NEED some barbarian proficiency guidance

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I've decided to take 2* in katana, 2* in 2-weapon style, and I NEED more. I'll be taking Keldorn as my secondary fighter. NO: slings, crossbows, short swords, daggers, morning stars.

So any ideas?

 

Beeing proficient in a ranged weapon is always smart. I suggest a ** in axes, which comes in both melee and ranged types.

 

In my personal opinion the best weapon for the barbarian's off hand is the defender of easthaven.

Considering you use katana's for two weapon style, I'd suggest taking long swords as well. There aren't too many katana's but there is a variety of long swords so you should be just fine. A possible better choice for the off hand would be kundane or belm (short sword or scimitar) these weapons both add an extra attack which is neat because the off hand normally only gets 1 attack per round (now it'll be 2)

I have to disagree with Gladiator. When dual weilding you can't equip a ranged weapon, so don't specialize in them.

 

Actually I think axes would do well. As Gladiator said, throwing axes (especially ones that return to you) work well in ranged combat, despite lack of a another weapon. I suggest a * and another * in 2-weapon fighting.

On the other hand, it's good to get a blunt weapon, like StressedE suggested. Because Keldorn, your secondary warrior, will probably use swords, you need a bashing weapon against those annoying Clay Golems.

[ August 13, 2002, 23:02: Message edited by: C'Jakob ]

 

Axes fit the barbarian's characters the best, so I'd probably go with them. Honestly, there is only one good katana in the game, so you're going to want to find something else for your offhand.

 

Depends on the character's race. If he's dwarf, I'd say that you should drop the katana and take War Hammers instead, if he's human, I agree with the statements about Axe.

 

Can Barbys' do flails?

 

Well, I'm kinda speaking for the assassin here, but Barbarians can use any weapon (unless a magical weapon only usable by a certain class, like the Dwarven Thrower). But since flails share the morning star profiency, I don't think the assassin would be using them.

 

Well there aren't that many magic katanas, so I would rule that out. there are a hell of a lot more magical long swords that come in handy and are sold everyhwere. Though if you have a Barbarian why would he be attacking from far range. My barbarian is going to decimate his opposition by hacking them to death with maces, long swords, axes, morning stars and other blunt weapons.

 

How many proficiency points does the barbarian get by the end of the game? Are scimitars a good choice?

 

Are you trying to be Drizzt? Honestly, though, unless you do kill the drow, there's not enough good scimitars to compete with the other weapons mentioned on this thread.

 

How about Belm? Belm is an excellent off hand scimitar.

 

Belm is one sword. That's one good scimitar and lots of good other weapons. Besides, even Belm is crap later on in the game if he actually wants to do damage with it. If he's just taking it for the extra attack, then there's no point wasting proficiency slots on it.

 

Barbarian gets more than enough prof points. When dual weilding long swords I had so much choice I couldn't decide which ones to use anymore, so I don't see why he can't use belm.

 

The only reason I'm not recommending Belm for the endgame is because it's a +2 weapon. Many of the later creatures require a +3 to hit, so that would leave him with only his main hand. The main hand would have 4 attacks (I think) max with Belm. Unless Belm modifies the hand that it is in, in which case he'd have 3 attacks with the main and 3 attacks with a weapon that won't hurt the target. If he was dual wielding a pair of +3 weapons, he would have 5 attacks between them, and would do more damage. That seems the better choice to me.

[ August 21, 2002, 16:01: Message edited by: Rastor ]

 

The off hand only adds 1 extra attack, which is why I would really recommend either a weapon like the defender of easthaven or a weapon like belm for the off hand.

When dual weilding 2 +3 weapons he would have 4 attacks with a +3 weapon per round. When weilding a +3 weapon and Belm, he'd have 3 +3 attacks per round, and 2 +2 attacks.

Dual weilding +3 weapons would give him 4 attacks, not 5

 

First I'd like to clear up some confusion with the dual-wielding.

AFAIK you only get ONE attack with the offhand - either it gives an extra attack or not. So if you have Flail of Ages and Belm, you will have 3 +3 attacks and 1 +2 attack.

As for the proficiencies, I chose the following when I had a solo barbarian run:

respecting the order - ** Long Sword, *** Two Weapon, ** Flail, ** Hammer.

The order of changing weapons (main hand first):
1) +1 LSw, LSw
2) +2 Sleeper Flail, +1 Sw
3) +3 Flail of Ages, +2 Sleeper
4) +3 Flail of Ages, +2 Belm
5) +3 Flail of Ages, +2 Defender of Easthaven
6) +3 FLail of Ages, +5 Crom.

Flame Tongue, Daystar, Adjatha the Drinker, Dragonslyer are to be used when fighting appropriate enemies.

 

Must be another bug, because having 2 slots or more gives 3/2 attacks. I have dual-wielding characters with 5 attacks all the time, without Belm.

 

Getting back to Scimitars - remember that the Scimitar proficiency covers Wakazashis and Ninja-Tos, too. These are pretty rare, as well (decent ones, anyway), but they are out there.

As far as 5 attacks a round... I've never achieved it without an attack-increasing weapon, I don't think (eg, belm, or that ninja-to that Joluv sells). What level were you attaining 5 attacks at? Was this with boots of speed, as well?

I'm very close to certain that even if you wield Belm in your off hand, you get that extra attack. I'm not sure it's on that hand, either (which is nice, when it gives you an extra swing with Crom or Celestial Fury). I'll have to check this out again.

 

Rastor do you have any hacks or custom things installed? Like for example the hack which restores AD&D for weapon specialization?

[edit]See post below first, You are indeed correct. I study computer science and should know better. Shame on me [/edit]

[ August 24, 2002, 15:23: Message edited by: StressedE ]