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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 1:00AM
#51
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Date Joined:
Oct 28, 2010
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The potential racial pigeonholing I can see as an issue, but that's much more of an endemic 4e issue than anything specific to the Berserker. I don't see it as a massive problem, however, since half-orcs have some solid support available for both roles.
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Is Str/Dex really that massive? I can see some arguments for the Mul. You lose 1 AC and Ref but gain 2 surges and Incredible Toughness. You also gain access to Legacy of Stone which mitigates the problems of forced movement for the Defender Aura somewhat. There's also all the additional Dwarven feat support (Dwarven Durability by boosting your healing surge value interacts well with Berserk Vitality and the Paragon Path utility power.) Seems competetive if you want to focus more on the defending side of the equation.
It's probably the optimum choice for the class, but no, it's not completely necessary. I'd be perfectly happy to play a STR/X (probably CON, WIS or CHA) Berserker, with an 18/14 or 18/13 array. The amount of C boosts available make them more than viable.
sicari: no, Hammer Hands is a pure free-action push 1 after the hit. Nothing else.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 1:12AM
#52
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If you want to be a good defender, you really need your AC as high as you can get it.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 1:16AM
#53
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Date Joined:
Jul 27, 2009
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As long as you get the STR bump, you can get 16 out of your Dex. (A solid +3)
A Dragon born would make a good Berserker I think. 18,11,16,8,10,15. (shore up your will defense pretty nicely.) A bit more of a modest to hit, but still good. Arid Desert Berserker would have 20/18 with the right feat, as well as the Dragon Born support
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 1:22AM
#54
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Date Joined:
Oct 28, 2010
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If you want to be a good defender, you really need your AC as high as you can get it.
Debatable, to an extent. You can have an AC that's too high as a defender, if you're not careful - if you are so tough that it becomes completely worthless to even try wailing on you, things are going to ignore your punishments as best they can and smack your squishies anyway, because they're easier to hit even with your aura giving a -2.
This does let you get in plenty of punishments, but it also lets the mobs get in plenty of hits on your squishies.
However, I don't think the Berserker ascends to those heights without some heavy investment (notably, the Arid Desert/Unarmoured Agility/TWD/Rhythm Blade combo, giving you stupendous AC and strong reflex as well, on an 18/18 character)
Yep Dragonborns are going to be solid - particularly if you take Berserk Vitality to shore you up once you Fury, because the D'born's extra urge value can really help. Would require some more points in CON though..
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 1:22AM
#55
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sicari: no, Hammer Hands is a pure free-action push 1 after the hit. Nothing else.
Actually, no, it lets you shift the same distance you pushed them if you don't mind ending adjacent.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 1:23AM
#56
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Date Joined:
Jul 27, 2009
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Oh my Gods i actually do have a complaint about the Berserker. The Heartland options are kinda lame.
I really like the Arid, but Temperate and Cold.... the resistence and shored up nats are nice for the cold berserker, and the spare damage for the Temperate would be nice.... but it would have been nicer if they didnt cut off access to 2 handed weapons in exchange for the good AC...
Hopefully we will see some more Heartlands that offer us some more interesting support.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 1:28AM
#57
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Date Joined:
Jul 27, 2009
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If you want to be a good defender, you really need your AC as high as you can get it.
Debatable, to an extent. You can have an AC that's too high as a defender, if you're not careful - if you are so tough that it becomes completely worthless to even try wailing on you, things are going to ignore your punishments as best they can and smack your squishies anyway, because they're easier to hit even with your aura giving a -2.
This does let you get in plenty of punishments, but it also lets the mobs get in plenty of hits on your squishies.
However, I don't think the Berserker ascends to those heights without some heavy investment (notably, the Arid Desert/Unarmoured Agility/TWD/Rhythm Blade combo, giving you stupendous AC and strong reflex as well, on an 18/18 character)
Yep Dragonborns are going to be solid - particularly if you take Berserk Vitality to shore you up once you Fury, because the D'born's extra urge value can really help. Would require some more points in CON though..
The negative 2 will still be about a 10% reduction in their chance to hit. And the Punishment will get to be to burdensome to handle. The point I am worried about is when my Dm realizes that the normal oppertunity attack will deal less damage
TWD/Rhythm Blade combo?
And you could always abandon the Cha and put it into Con. Make Cha your 8 score and you should get up to 14 Con I think. It's late I'm not going to bring up my char builder. =P
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 1:54AM
#58
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Date Joined:
Oct 28, 2010
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Erachima: been a while since I looked at the stance - it's just not that strong, even with the follow up.
Drag: twd is two weapon defence, which gives you a shield bonus without a shield. Rhythm blade increases that. It's very feat intensive though.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 2:06AM
#59
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Date Joined:
Apr 14, 2010
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Drag: twd is two weapon defence, which gives you a shield bonus without a shield. Rhythm blade increases that. It's very feat intensive though.
You can get 29 AC by level 6 this way:
Basic: 10
Poised Defender: 2
Arid Desert: 3
Dex: 4
Unarmored Agility: 2
Two Weapon Defense: 1
Parrying Rhythm Dagger: 2
Magic cloth armor: 2
Level: 3
Total: 29
That means same-level enemies need to roll 18 or higher to hit you. But as someone mentioned earlier, by now it's more profitable for monsters to just take the mark punishment and the -2 to hit squishies, instead of trying to hit you.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 17, 2011 - 3:20AM
#60
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2008
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Mrph. I know it just came out, but it really needs some support, quick. I know they gave a martial and primal power at every level so you could play it without any other books, but since it can use all the old barbarian powers, it really needs a bunch of martial ones. There's just no choices if you want to focus on your defender side more.
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