex 115
Vit (the rest)
INT (none)

(All skills have +1 from helmet)
Sword Mastery max
Whirlwind Max
1 on all pre-reqs
10 on Iron Skin
8 on Nat res
1 on speed
1 on stam
1 on shout
4 on BO
1 on (the warcry that does skill point)

Hows this build look?? I am hoping I have built well but have rubbish items. Have lots of Mana steal (for WW) and some life steal (only as good as the damge i am doing.

I suppose that I think that I am being lazy and should wait to get better weapons. I have 2 rare swords at about 40 - 75 (+ some elemental) each.

Please someone tell me that this is the reason I take ages to kill things.

[gmcbroom]

From your stat placement it appears you have made an Iron Barb. They pump strength high like you just did. There is a Barb guide stickied here that might help you. Your right, you will be somewhat item dependant to get through NM and Hell. I recommend you max BO, Shout, and Iron skin. I'd recommend Iron skin first, since your half way there, then pump BO and finally Shout. You may not be able max Shout but put as much in there as you can. Also there is a leveling guide around here somewhere that might help you get to the acts the would give you the most experience for your character level.

IN SHORT
-check the guides
-max Iron skin,BO,and (Shout if possible in that order)
-stick with it the good items will drop eventually

Hope this helps.

[Decebal]

For a ww barb u must max the big 4:

Weapon mastery
Whirlwind
Battle orders
Shout

1 point in Battle command, 1 in Berzerk, 1 in natural res, and 1 in iron skin is enough if u have good items! If u dont then natural res and iron skin deserve more points to compansate your week gear.

I assume you use a shield!

There are some nice guides on this forum! Check them out for a little more insight!

/Dec

[Gegabyte]

Thanks very much for your comments, I leathered points into str for armour, like I say, I have good Defence. I don't use a sheild but probably will end up doing so when I start getting battered.

Thanks again.

[Halciet]

There is no reason whatsoever to max ironskin before shout. They both give the same % boost per level, with shout getting a longer duration and a higher initial boost. It likewise provides a synergy for your BO/BComm cries and up to 200% more damage to berserk, which every barb needs at least 1 point of. Ironskin is more of a late-game sink when you've maxed your four mains (combat skill, combat mastery, BO, and Shout) and need someplace else to put points

Similarly, as mentioned, 1 in natural resist would be enough, with the maximum I would ever think of putting being 5 (since after 6 you hit horrible diminishing returns, and 5 in NR with 1 in BComm gets you there already).

Otherwise you look fine; certainly not crippled, you'll just get around to maxing shout a bit later than normal :)

-Hal

[Gegabyte]

Thanks, I will go no further than 8 in nat res because of the drop off per level, however, Do you suggest I max BO and SHOUT ??

-edit- oops, seems you have already answered that. (I'm a plank) :eek:

[Halciet]

Heh heh, that's alright. People don't catch everything all the time :)

-Hal