I'm new, only played two different characters so far, and I always have to carry my party when it comes to combat. So I'm trying to build the best barbarian I can. I've read all the guides, power attack is the greatest thing ever, you must take beast totem, all of that kind of stuff. Is there anything I'm missing though? Anything super specific that'd put me over the edge in terms of whooping up on folks? He's going to be an orc and I'm either thinking of going TWF with the orc double axe or going two handed and taking ferocious action so he can fight until he drops dead. He's coming in at lvl 5 and we rolled for stats so he's got 22 (18+4) STR, 17 DEX, 18 (17+1 @ lvl 3) CON, 11 INT, 10 WIS, and 11 CHA. My dice loved me. So where do I go from here? Anything outside of the usual "use a two hander and always power attack" that's worked for anybody else? Any ways I'm not seeing to beef that up?
Ha! I like that last line. He's got ferocity and potentially ferocious action though, so he won't get knocked out if his HP goes negative. Might take raging vitality for the extra HP and to boost raging brutality if he lives that long though.
check out my tankbarian build for some ideas on a barbarian balancing power, utility, and sturdiness.
I almost might suggest going halforc rather than orc and taking the fate's favored trait. Yes you lose 2 points of strength and the orc ferocity.
You'll lose the ability to keep standing in the negatives. You'll gain an automatic +2 to all saves and the ability to never be caught without your armor because hey you can sleep in it. Oh and you'll gain 1 skill point/level, +1 to will and perception and for what its worth charisma will go up by one because you won't be taking those orc racial penalties anymore. That and you'll lose light sensitivity.
pair the trait with the jingasa of the fortunate soldier (head item) for +2 luck to AC, and the headband of fortune's favored (headband item) for +2 luck to all saves (luck bonuses stack, giving you +4 luck total to all saves before cloak or buffs).
the whole shebang works better on a destined bloodline bloodrager (as of the playtest, anyway)--they're dripping with luck bonuses, it's disgusting.
luck bonuses stack
Bonus (Luck)
A luck modifier represents good (or bad) fortune. Multiple luck bonuses on the same character or object do not stack. Only the highest luck bonus applies.
The site might be wrong but in my experience it seldom is.
I would go with a two-handed weapon and a bite attack (either through a feat or a rage power). Even being secondary it should be worth it.
The beast totem line doesn't do much good at first (you can't use the claws while wielding the weapon) so I'd not get it until you qualify for the other higher powers as well.
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...luck bonuses stack...
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My book say they dont.
Is this some sort of errata?
Good stuff. Been looking for that tank build since the first time I heard of it, so thanks for posting. I like the bite too. As far as light sensitivity goes, I'll just take day runner. Everybody else in my party almost exclusively uses ranged attacks, so it's not a big deal. Also, I don't think our DM allows traits. Even if he ok'd it, nobody else is using traits so it'd feel cheesy.
Get a reach weapon and Combat Reflexes to go with your bite attack. Now you can fish for AoO with your weapon and drop it to claw/claw/bite anyone who closes. If you are going to have claws, why not get some use out of them?
Reach weapon sounds like a good idea as well, and I'll need combat reflexes further on down the road for "come and get me" anyway. I figure I'll get plenty of use of the claws regardless though. Guard at the door of that nobles house says I can't bring my axe in? Fine. If I've got a bite to go with them I'll be a meat grinder even without a real weapon.
@my2copper and cap. darling: whoops, that's my mistake. sorry about that.