Finishing Touches on Barbarian

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

So my Dwarf is currently 25th level, with Barbarian 20/5 Battlerager split. He really came into his own after I hit 25th level and got Mighty + Epic Rage. The remaining 5 levels are for polishing up the build.

A little more about the build - he uses Will of the Utghart Warmace and has Standard Rage. In Rage, he currently has 30 CON and 34 STR scores, and 14 Intelligence with Improved Knockdown already taken. Dexterity was set and currently is 14.

So, with 3 feats remaining and 1 natural ability increase available the plan was to pick 3 Great Strength + 1 Strength increase for total of 38 STR.

However, it just hit me that I won't be able to utilize Mithral Chainmail like I wanted to, because the Dexterity +4 item is found on Bracers, which is also the only slot available for +4 armor AC (Bracers of Blinding Strike). Since there are no +4 Mithral Chainmails available in shops the best I can hope for is total of 13 AC from the Chainmail (6 base + 4 Armor echantment + 3 Dexterity or 6 base +3 Armor enchantment + 4 Dexterity).

So, would it be better to pick one Great Dexterity in order to use +3 item on a Ring or Belt and some other feats? How about One Weapon? Can it be used with other combat modes, like Power Attack? I'm also considering Armor Skin and Weapon Focus. What would you pick?

[Theodore01]

Or raise dex to 16 and use the bearskin m-breastplate(+4ac) with the dex bracers.
(Not sure if AC is an issue with a barbarain at all.)

One weapon is usually a nice feat and can be used with PA, but with tumble as crossclass skill, not sure it is usefull for your build.

[Sun Wukong]

You can just buy the Elven Bracers for +4 Dexterity and their Mithral Chain Mail that comes with a +3 armor enchantment for a total of +13 AC. What would your ideal armor provide? A total of +14 AC? I would just get more strength and go for 38 strength.

But yes, you could get spend a +1 on dexterity and make use of some +3 dexterity item. Spend a feat on One Weapon to get +1 AC with your Improved Power Attack. Perhaps even get Northlander Hewing if you do not already have it. Perhaps Epic Prowess and Exponse Weakness if you do not already have those?

Its hard to tell without seeing the build details.

As for your Barbarian:

34 Strength, +12 modifier.

12 (1d12 Maximised)
+4 (EB)
+4 (1d4) Maximised)
+18 (Strength modifier*1.5)
+12 (IPA) (-6 AB)
+12 (Northlander Hewing) (-2 AB)
+4 (Epic Standard Rage)
= 66~ per hit.

At level 26, you would get these attacks at following ABs: 34/26/18/10. You pretty much just need to land either of your first two attacks to disrupt a mob caster or even some bosses from spellcasting.

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

@Theodore1, I have full Tumble, since Battlerager has Tumble as a class skill.

@Simian, I have Expose+Epic Prowess. I thought about NH, but since Critical Hits are skewed, and I have to suffer -2 AC and AB penalty, in addition to having to pick the feat in the first place, I would skip it. My damage is already very good.

[chad878262]

A couple things to consider that won't require you adjusting your plans with regard to Dexterity.

- As stated the store Mithral Chainmail is +3 and if you really need +4 potions of mage armor are stupidly cheap (~50 gp per use and lasts 30 minutes). If you have UMD wands of IMA are pretty darn cheap when you consider how long they last and the ability to recharge them at half cost.

- Wand of Cat's Grace is CL15, so 15 minutes per use. Thus you could always use a +2/3 DEX item and activate the wand if you really want the armor bracers, but also want to be able to hit the max DEX bonus.

All things considered I would go with the bracers of peerless archer and just 'make due' with +3 AC alongside potions of IMA or a wand for when really needed. You should be able to buy potions of IMA from a Master Alchemist for around 550 gold each, and they will last for an hour and fifteen minutes at the lowest CL (CL5).

[Sun Wukong]

I'd just get more strength.