new guy questions

[boilwood]

asking these for a brother who will be making a character soon (or deciding to use one of the few he just made)

1) i heard before that strength increases damage of a barbarian's attacks... if so, at what rate ?

2) i remember some whirwind bug or something from way back (pre 1.10)... is it still in effect or did they fix it ?.... and.... regardless, is whirwind an ok skill to use ?

3) he wants to go the frenzy route... i keep hearing of it being tough to "control" at higher speeds.... is it masterable or always just slightly out of control, and thus should he stay clear of the increase speed skill ?

4) barbarians can dual wield... i have heard of all single handed weapons that can be, but that certain swords have two modes, single or two handed... does this require a certain ammount of strength, or can they do it from the start ?

5) one of you made a guide (a girl here) that said everyone (almost) uses maxed battle orders.... for the hit points.... assuming my brother dual wields, should he do this too ?... if he doesn't can he still get bye ?

6) lastly... dexterity.... no shield, and he plans on using sword mastery... which brings up dexterity requirements.... assuming just random items found between us, what level of dexterity should he strive for, and strength, and vitality (all based on the answer to 5 above)... i know energy will be "add nothing"

thanks (i looked for a link that would explain all these new person type questions but couldn't find any)

[foxfire]

1. 1%ed per 1 pt in strength for all weapons except for mauls and great mauls (and their respective exceptional and elite versions) - they get 1.1%ed per pt

2. don't know about a bug, but ww is a great skill to use. its THE barb skill

3. don't have ne info on this

4. barbs can dual wield from the start

5. Even if you use a shield, it would be extremely hard to get by without BO, but you could do it. Without a shield, nearly impossible. Max it.

6. dont put any pts in a mastery until you have found what you think could be a pair of endgame weapons. when you find or trade for those, place pts in strength and dexterity as needed. as for a general skill layout...

Str: as much as needed for endgame equip
Dex: same as above
Vit: at least 200 pts here

If you do decide to go the frenzy route, crushing blow can be your greates friend. It works like static field, reducing 1/4 of an enemy's life. Even with less than perfect weapons, it will greatly increase your killing speed. An easy source of CB is the Guillame's Face helm from the orphan's call set (35% chance of triggering with CB).

good luck and :xmas10:

[boilwood]

hey thanks....

everything except the possible frenzy speed problem question was answered

BO makes even more sense now that i think he'll want extra strength for the % increase of damage (possibly slightly less vitality as a result)

i didn't know about crushing blow's 1/4 off thing... so yeah, i'll make sure he reads this thread (and a few others) so he can plan ahead

a lot of people seem to postpone the mastery thing... i'll talk to him about it.... he may just decide to go with swords anyway though right off

goodbye (mass shopping to do... every year i postpone it like this :(

[Halciet]

Just a word to the wise - don't over-pump strength. It doesn't have as big an effect on your damage as you'd think, and vitality point investments are more important. Just get enough strength, counting the +strength on your gear, to wear your biggest target item. No more!

-Hal

[Billweed]

Tell him to read the guides here and decide in advance of build - but the str to max need + Vit =BO pump must be used for Baba build. a max these please vote

[boilwood]

thanks you two...

i'm having him read this thread after Christmas...

i have one more question... though maybe it's answered in the guides...

i discussed a few of these things today with him and he seems intent on putting a lot into dexterity also, for AR reasons

going with most normal barbarian builds, and assuming he has only relatively slight changes in the end, how much dexterity should he have you think ?

he no longer will be putting points into mastery initialy (as he's unsure of his weapons later in the game... taking your advice).... the dexterity would be good for those "certain" swords... but ignoring all that...

just AR.... for a decently tough barbarian who wants to hit well, will shouts and weapons (good weapons later on) cover most of the AR requirements ? (he is still probably going to go a frenzy route)

other than dexterity points for AR, that i'm sure will be our final question (until he's more advanced and starts thinking IAS, but for that he can read the threads that already exist)

thanks beforehand...

and merry Christmas :xmas22: :xmas31: :xmas8: :xmas10:

[Billweed]

thanks you two...

i'm having him read this thread after Christmas...

i have one more question... though maybe it's answered in the guides...

i discussed a few of these things today with him and he seems intent on putting a lot into dexterity also, for AR reasons

going with most normal barbarian builds, and assuming he has only relatively slight changes in the end, how much dexterity should he have you think ?

thanks beforehand...

and merry Christmas :xmas22: :xmas31: :xmas8: :xmas10:
Dex is not effective for AR trade for Angelic and ravens etc, enchant charges etc this gives AR bonus more than dex can do and the points in VIT are needed there.
Dex for weapon use and Anti pop block say 139 max and really a lot of that can come from items, or you can use enough for good block as good any shield with a high block base for baba and remember speed of block and lock. Or - none base and no shield but big damage and beserk for PI or just a light defence and say 50% block or switch with warm up then the big Weapon/or 2 weapons.

[Halciet]

Dexterity is more or less worthless in terms of increasing your chance to hit; the amount of AR it grants is very small, and you can get much more from very common items like angelics and ravens. Dex is only needed in two situations:

1. To obtain max block, if you plan to use a shield. Stormshield requires 222 dex at level 99 for max block; you can usually get away with 152 base or so, if you have nice equipment;

2. If not using a shield, you just need enough to equip your weapon.

Do whatever you have to do to keep him from pumping dex over what he needs for either of those factors, as otherwise he will regret it in the end.

-Hal

[boilwood]

thanks again you two... he'll read all this (and approproate guides/searches) later tonight

i'm glad he won't be needing so much into dexterity, as he (last night after Christmas celebrations) told me he wanted to play hardcore... which means.... more to vitality

we're going to play him super safe until he can get decent life leach equipment and resistances (i worry about him face to face with diablo too early... or even that cold guy of act 2, forget his name)

brother's mastery will be held off till he finds his weapons of choice (far later in the game i assume)... and BO max'd fast

things might be a little easier on him if i go a poison/summon necro route.... he'd have my minions getting the attention of the enemy off him.... curses like lifetap and amp.... and no competition for the fighting gear he finds... my clay golem plus act 2 nightmare mercs (freeze for him, might for me...i think it's act 2)

this combination should be fun, and relatively safe for hardcore

i may decide something other than necro, but his barbarian i'm sure he will stick with... and with your help is now gonna be on the right path

bye all (bows and exits)

[Billweed]

thanks again you two... he'll read all this (and appropriate guides/searches) later tonight

I'm glad he won't be needing so much into dexterity, as he (last night after Christmas celebrations) told me he wanted to play hardcore... which means.... more to vitality

we're going to play him super safe until he can get decent life leach equipment and resistances (i worry about him face to face with diablo too early... or even that cold guy of act 2, forget his name)

brother's mastery will be held off till he finds his weapons of choice (far later in the game i assume)... and BO maxed fast

things might be a little easier on him if i go a poison/summon necro route.... he'd have my minions getting the attention of the enemy off him.... curses like lifetap and amp.... and no competition for the fighting gear he finds... my clay golem plus act 2 nightmare mercs (freeze for him, might for me...i think it's act 2)

this combination should be fun, and relatively safe for hardcore

i may decide something other than necro, but his barbarian I'm sure he will stick with... and with your help is now gonna be on the right path

bye all (bows and exits)
P.S. Review -
:-)
OK you are the necro u need to be more design focused, babas are forgiving in bad skill points. necros not so much.
On the HC change use a shield some Dex and post in 6 weeks if he is living but "homey don't play that game" (or duels short of 2 player with both allow loots corpse) cause it don't pay. .
Obscure comment: living in a Riverworld makes a difference in life or death
situations.