Barbarian/Fighter build?

Brayf · 02-23-2005, 07:54 AM

First off, is a barbarian/fighter a pretty dumb idea? The concept I'm using is a barbarian who has been trained to fight "properly" (basically, like Wulfgar). Any advice on this character would be nice, or if anyone knows a good build I'd be interested.

Legolas · 02-23-2005, 08:43 AM

It's not a bad hybrid.
The barbarian gives you rage, greater rage at 15, some minor damage reduction, greater speed, better reflex saves vs traps, more hitpoints and a greater choice of skills as well as more skill points.
An epic barbarian is also interesting with regards to the improved rages that become available.
The fighter gives you a significantly greater amount of feats, and is only mildly inferior in the other fields. You'd take as many levels of this as you feel you would need to get the feats you want.

Brayf · 02-23-2005, 09:00 AM

Thanks, is there a list anywhere of how these classes advance (I'll check Neverwinter Vault now actually)? I don't have Acrobat Reader installed on the computer in my room (games computer, no net access) so I can't read the manual.

J'aran · 02-23-2005, 02:24 PM

Fighter 4/Barbarian x is a classic build. The four levels of fighter enable you to take Weapon Specialization and give you free Heavy Armor Proficiency and two bonus feats (not counting the one you'll spend on Weapon Specialization) while not hampering progress in the barbarian special abilities by a lot. You can add more fighter levels if you want more bonus feats.

Dace De'Briago · 02-23-2005, 11:58 PM

Are there any points in the game where alignment can change suitably to permit a Barbarian > Monk build?

Brayf · 02-24-2005, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by J'aran:
Fighter 4/Barbarian x is a classic build. The four levels of fighter enable you to take Weapon Specialization and give you free Heavy Armor Proficiency and two bonus feats (not counting the one you'll spend on Weapon Specialization) while not hampering progress in the barbarian special abilities by a lot. You can add more fighter levels if you want more bonus feats.

Thanks [img]smile.gif[/img]

And also, I wasn't aware that the above was possible [img]redface.gif[/img]

I'd like to know the same regarding a Bard/Paladin, please

[ 02-24-2005, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: Brayf ]

Legolas · 02-24-2005, 08:26 AM

Again, you'd want at least four levels in Paladin. That gives you an extra attack per round, as well as nearly all of the paladin class' main advantages. The fact that the Charisma attribute affects both the bard's spells and the paladin's saving throws (as well as some other abilities) is a nice bonus.

Since both classes have a slow spell progression you'll want to specialise in either one or the other rather than taking a bit of both. The best choice is probably the melee oriented bard, where the spells are used mostly to improve your attack and defence rather than to halt, charm or delay your opposition. You would be spending 16 points on CHA then and the rest on combat attributes.
Alternatively, you can invest heavily in CHA to improve your saving throws as well as raise the chances that the enemy fails saving throws against your disabling magics. This works particularly well with the sorcerer class rather than the bard class.

But, you have to remember that you cannot take bard levels with a lawful alignment, and you need to be lawful good to take paladin levels.

[ 02-24-2005, 08:27 AM: Message edited by: Legolas ]

ZFR · 02-24-2005, 10:23 AM

I have one more question regarding Fighter/Barbarian. If the fighter gives the free heavy armor feat, does the barbarian still have the extra speed while wearing heavy armor.
I remember in IWD 2 (3E rules) I gave my barabarian the heavy armor proficiency (not from fighter though, I just gave it to him at level 1). While he no longer got any penalties from using the heavy armor, he couldnt use his faster speed while wearing it.
How is it in NWN?

Legolas · 02-24-2005, 11:02 AM

He'll still keep the speed. Unless his strength is too low and the heavy platemail causes encumberance, in which case he'll have to walk. All the same, he'll walk faster than others also walking.

deadmoney · 03-01-2005, 11:12 AM

Hey, just been reading this topic and wanted to know what all of you thought about a barbarian/fighter/weapon master? Maybe 25/5/10 or so? Keep the extra fighter level for epic weapon specialization? If this is a good idea, how would you advance it? Thanks a lot.

02-24-2005, 10:23 AM	#8
ZFR Legion Symbol Join Date: February 14, 2002 Location: Ireland Age: 40 Posts: 7,368	I have one more question regarding Fighter/Barbarian. If the fighter gives the free heavy armor feat, does the barbarian still have the extra speed while wearing heavy armor. I remember in IWD 2 (3E rules) I gave my barabarian the heavy armor proficiency (not from fighter though, I just gave it to him at level 1). While he no longer got any penalties from using the heavy armor, he couldnt use his faster speed while wearing it. How is it in NWN? __________________ ZFR

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02-23-2005, 07:54 AM	#1
Brayf Zhentarim Guard Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Candlekeep Age: 38 Posts: 372	First off, is a barbarian/fighter a pretty dumb idea? The concept I'm using is a barbarian who has been trained to fight "properly" (basically, like Wulfgar). Any advice on this character would be nice, or if anyone knows a good build I'd be interested.

02-23-2005, 08:43 AM	#2
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 40 Posts: 5,459	It's not a bad hybrid. The barbarian gives you rage, greater rage at 15, some minor damage reduction, greater speed, better reflex saves vs traps, more hitpoints and a greater choice of skills as well as more skill points. An epic barbarian is also interesting with regards to the improved rages that become available. The fighter gives you a significantly greater amount of feats, and is only mildly inferior in the other fields. You'd take as many levels of this as you feel you would need to get the feats you want.

02-23-2005, 09:00 AM	#3
Brayf Zhentarim Guard Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Candlekeep Age: 38 Posts: 372	Thanks, is there a list anywhere of how these classes advance (I'll check Neverwinter Vault now actually)? I don't have Acrobat Reader installed on the computer in my room (games computer, no net access) so I can't read the manual.

02-23-2005, 02:24 PM	#4
J'aran Mephistopheles Join Date: December 12, 2001 Location: Fryslân, The Netherlands Age: 45 Posts: 1,493	Fighter 4/Barbarian x is a classic build. The four levels of fighter enable you to take Weapon Specialization and give you free Heavy Armor Proficiency and two bonus feats (not counting the one you'll spend on Weapon Specialization) while not hampering progress in the barbarian special abilities by a lot. You can add more fighter levels if you want more bonus feats.

02-23-2005, 11:58 PM	#5
Dace De'Briago Silver Dragon Join Date: December 28, 2002 Location: Wales Age: 44 Posts: 1,617	Are there any points in the game where alignment can change suitably to permit a Barbarian > Monk build?

02-24-2005, 08:26 AM	#7
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 40 Posts: 5,459	Again, you'd want at least four levels in Paladin. That gives you an extra attack per round, as well as nearly all of the paladin class' main advantages. The fact that the Charisma attribute affects both the bard's spells and the paladin's saving throws (as well as some other abilities) is a nice bonus. Since both classes have a slow spell progression you'll want to specialise in either one or the other rather than taking a bit of both. The best choice is probably the melee oriented bard, where the spells are used mostly to improve your attack and defence rather than to halt, charm or delay your opposition. You would be spending 16 points on CHA then and the rest on combat attributes. Alternatively, you can invest heavily in CHA to improve your saving throws as well as raise the chances that the enemy fails saving throws against your disabling magics. This works particularly well with the sorcerer class rather than the bard class. But, you have to remember that you cannot take bard levels with a lawful alignment, and you need to be lawful good to take paladin levels. [ 02-24-2005, 08:27 AM: Message edited by: Legolas ]

02-24-2005, 11:02 AM	#9
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 40 Posts: 5,459	He'll still keep the speed. Unless his strength is too low and the heavy platemail causes encumberance, in which case he'll have to walk. All the same, he'll walk faster than others also walking.

03-01-2005, 11:12 AM	#10
deadmoney Dungeon Master Join Date: July 30, 2004 Location: Indiana Age: 51 Posts: 66	Hey, just been reading this topic and wanted to know what all of you thought about a barbarian/fighter/weapon master? Maybe 25/5/10 or so? Keep the extra fighter level for epic weapon specialization? If this is a good idea, how would you advance it? Thanks a lot.

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