Barbarian Shield Maiden - Need some advice

[Calantyr]

Here's what I have so far: Northern Shield Maiden.

However I have managed to free up two feats at levels 18 and 29, and I do not know what to get with them. I've narrowed the choices down to the Knockdowns, Power Attacks, Combat Expertises, and Extend Rage. I can find a use for ALL of them and I can't chose between them.

While she'll use a shield, when she rages she'll have enough AC that she can go two-hander, so Power Attack would get a load of use. However Combat Expertise would allow me to go two-hander all day, every day. So... not sure if either is optimal.

Knockdowns would allow me to put the pain down on most enemies, but the troublesome ones (bosses etc.) will probably resist it, so maybe it's pointless? Especially considering my strength won't be maxed?

Without Extended Rage I'll have 8 Rages that last a minute each. With 2 lots of Extended Rage that'll go up to over 2 minutes each. That will allow me to rage most of the day, which actually sounds pretty hillarious when I think about it. I've already got that amulet from the BG Palace District which gives 1 rank of Extend/Extra Rage and I don't think it stacks, which makes the option slightly less appealing.

So I'm at a loss. Every option has it's strengths and drawback. I could also pick up something else. I guess maybe Dodge and Indomitable Soul would be handy.

It's not meant to be a power build, I've bumped the skillpoints so that she can actually do stuff outside of combat. I'm hoping Northlander Hewing will help fill the damage gap. 4 attacks per round doing 40-60(x2) damage is way more than any build I've tried so far.

[Kiran]

Quick question before I go further into it...

Does it have to be a Aasimar? That part of your concept?

[Calantyr]

Quick question before I go further into it...

Does it have to be a Aasimar? That part of your concept?

Yeah. She's an RCR rebuild of an existing character, so her race is set in stone at this point. Although I'd change that if half-giant ever becomes a character choice...

Would be easy if it was human. Then I'd take Greatswords, Power Attack, Cleave, Improved Power Attack, and just smash everything. Might even be able to drop INT by two and raise STR more. But that wouldn't *feel* right.

[Theodore01]

Wow 40% XP penality - you're sure you won't change her to human ?

[Calantyr]

Wow 40% XP penality - you're sure you won't change her to human ?

I've had worse. My old server only gave you 1XP per kill after level 20. That said, if it gets too bad I suppose I'll have no choice. I *think* this build will work, however.

[Calantyr]

I made a second version, a human.

I'm not sure which I prefer, to be honest. The human does 43-59 damage per hit with an AB between 35-60, depending on 1/2-handed/Expose Weakness/Rage/Power Attack. Also has an AC between 48-61 depending on 1/2-handed/Rage.

That seems okay to me.

[Rudolph]

It certainly looks viable to me - but then I build more than I play .
50 AC is solid, 55+ very good, and 60+ quite excellent in my book, esp. for a non-magic build.
The damage per hit looks good as well.
8x 17 rounds of rage (more than a minute) seems OK, too.
AB may be a bit of an issue, however. As far as I know, while Expose Weakness attempts always hit for damage, for the AC reduction they need to 'genuinely' hit, which may become difficult with only 40 AB or lower - you certainly rely on it a bit much in your calculation. But then an AB in the high 50s isn't necessary and you can switch off IPA to raise things, of course.

The one thing that bugs the builder in me are the last two AK levels. I'd either make them Fighter for an extra feat (Thundering Rage, more STR, etc.) or try to go for fewer skills and try to make do without Able Learner and get a feat like that.

[Calantyr]

It certainly looks viable to me - but then I build more than I play .
50 AC is solid, 55+ very good, and 60+ quite excellent in my book, esp. for a non-magic build.
The damage per hit looks good as well.
8x 17 rounds of rage (more than a minute) seems OK, too.
AB may be a bit of an issue, however. As far as I know, while Expose Weakness attempts always hit for damage, for the AC reduction they need to 'genuinely' hit, which may become difficult with only 40 AB or lower - you certainly rely on it a bit much in your calculation. But then an AB in the high 50s isn't necessary and you can switch off IPA to raise things, of course.

The one thing that bugs the builder in me are the last two AK levels. I'd either make them Fighter for an extra feat (Thundering Rage, more STR, etc.) or try to go for fewer skills and try to make do without Able Learner and get a feat like that.

All good points, and I am particularly suprised to learn that Expose Weakness needs to 'genuinely' hit to reduce an opponents AC! However like you said, I can always switch Power Attack off.

I'm hesitant to reduce the skill points. Characters without skills seem rather one-dimensional to me since I RP what's on the character sheet. Magic users can get away with low skills because they have spells to make up for it, martials do not. Yet one more area where spellcasters are OP.

[Calantyr]

I also made this version.

The AC's a bit lower than I'd like, but everything else seems great. As long as the shield mechanics work.