Barbarian Strategy?

**Thyiad** · 06-07-2008, 13:16

If you've watched the Denizens Panel, you will have heard the panel talk about the Barbarian being sheer power.

From what you saw in the Gameplay Demo and the other panels and interviews, do you think strategy will still be a part of the Barbarian class or if he is going to go to pure power?

People don't often think of the Barb and strategy but a good one in D2 does use strategy whether that is using Beserk in the CS, or the terrain to break up large groups or the War Cries to reduce damage/stun monsters.

So do you think this balance of power/strategy will be continued in D3 or do you do think they'll go sheer power and leave the strategy to the other characters. Or maybe just take out any element of strategy and be sheer hack-n-slash.

**lionheart** · 06-07-2008, 13:25

I think there will be strategy in the way how you use your skills and when you use them. If the video can be used as reference it was visible that different skills were more needed in different situations. Just to give a plain example in the fight with the thousand pounder they kept using skills that would make the barbarian hit and get away from him, i dont think it would have been easy to kill it him slash or things that requiere the barbarian to just stay there and keep on hitting. So i dont know in the end, since we havent seen the final product nor have we seen the power that the skills can achieve but if it continues like it was shown i think some strategy or at least good finger and keyboard skills will be needed. It would make it way more fun in my opinion, even if i love sherr power lol

**SlechtWeerBeer** · 06-07-2008, 17:30

There's always the destructable enviroment to use for strategic assaults. Or to skip a beating. Whatever you prefer

The Thousand Pounder seemed like a 2-hit-KO monster, and seeing he hits with both his weapons at a time...
Ok, so perhaps not an instadeath, but at least some really high damage.
That needs at least some brain.

**Fizh** · 06-07-2008, 17:43

In the gameplay trailer we saw how the barbarian used the ground stomp skill to stop the shielded skeletons from blocking. It isn't much, but there is strategy in the way he used the skills.

**Jek** · 06-07-2008, 18:39

It's a little hard to say at the moment, but it seems like the barbarian will get tons of combat skills, where they each serve their own nieche. From the looks so far it seems the barbarian is more "GAR in your face!" melee and yet more strategy minded, thumbs up so far from me. :-)

**DylWeed** · 06-07-2008, 22:32

As the game progresses, strategy will become an essential factor (especially if the game is like its predecessors).

But for the barb, hack 'n slash will be much more common than any other character. Which is pretty obvious, i think.

**Dacar92** · 07-07-2008, 00:44

How does it look for PvP then? If the barb is all power he could be overwhelming in PvP. But there has to be some kind of balance there. Thoughts?

**Deckard Cain** · 07-07-2008, 06:06

One thing i noticed from the the game play video is that the bosses seem to be much stronger (although the last fight was not against a boss, the monster did pick up someone and rip him in two). If you notice the barbarian did not just sit still and wack any stronger monster. The Barb seemed to be constantly jumping away from stronger enemies and then getting a blow in before jumping or charging away. A destructible environment also seemed like it could add a bit more strategy. I have no doubt that the barbarian will require skill, maybe just less than others

**lionheart** · 07-07-2008, 06:22

Originally Posted by Dacar92

How does it look for PvP then? If the barb is all power he could be overwhelming in PvP. But there has to be some kind of balance there. Thoughts?

I think its too early right now to tell we havent seen the other classes and we dont know all the skills, i think there will be some kind of balance. That would be the smart way to go for them if they want all the characters to be played the same

**Grunthex** · 07-07-2008, 07:16

I think there's a reason our new barbarian is an old fellow. Let the young pups wade in and stand there swinging until you or your enemy falls older. This barbarian is strong, tough, and smart. Yep, he can pound faces better than anyone else, but he ain't gonna let you pound him back!