Barb / Fighter: Torn between Stats

[DonKalleOne]

Hello,
I want to build a Dwarven BArb/Fighter with a Breastplate and Klar/Earthbreaker (Thunder and Fang Feat).

But im Torn with between Stats:

General Information I only need 17 Dex before LvL 11 For TW Rend.

First one

16/15/16/10/10/8

@LvL4 I would get 1 Point to DEX for better AC and Initiative.

Second one

17/15/14/10/10/8

@LvL4 1 Point into Strength for better Hit and Dmg

Both have its Positives. Either Defensive with Higher Hp/AC/Ini, The other has Highter Str and so Hits better and does More DMG.

What would you prefer?

[DM_Blake]

Better offense. Always.

If you kill the monsters faster, they do less damage to you so you don't need more AC/HP to survive damage they're not doing (because they're dead).

On the other hand, if you improve your defenses instead of offense, it will take you longer to kill the monsters, so they live longer and attack you more, which means you NEED those defenses to survive.

Either way it works out, if done right, but the latter version means every fight takes longer, you need more healing between encounters, and you spend less time exploring and adventuring because you spend more time rolling dice in longer battles.

In the long run, offense always pays off better than defense.

[RaizielDragon]

You said you need 17 Dex by level 11, so you have to put your 4th level and 8th level point into Dex if you start with a 15, so you can't put 1 into Str at 4th.

With that in mind, looks like you are basically trying to choose between 16Str/16Con and 17Str/14Con. I'd go with the second one personally; You'll have 3 more stat bumps on your way to 20th (after using 2 to get Dex to 17), so that will even Str out to 20 by then; plus whatever bonuses you have to Str by then. I like even numbers when it comes to ability scores (though an odd Con score can matter for negative hit points for death, and an odd Str score can matter for carrying capacity).

[DonKalleOne]

I wanted to get Dex 17 by Lvl 12 it was a Typo.

[lemeres]

Little need for 16 con- it is a minor boost to health, and only gives +1 rage round (even the trait, which is called a 'half feat', that gives extra rage rounds gives +3- 1 is not worth it).

I might bump dex to 16 instead of bumping str. Ignoring the fact that you can actually immediately feel the move from 15 to 16 dex as compared to 16 to 17 str, this is a simple 'qualifying for TWF feats' thing: it is easier to get to 17 dex if you start at 16.

Just put your 4th level ability score increase into it, and then ignore it forever. So a slight delay in str progression, but then you don't have to spend any resources on dex at all after level 4. So less pain in the long run than trying to scrounge up 2 dex.

So suggested stats:
STR: 16 DEX: 16 CON: 14 INT: 10 WIS: 10 CHA: 8

Sidenote: are you regular barbarian, or unchained? Has an actual effect- regular barb is better for your 2 handing, but unchained is better for your TWF (since it is a straight bonus to attack/damage, rather than a stat boost)

[DonKalleOne]

CAn choose either : Unchained or Regular

[Ryan Freire]

Unchained is better for a TWF barbarian, the damage boosts carry over in their entirety to off hand, and accurate stance helps with TWF to hit penalty.

[Aelryinth]

Dude, get the extra Dex from a belt, and focus on your strength. Magic items count as permanent add-ons for feats.

So, you should have no problem having a belt of +4 str, +2 dex at level 12.

Str all the way with level points.

==Aelryinth