Barbarian build question

[Keenar]

is epic rage worth it? if i have a +3 str item and with mighty rage that is +11 to str. Does the +12 cap to a stat count on that? so same with frenzy and rage wont go higher than +12 together? Thanks in advance!

Edit: Ok so what i was asking is: does rage stacking with other bonuses still cap out at +12 to STR? or is the +12 bonus cap to an ability score only for each bonus being added?

Also this build is going to be 20 Barb(after the new bonus' get added), 5 Battle rager, and 5 FB with 21 Str and 21 Con . am i better off going for Epic damage reductions to get DR 17. Or should i go for max STR and lower con(STR25, Con 17)?
The standing AC end game will be 47 and 49 in rage with a THW and no buffs. To hit will only be 42 without buffs, PA, Or IPA. Rage increases to hit to 44 (with a +4 weapon)

[Keenar]

bump

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

Soft cap for Ability Bonus is +12, so your FB bonus won't stack with Barbarian's, nor will +3 item stack with Epic Rage fully, only up to +12. FB and Barbarian don't mix well together, IMO. And I would advise you to wait a little before the Barbarian improvements come in, they really help the class.

[Keenar]

Yeah thats what i was thinking. But i still want FB for the PA bonus. and it fits my RP. This is planned for after the fix to barbs. so with the extra feats and AC. im just torn if i should go for Epic DR with really high con. Or drop it a little and go all STR to get a higher to hit but only 8 DR.

[Valefort]

Probably better to go all out on STR, finishing on even STR and using a +2 item, you'll welcome the bonus to AB and damage imo

[Keenar]

Yeah with all STR it would net me +3 to hit or +4 with epic rage and the other feats it allows me to take. So 48 while raging. 42 with IPA with no buffs. And ill have a good AC. SO hopefully DR isnt as important.

[matelener]

If you'd like to go the DR route with your build (which I recommend), these are things to take (after the barbarian update):

- Whirlwind Frenzy rage variant

pre-epic:

- 3 qualification feats: Cleave / Greater Cleave / Power Attack
- Improved Power Attack
- Steadfast Determination
- Ice Troll Berserk
- Greater Resilience
- Blindfight

epic:

- Epic Rage
- Epic Damage Reduction I, II, III

With all the above, you've got 2 feats spare. I'd invest them into Extend Rage II and III (since Battlerager grants you Extend Rage I). Remember to buy the amulet from Arnbjorn with Extra Rages feat.

Your rage duration at level 30: 3.2 minutes * 8 times a day = 25.6 minutes total.

[mrm3ntalist]

FB is not the best choice in my view. Fighter is much better for the extra feats, with which you can raise the AC to acceptable levels with no shield or rage. Then you also get Tower Shield forthe extra AC when needed.

The 4th fighter in the epics you can get an extra feat or go for Weapon specialization for +2Damage.

Definetely go for the DR/Epic rage route

[Keenar]

Here is my build plan

STR 16, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 6 Shield Dwarf - Charging trait
Final Scores STR 21 (24 with item) Con 21 (24 with item)

Barb 9 - Battle rager 5, FB 5 - Barb 11

Feats: Luck of heros, Able learner(help keep tumble to 30), Power attack, Cleave, Improved PA, Steadfast, Blindfight, Extend rage 2,

EPIC feats: Armored Skin, Epic DR 3, 6, and 9, Greater Resilency, Epic Prowess

I get great cleave and extend rage 1 from battlerager and some charging feats. Toughness i get From FB.


OR

Str 18, Dex 13, Con 18, Int 9, Wis 8, Cha 6
Fianal STR 25 (28 with item)

Feats: Luck of heros, Able learner(help keep tumble to 30), Power attack, Cleave, Improved PA, Steadfast, Blindfight, Extend rage 2,

Epic Feats: Armored Skin, Epic Prowess, Epic Rage, Weapon Focus, Extend rage 3, Greater Resiliency


edit: also looking at Ice troll berserker it might be a better option than luck of heros. I just always try and get my saves up if i can.

[Keenar]

With my plan fighter will give me two feats. but i already have every feat (besided Ice Troll berserker) for AC. So i dont see fighter being to much better than FB. and supreme cleave seems like an awesome way to get more attacks. with gear my AC should be at 47 before rage, 49 with rage, and 57 with a heavy shield +4

[chad878262]

With my plan fighter will give me two feats. but i already have every feat (besided Ice Troll berserker) for AC. So i dont see fighter being to much better than FB. and supreme cleave seems like an awesome way to get more attacks. with gear my AC should be at 47 before rage, 49 with rage, and 57 with a heavy shield +4

Fighter 4 gives 3 feats, not 2... (F1, F2, F4). So you have Luck of Heroes and Armor Skin? Blindfight is useful and there is also Thundering Rage to go along with Epic Rage and an extra Epic DR or fast healing with F4 would be boon. I really think Barb 21/BR5/F4 would be worth far more than the extra dmg from Supreme PA. I look it as getting toughness/steadfast and an extra epic DR..

[jordanreiss89]

With my plan fighter will give me two feats. but i already have every feat (besided Ice Troll berserker) for AC. So i dont see fighter being to much better than FB. and supreme cleave seems like an awesome way to get more attacks. with gear my AC should be at 47 before rage, 49 with rage, and 57 with a heavy shield +4

Fighter 4 gives 3 feats, not 2... (F1, F2, F4). So you have Luck of Heroes and Armor Skin? Blindfight is useful and there is also Thundering Rage to go along with Epic Rage and an extra Epic DR or fast healing with F4 would be boon. I really think Barb 21/BR5/F4 would be worth far more than the extra dmg from Supreme PA. I look it as getting toughness/steadfast and an extra epic DR..

I said net two feats because I have to take toughness as one of the three since I won't get it for free. But fighter would let me get ice troll berserker and weapon spec. Might be sold on it

[Wyatt]

Is it even possible to make a build with Epic rage and Epic DR here? Epic rage requires 27 strength here according to the custom changes. I haven't had much luck finding enough epic feats to have enough for all those great strengths AND Epic DR feats.

[Calodan]

Is it even possible to make a build with Epic rage and Epic DR here? Epic rage requires 27 strength here according to the custom changes. I haven't had much luck finding enough epic feats to have enough for all those great strengths AND Epic DR feats.

Not yet but once the Barbarian improvements go in it will be. They are lowering the requirement for Epic Rage and Thundering Rage significantly. Thus allowing for a 21 STR and 21 CON build to get Epic DR along with Epic Rage and Thundering Rage. IMO this will be awesome. I think they gave some bonus feats as well at 5, 10 and 20. So yeah it will be possible for sure and have substantial improvement.

[chad878262]

the bonus feats will be at barbarian 10, 20, 30. Thundering/Epic Rage requirements will be 21 STR allowing for a mixed con/str barbarian to get both the rage and DR feats, as Calodan mentioned.