NWN build help: Barbarian

[Roderick_BR]

So, I'm playing a paladin and a barbarian on a server with some friends.
The paladin is going alright (though I should have picked a diferent weapon. oh well)
My barbarian will be a weapon master, and is just 2 feats short of getting it. Question: What would be a good weapon to master? I find myself using the Heavy Flail more than the Greataxe. Should I keep the flail, or go for more raw power? Maybe use a lighter weapon and take a shield?

Thanks in advance

[Jaysyn]

I always loved the heavy flail for the mix of piercing & blunt damage & the way it can seriously abuse undead.

[Penguinizer]

Depends on the max levels, I recommend a great axe with the improved,overwhelmin,devastating crit. chain, with a lot in intimidate for thundering rage. Also take 4 levels in fighter for weapon focus.

[Bears With Lasers]

For weapon master, no reason not to go scythe.

[Roderick_BR]

Yeah, that's a reason I like the flail. It's multi-purpose. Scythe? Hmm..... Not a bad idea for a main weapon... yes.
I didn't plan to get fighter levels, but that would work fine too. Thanks.

[Bears With Lasers]

The scythe just has a larger critical multiplier, which is a Big Deal with Weapon Master.

[Proven_Paradox]

Just tell everyone to play a cleric. Maybe have one sorcerer in there. You'll kill everything before they get a chance to do anything.

For actual advice, when I go weapon master, I prefer to go with a fighter, get all the two weapon fighting feats, improved criticle, weapon focus, and maybe weapon specialization in scimitar. Your crit range with keen scimitars will be OBSCENE. For a barbarian, I preferred greataxe to heavy flail, but I can absolutely see where you're coming from with the flail's advantages, so it's really up in the air there.

[Tom_Violence]

Yeah, take a scythe if you want the rest of your party to roll their eyes and mutter about how they should've left you at home because you will be doing that good.

Keen and Improved Critical stack in NWN, right? Oh boy...

[Truwar]

Are you going to be able to get Dev Crit? If so, go for the flail. Damage becomes secondary to scoring a crit at that point.

[Penguinizer]

I think I had 10-20 crit range once. with a great axe.

[Jaysyn]

My Brutal Barbarian build. The idea behind this one was to get all of the Rage feats along with DevCrit, full Tumble, UMD & Evasion.

If you just want pure damage, I can do better.

Half-Orc: (Darkvision)
01: Ro(1): Blind Fight, Intimidate(4), Listen(4), Tumble(4), UMD(4), Save(20)
02: Bb(1): Discipline(5), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(5), Save(13)
03: Bb(2): Knockdown, Bb: {Uncanny Dodge I}, Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(14)
04: Bb(3): CON+1, (CON=17), Discipline(1), Heal(4), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(11)
05: Bb(4): Discipline(1), Heal(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(11)
06: Bb(5): Weapon Focus, Discipline(1), Heal(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(11)
07: Bb(6): Discipline(1), Heal(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(11)
08: Bb(7): CON+1, (CON=18), Discipline(1), Heal(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(11)
09: Bb(8): Power Attack, Discipline(1), Heal(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(11)
10: Bb(9): Discipline(1), Heal(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(11)
11: Bb(10): Discipline(1), Heal(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(11)
12: Bb(11): CON+1, Cleave, (CON=19), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(12)
13: Bb(12): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(13)
14: Bb(13): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(14)
15: Bb(14): Great Cleave, Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(15)
16: Bb(15): CON+1, (CON=20), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(16)
17: Bb(16): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(18)
18: Bb(17): Improved Critical, Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(20)
19: Bb(18): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(22)
20: Bb(19): CON+1, (CON=21), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(24)
21: Ro(2): Great Strength I, Ro: {Evasion}, (STR=19), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Tumble(20), UMD(11)
22: Bb(20): Discipline(2), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1)
23: Bb(21): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(2)
24: Bb(22): STR+1, Great Strength II, (STR=21), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1), Save(1)
25: Bb(23): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(3)
26: Bb(24): Mighty Rage, Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(5)
27: Bb(25): Great Strength III, (STR=22), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(7)
28: Bb(26): STR+1, (STR=23), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(9)
29: Bb(27): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(11)
30: Bb(28): Overwhelming Critical, Terrifying Rage, Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(13)
31: Bb(29): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(15)
32: Bb(30): STR+1, (STR=24), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(17)
33: Bb(31): Epic Fortitude, Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(19)
34: Bb(32): Epic Weapon Focus, Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(21)
35: Bb(33): Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(23)
36: Bb(34): STR+1, Devastating Critical, (STR=25), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Save(25)
37: Ro(3): Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Tumble(16), UMD(16)
38: Bb(35): Discipline(2), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(1)
39: Bb(36): Armor Skin, Thundering Rage, Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(2)
40: Bb(37): STR+1, (STR=26), Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Listen(1), Taunt(2)

Rogue(3), Barbarian(37), Half-Orc

STR: 18 (26)
DEX: 10
CON: 16 (21)
WIS: 8
INT: 12
CHA: 8

Hitpoints: 662
Skillpoints: 239
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 30/15/18
Saving Throw bonuses: Traps: +5
BAB: 29
AB (max, naked): 40 (melee), 29 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 20/28
Spell Casting:
Alignment Changes: 0

Discipline 43(51), Heal 11(10), Intimidate 43(42), Listen 43(42), Taunt 28(27), Tumble 40(40), UMD 31(30)

[Penguinizer]

I made a rogue/monk build that could beat anything in melee. It was borderline impossible to hit. Hooray for dex somewhere up in the 40+ area, max tumble and parrying, and epic dodge.

[Bears With Lasers]

I made a rogue/monk build that could beat anything in melee.

I doubt that. Cleric 38/monk 1/rogue 1 is the Uber Melee Build of NWN.

[Jaysyn]

I made a rogue/monk build that could beat anything in melee. It was borderline impossible to hit. Hooray for dex somewhere up in the 40+ area, max tumble and parrying, and epic dodge.

I'll see your Rogue / Monk & raise him a Truestriking, Epic Dodging, Transformed Rogue / Wizard / Palemaster with a 47+ AC. With no gear :D

[Bears With Lasers]

AC will only help so much (not that that's the Most AC build around).

[Penguinizer]

I think summoning, healing, and transforming is banned on the server where I play pvp.

[Jaysyn]

I think summoning, healing, and transforming is banned on the server where I play pvp.

Whatever floats your boat. I will say that sounds kinda lame to me...

[Penguinizer]

And the overly huge skins. Otherwise its an ok level 40 duel server.

[Roderick_BR]

I'm still new at min/max stuff, but since NWN is a video game, I'll try to do something cool >:)
The server I'm playing is a monster hunting/semi PVP place, so I could try some powerful stuff.

Too bad they don't have more PrCs here. One for barbarian would be cool. Frenzyed Berzerker maybe? hehehe...

[Jaysyn]

I doubt that. Cleric 38/monk 1/rogue 1 is the Uber Melee Build of NWN.

Here is one of my favorite cleric builds. It's tailored for the server I play on (Water Domain), but I don't see why it wouldn't be powerful in vanilla NWN. The higher your CHA is buffed, the better with this build. If you manage to get it up to 30 that = +10 saves, AC & Damage on top of all your Cleric buffs. Only bad thing is you have to wait till 37th to get IKD. Yay minmaxing!

Human: (Quick to Master)
01: Monk(1): Power Attack, Toughness, {Cleave, Evasion, Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist}, Concentration(4), Discipline(4), Heal(1), Hide(4), Tumble(4), Save(7)
02: Monk(2): {Deflect Arrows}, Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Heal(1), Hide(1), Tumble(1), Save(8)
03: Cleric(1): Called Shot, Domain Water, Domain Trickery, Concentration(1), Heal(1), Spellcraft(6), Save(4)
04: Cleric(2): CHA+1, (CHA=14), Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(6)
05: Cleric(3): Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(8)
06: Cleric(4): Extra Turning, Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(10)
07: Monk(3): Concentration(1), Discipline(5), Tumble(5), Save(5)
08: Cleric(5): WIS+1, (WIS=17), Concentration(1), Spellcraft(2), Save(6)
09: Cleric(6): Divine Might, Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(8)
10: Cleric(7): Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(10)
11: Cleric(8): Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(12)
12: Cleric(9): CHA+1, Extend Spell, (CHA=15), Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(14)
13: Cleric(10): Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(16)
14: Cleric(11): Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(18)
15: Cleric(12): Divine Shield, Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(20)
16: Blackguard(1): CHA+1, (CHA=16), Discipline(9), Taunt(15)
17: Blackguard(2): {Smite Good}, Discipline(1), Heal(1), Taunt(1), Save(1)
18: Blackguard(3): Maximize Spell, Discipline(1), Save(4)
19: Blackguard(4): Discipline(1), Save(7)
20: Monk(4): WIS+1, (WIS=18), Discipline(1), Tumble(10), Save(2)
21: Cleric(13): Blind Fight, Spellcraft(6)
22: Cleric(14): Heal(3), Spellcraft(1)
23: Cleric(15): Heal(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(2)
24: Cleric(16): WIS+1, Great Charisma I, (WIS=19), (CHA=17), Spellcraft(1), Save(5)
25: Cleric(17): Spellcraft(1), Save(8)
26: Cleric(18): Spellcraft(1), Save(11)
27: Monk(5): Great Charisma II, (CHA=18), Discipline(7), Tumble(10)
28: Cleric(19): WIS+1, (WIS=20), Heal(2), Spellcraft(2)
29: Cleric(20): Heal(2), Spellcraft(1), Save(1)
30: Cleric(21): Armor Skin, Heal(2), Spellcraft(1), Save(2)
31: Cleric(22): Heal(2), Spellcraft(1), Save(3)
32: Cleric(23): WIS+1, Great Wisdom I, (WIS=22), Heal(2), Spellcraft(1), Save(4)
33: Cleric(24): Epic Spell: Mummy Dust, Heal(2), Spellcraft(1), Save(5)
34: Cleric(25): Spellcraft(1), Save(8)
35: Cleric(26): Great Wisdom II, (WIS=23), Spellcraft(1), Save(11)
36: Cleric(27): WIS+1, Epic Prowess, (WIS=24), Spellcraft(1), Save(14)
37: Monk(6): {Knockdown, Improved Knockdown}, Discipline(10), Tumble(10)
38: Cleric(28): Concentration(1), Heal(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(1)
39: Cleric(29): Epic Fortitude, Great Wisdom III, (WIS=25), Concentration(5)
40: Cleric(30): WIS+1, (WIS=26), Concentration(4)

Monk(6), Cleric(30), Blackguard(4), Human

STR: 13
DEX: 8
CON: 14
WIS: 16 (26)
INT: 12
CHA: 13 (18)

Hitpoints: 448
Skillpoints: 190
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 36/35/22
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +8, Mind Effects: +2
BAB: 26
AB (max, naked): 28 (melee), 26 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 28/30
Spell Casting: Cleric(9)
Alignment Changes: 0

Concentration 28(30), Discipline 40(41), Heal 21(29), Hide 5(4), Spellcraft 40(41), Taunt 16(20), Tumble 40(39)

[Roderick_BR]

Okay, I got the scythe, and it's been fun.

Except I'm a 'tard and forgot to buy skill points in intimidate, so now I'm a Fighter 4/Barbarian 11/ Weapon Master 1 :P

How many barbarian levels would be good to get after getting into Epic Level?

Jaysyn, I'll have tro try that cleric combo ;)

[Bears With Lasers]

Jay: Ahhh, but Blackguard doesn't give Use Magic Device, which tends to be very powerful due to class-limited gear.

My personal favorite build is the Monk 4/Fighter 4/Cleric 32 archer with Zen Archery. Just pump WIS; with enough Epic Wisdom feats, you can get it ridiculously high. Then you go around spamming Implosions (which used to get a +3 DC for some reason, dunno if that was ever changed) and don't count as death magic for immunity purposes. The DC gets to be something like 44.

[Selrahc]

Monk/Druid/Wizard with Dragon Shape was a pretty insane combo....

[Bears With Lasers]

No, it was sucky until level 30-something, at which point it suddenly became good only for PvP (due to the Dragon Shape's duration).

[Selrahc]

True enough. It was fun for the insanity when I completed the game a few times properly and was just making level 40 characters from the start.

[Roderick_BR]

Hmm... Funny thing. Their bonus name are messed up in that game.
I have a Chainmail Of Speed: AC 5 + 2 armor enhancement bonus. If I add a Bracers of Armor +5, It doesn't stack, right? Well, it doesn't stack with my armor's enhancement bonus, but does with the base AC, so I have a total of +10 AC. And that Haste effect doesn't give me AC bonus, nor gives me more attacks. I think it just affects speed.
On the other hand, my Gloves of Ogre Power and my Belt of Giant Strength do stack :p
I'm having lots of fun with my scythe wielding barbarian. I just need to rise her AC more. I'll use the bracers of defense instead of the glove of giant strenght, get a better ring of protection, an amulet of natural armor (the current amulet of Health doesn't seem very useful) and get a cape of defense instead of a cape of freedom (I'm not sure if it stacks with the ring. I'll see).
I'm split between keeping my current boots (AC +3, Cons +3) or a new boot (Cons +5).

[Jaysyn]

Hmm... Funny thing. Their bonus name are messed up in that game.
I have a Chainmail Of Speed: AC 5 + 2 armor enhancement bonus. If I add a Bracers of Armor +5, It doesn't stack, right? Well, it doesn't stack with my armor's enhancement bonus, but does with the base AC, so I have a total of +10 AC. And that Haste effect doesn't give me AC bonus, nor gives me more attacks. I think it just affects speed.
On the other hand, my Gloves of Ogre Power and my Belt of Giant Strength do stack :p
I'm having lots of fun with my scythe wielding barbarian. I just need to rise her AC more. I'll use the bracers of defense instead of the glove of giant strenght, get a better ring of protection, an amulet of natural armor (the current amulet of Health doesn't seem very useful) and get a cape of defense instead of a cape of freedom (I'm not sure if it stacks with the ring. I'll see).
I'm split between keeping my current boots (AC +3, Cons +3) or a new boot (Cons +5).

The server I play on doesn't use any of that stuff from the original campaign, all custom items & weapons balanced for PvP & PvM.

[Roderick_BR]

I think this server uses all normal itens, they just have a high treasure/experience reward system. I mean, I killed a goblin and god a Staff of Magi :p

[Jaysyn]

Let me guess, they don't use ILR either. No offense, but I can't stand servers like that, no challenge, no point in ever using lowbie or mid-grade gear, everybody running around with perma-haste & 9 different immunities, 500xp for killing a goblin. Sorry, but that's just Monty-Haul lame to me.

Each to their own I guess. :D

[Closet_Skeleton]

I think I had 10-20 crit range once. with a great axe.

Impossible. Greataxe can only go up to 16-20/x4 if you're 7th level weaponmaster with Improved Crit and a Keen weapon. Rapier can get to 10-20 though.

[Penguinizer]

Then it was rapier, All the crit feats, keen, weapon master(19 levels). weapon specialization,all the weapon focus feats.

[Roderick_BR]

Let me guess, they don't use ILR either. No offense, but I can't stand servers like that, no challenge, no point in ever using lowbie or mid-grade gear, everybody running around with perma-haste & 9 different immunities, 500xp for killing a goblin. Sorry, but that's just Monty-Haul lame to me.

Each to their own I guess. :D
What is ILR again?
Don't worry, I don't like that kind of game too. As I said it's just for fun. You can get epic level in one weekend. That's more a PVP/Overpower server than a roleplayin one. That's why I'm thinking of joining that one posted here in the foruns.

[Jaysyn]

What is ILR again?
Don't worry, I don't like that kind of game too. As I said it's just for fun. You can get epic level in one weekend. That's more a PVP/Overpower server than a roleplayin one. That's why I'm thinking of joining that one posted here in the foruns.

Item Level Restriction. If it's off you can use a +8 Sword of Everything Slaying @ 1st level.

[Roderick_BR]

Ah. I think they don't. My friend said a 1st level char can use epic weapons without restrictions. I'm thinking about making a 1st level char with max equip sometime. My friend will help me switch equipment from one char to the other :p