I've logged in a few times recently and found that the sever is puttting me into a party.

Is this deliberate or perhaps the server throwing a wobbley.

Nice one Roddybug. I logged in today, got added to your party and saw you hacking your way through the Proving Grounds without getting too much damage

I've noticed that from time to time as well, it's pretty easy to change it to all one party though, and in the past, this is what has happened.

I noticed you there too Greything but I was a bit distracted to say hello at the time! Sorry about that. I was just visiting the proving grounds before they become difficult to reach for quite a while. Toro hasn't been there for months and my other recent attempt was brief, to say the least - "ow, ow, splat" a few times before I ran for it.

Yeah when Z resets the server sometimes it automatically sets itself to 1 party mode.

Hey Greything? You log on as "greygrey" right? I've seen some of your builds and they have not been doing too badly for themselves, either. My Level 40 Barbarian can't even attempt the Proving Grounds. *cries* I'll have to start again with a Barbarian/Weaponmaster or Fighter/Weaponmaster build. There HAS to be a way to make a competant barbarian slayer for this server...

Hi Mozenwrathe. Good to see you in the proving grounds the other day.

If the log in name has got a grey in it then it's probably me.

Barbarians get big HP but that's not so good when the Drow in the Proving Grounds are taking chunks and taking them often. Took me ages to understand that.

I hope it's not a spoiler if I suggest your barbarians take Heavy Armour as a feat. That way you get access to the best protection in Undermountain (at least until we see what's in the new hakpak). If you want to get through without magic then Weaponmaster is good with its critical spread. You will still need to make sure your build has a high AB to be sure of hitting those Proving Grounds Drow (especially Democ - as someone else said, he has an insane regeneration rate).

Thanks for the advice, Greything! I was thinking for the barbarian to try a Bar/WM (as I posted elsewhere already), but if I am going that route, would I really need much in the way of Dexterity? I mean, if I am going to be capped by the armor anyway, I might as well through it all into Strength, leaving Dexterity and Intelligence around 13. With the UltraTankArmor (you know the ones), it caps my Dexterity bonus to +1 anyway, so I am better off getting more in the way of Constitution and Strength to give me more to work with and a better chance to beatdown. And wouldn't taking WeaponMaster (if I go that route) automatically give me Heavy Armor capability?

*briefly ponders a Barbarian Blackguard combination...*

For a barb, you want high str/const anyway, for some of the epic rages, it will be required. Weapon masters gain no additional proficiencies, so I'd say no to the free heavy armor feat.

I am going to have to go and hunt down my manual for this game, or look for one online. That way I can plan out the character from first level. I need to find out what attributes I can leave behind and which ones I need to sit at least around 13 to 15 in order to even qualify for the feats required to build up a proper war machine, barbarian style that is.

Mozenwrathe, try the Neverwinter grimoire . It is more bug-free than the Official Bioware Manual.