Compendium - Classes and Races - Barbarian
Contents
Introduction
With a fierce war cry the barbarian charges into battle! The more monsters, the better!
Playing difficulty
The Barbarian is appropriate for beginners.
Description
Still missing
Facts about the class
Class Bonuses
Strength | +2 |
Constitution | +2 |
Hitpoints | +40% |
Reaction | +1 |
Mana Points | +1 |
List of Skills
Attack Skills
Axemanship (primary skill; available as of level 1)
Use Throwing Weapons (primary skill; available as of level 2)
Brawling (secondary skill; available as of level 2)
Swordsmanship (secondary skill; available as of level 5)
Crushing Weapons (secondary skill; available as of level 5)
Double Strike (primary skill; available as of level 8)
Use Polearms (exceptional skill; available as of level 13)
Roundhouse (primary skill; available as of level 14)
Degradation Skills
Battle Cry (primary skill; available as of level 3)
Amulet of Weakness (exceptional skill; available as of level 14)
Parry Skills
Dodge Blow (primary skill; available as of level 1)
Use Shield (secondary skill; available as of level 9)
Dodge Missile (secondary skill; available as of level 10)
Resist Magic (exceptional skill; available as of level 19)
Oxen Stubbornness (exceptional skill; available as of level 20)
Improvement Skills
Drink (secondary skill; available as of level 2)
Reaction (secondary skill; available as of level 3)
Toughness of Wood (primary skill; available as of level 4)
Toughness of Stone (primary skill; available as of level 4)
Raging Boar (primary skill; available as of level 6)
Smash (secondary skill; available as of level 7)
Change of Tactics (secondary skill; available as of level 8)
Amulet of Power (exceptional skill; available as of level 8)
Toughness of Ice (primary skill; available as of level 9)
Feign Attack (exceptional skill; available as of level 10)
Acrobatics (exceptional skill; available as of level 11)
Skin of wood (secondary skill; available as of level 12)
Stoneskin (secondary skill; available as of level 15)
Strength of the bear (exceptional skill; available as of level 16)
Iron Skin (secondary skill; available as of level 17)
Obsidian Skin (exceptional skill; available as of level 18)
Troll toughness (exceptional skill; available as of level 19)
Resist Poison (exceptional skill; available as of level 21)
Burst of Speed (exceptional skill; available as of level 22)
War dance (secondary skill; available as of level 24)
Healing Skills
Drink Healing Potion (exceptional skill; available as of level 1)
Drink Mana Potion (exceptional skill; available as of level 1)
Initiative Skills
Berserker (exceptional skill; available as of level 6)
Talents
Master of the herd
The protectors of the herd protects their people. Their defense seems nearly supernatural and most throwing weapons become deadly projectiles in their hands.
Talent: Steadfast (available as of level 23)
Talent: Deadly Precision (throwing weapons) (available as of level 26)
Talent: Planning (available as of level 29)
Warrior of Barbroxu
A Warrior of Barbroxu cherishes their weapon above all other earthly goods. Only through battle can they quench their anger and grow in reputation. No one stands in the way of one of these warriors willingly.
Talent: Choleric (available as of level 23)
Talent: Musclebound (available as of level 26)
Talent: Axe Master (available as of level 29)
Embodiment of Vitality
Over the years, this barbarian has become the Embodiment of Vitality. Their movement is so agile that others among them are often amazed and unable to imitate them. Their wounds heal faster and their commanding presence has been known to cause enemies to flee at the mere sight of them.
Talent: Clown (available as of level 23)
Talent: Enrapture (available as of level 26)
Talent: Blademaster (available as of level 29)
Main class orientations
This is supposed to be a guide, that separates the Barbarian into the four main ways of playing and explains where to pay special attention to. It's not meant to be the ultimate guide or the one and only way to play a Barbarian, depending on the group you are in other things may be important! A mixture of the four ways is just as possible.
There is no wrong way, just another, and all can be successful.
The Tank
A tank is the backbone of his group. If he falls, normally the whole group falls. So your primary goal is to keep standing on your feet by all means. The group must provide sufficient healing and pushes that increase the parries.
The Thrower
Basicly there are 2 ways to play a throwing weapons Barb. A defensive one, especially suited for the first 10 levels and an offensive one that is more useful in the later levels.
The Rager
A rage barbarian can contribute, if good skilled, a large part to the successful existence of a group. He is great in dealing extremely high damage, but has no acceptable parry and depends on his group, since it must support him with healing and a little mana. But he is also a very fearsome opponent in duels, since he is able to defeat many of his duel opponents by his number of actions within the first or second round.
The Roundhouse
A Barbarian using Roundhouse has a huge potential, but also needs a lot of support and can only be successful with the appropriate group. He is capable of attacking many opponents at at once and, with the proper support, deal a lot of damage. For duels he is totally useless though, just because of his dependence on support. The advantage of Roundhouse is, you can do different types of damage quite inexpensive, 'cause axes, swords, crushing weapons as well as polearms can be used with this skill. You only have to fulfill the requirements for that weapon.
Detailed information on the orientations
The Tank
Description
A tank is the backbone of his group. If he falls, normally the whole group falls. So your primary goal is to keep standing on your feet by all means. The group must provide sufficient healing and pushes that increase the parries.
Melee defense (Dodge Blow): | 2 x Dexterity + Agility + 2 x Dodge Blow |
Ranged defense (Dodge Missile) | 2 x Agility + Perception + 2 x Dodge Missile |
Magic defense (Magic Resistance): | 2 x Willpower + Intelligence + 2 x Magic Resistance |
Social defense (Oxen Stubbornness: | 2 x Willpower + Charisma + 2 x Oxen Stubbornness |
Be aware that parries for magic and social attacks are not available before level 19 and 20 and they are exceptional skills, so they get expensive fast. Without support from the group one will not really be able to block in those disciplines. Though the parry for ranged combat is only a secondary skill, it's possible to make a decent throw with the help of attributes.
As a matter of principle... if you don't accomplish to parry an attack, you should manage to stay in a range where you have enough armour to get over it, which means to avoid good and critical hits. The group should definitly support you concerning social parries. Here it doesn't matter how the enemy hits you, once he hits you, the mali are upon you, which means a deduction of parry in most cases. As blocker you should also have a lot of healthpoints, in case you get hit several times in a row. If a parry skill isn't available, the standard parry is used.
Advantages / Disadvantages
Advantages:
- you protect the group
- not too timeconsuming
Disadvantages:
- hardly any offensive capabilities
- you have to take many blows, your equipment as well...
Suggested Races
Every class can be played with every race, but some races are better suited for a Tank than others.
Mag-Mor Elf
???
- melee +1 +20% of level <<< not really important, but nice to have
- no mali on parry <<< is always a good thing
- bonus on agility and perception <<< improves melee and range parry
- Perfect Sight <<< gives +1 perception at rank 6
- Sixth Sense <<< improves trap parry
- malus on constitution and hitpoints(-10%) <<< typical elf, low hitpoints
Hill-Dwarves
???
- bonus on strength and constitution <<< more hitpoints, always good
- hitpoints +5% <<< even more hitpoints
- malus on agility <<< worsens melee and range parry
- ranged combat +1+20% of level <<< improves range parry
- magic +2+25% of level <<< improves magic parry
- Health <<< improves disease parry
- Indifference <<< improves social parry
- Sixth Sense <<< improves trap parry
- Toughness <<< more hitpoints
- Mineralogy <<< more pushes by minerals
Mountain-Dwarves
???
- bonus on willpower <<< increases magic and social parry
- bonus on constitution and hitpoints(+5%) <<< bonus on hitpoints, disease
- malus on charisma <<< lowers social parry, more difficult to wear helions
- ranged +1+20% of level <<< increases range parry
- magic +2+25% of level <<< increases magic parry
- Trollblood <<< increase in steps of 3, adds to hitpoint regeneration
- Indifference <<< improves social parry
- Toughness <<< increases hitpoints
- Naturalist <<< improves nature parry
- Mineralogy <<< more pushes by minerals
Halfling
???
- bonus on dexterity and charisma <<< increases melee and social parry
- malus on strength and hitpoints(-5%)<<< less hitpoints
- ranged combat +2+25% of level <<< improves range parry
- magic +1+20% of level <<< improves magic parry
- social -2-25% of level <<< improves social parry
- Health <<< improves disease parry
- Sixth Sense <<< improves trap parry
- Undertall <<< improves range parry
Halfling
???
- bonus on strength and intelligence <<< strength increases hitpoints
- malus on perception <<< lowers range parry
- malus on hitpoints(-5%) <<< less hitpoints
- magic +2+25% of level <<< increases magic parry
- ranged combat +1+20% of level <<< increases range parry
- melee -1-20% of level <<< lowers close combat parry, can be compensated
- Indifference <<< improves social parry
- Naturalist <<< improves nature parry
- Undertall <<< improves range parry
- Stubborn <<< improves magic and social parry
- Blessing of Fire <<< using that increases dexterity, agility and melee parry, but you'll lose some hitpoints, though that shouldn't matter much (needs expendables)
Attributes
Strength: | for HP and requirements. |
Constitution: | for HP, disease defense and requirements. |
Intelligence: | for item requirements. |
Dexterity: | most important Attribute for melee defense. |
Charisma: | for item requirements. |
Agility: | main attribute for ranged defense, second attribute for melee defense. Possibly skill even higher than Dexterity. |
Perception: | secondary attribute for ranged defense. |
Willpower: | for social and magical defense. |
Note - if it costs less than primary roll attributes, you should raise the secondary ones 2 times, so the roll gain is the same.
Skills
Dodge Blow | as high that you won't get hit (consider attribute costs) |
Dodge Missile | as high as possible (consider attribute costs) |
Magic Resistance | later goal should be at least rank 10 |
Oxen Stubbornness | later goal should be at least rank 10 |
Brawling | increase to 6, when Dodge Blow is at rank 13 |
Axemanship | increase for item requirements (Same with Crushing Weapons or Swordsmanship depending on the weapons you use) |
Acrobatics | at least rank 1 (rank 10 is advisable later on, when costs for DB and DM are too high), but better rank 4 or rank 8 and use it in preliminary round |
Eagle-Eye | perception boost. |
Use Throwing Weapons | nice additional debuff with poisoned weapons. |
Reaction | for additional actions. |
Skin of wood, Stoneskin, Ironskin may be increased, but it's not necessary, higher than rank 4 is not recommendable. That goes for Obsidian Skin as well, higher than rank 3 is not advisable.
If your group supports you with sufficient mana, you can also increase Battle Cry. Thereby you lower your opponents attack, which is the same as a higher parry.
Talents
???
Items
Chestplate of Barbroxu (rune of evasion)
Bracers of Barbroxu (rune of evasion)
Splints of Barbroxu (rune of evasion)
Improved orcish boots of dexterity (Attention! Orcish armor gives mali to social and magic parry)
Gloves of dexterity
Breastplate of Anon
Kromms Helm
Basicly all items that add agility and dexterity
Groucho-Marx-Mask
Boots of agility
Items of vitality
Helions amulet of minor healing or Helions amulet of healing
One sided comb
Concerning medals, you're best suited with the best oak leaf and two shamrocks
A loincloth made of orc skin or buckskin in any variant is highly recommended
Regarding your weapons, observe that they don't have a malus on parry, like e.g. the War Axe. Instead take a weapon without parry malus, like e.g. the Broad Axe. The weapon should have the suffix "of nimbleness" or "of dexterity" and the prefix "quartz". Of course the same is true of swords and crushing weapons, here you'll have a wider variety of choice. In the left hand you should carry a shield, a hand axe of dexterity/nimbleness or a brawling item. The shield increases your armor and adds to your ranged defense (Attention! You keep on blocking using DB), while the Brawling item lowers the cost for Brawling and they are available with suffix like "of agility" or "of dexterity" as well, e.g. cloth strips of agility. The hand axe provides bonus on attributes as well. If you've chosen one of the dwarven races (more later on), you have the ability to use minerals. Recommendable are small gwindle, small topaz and small elbait, later on the large variants of course.
The Thrower
Description
Basicly there are 2 ways to play a throwing weapons Barb. A defensive one, especially suited for the first 10 levels and an offensive one that is more useful in the later levels.
Advantages / Disadvantages
Advantages:
- Ranged attacks, where most monsters and heroes, except archer etc. have a significantly lower parry against
- You can without reskilling deliver cutting, piercing and crushing damage. No other skill can do that!
- Choose your target freely
- High initiative
Disadvantages:
- Less HP in comparison to other Barbarians, conditioned by choice of race and attributes
- Less damage in comparison to other Barbarians, at least until you get the gift of deadly precision (throwing weapons)
- Less possibilities to push the own attack and defense
- No mass-attacks
Suggested Races
Every class can be played with every race, but some races are better suited for a Support-Hunter than others.
Attributes
Dexterity <<< very high, it's a primary attribute
Agility <<< pretty high as well, it's a secondary attribute and increases initiative
Willpower <<< pretty high, gives you the needed mana
Strength <<< increase for hitpoints
Constitution <<< increase for hitpoints
Perception <<< increase a bit for intiative (secondary)
Intelligence <<< increase a bit for more mana
Remaining <<< for item requirements
Skills
Throwing Weapons <<< pretty high Dodge Blow <<< so high that you don't get hit Dodge Missile <<< so high that you don't get hit Oxen Stubbornness <<< later rank 10 is recommended Magic Resistance <<< later rank 10 is recommended Strength of the bear <<< increase in steps of 2 Burst of Speed <<< increase in steps of 2, use in preround Berserker <<< increase and use for better initiative Reaction <<< increase to rank 9 to get an additional action
Talents
Items
Chestplate of Barbroxu (rune of agility) Bracers of Barbroxu (rune of agility) Splints of Barbroxu (rune of agility) ? Klingenspringer-Faltenrock Gloves of Dexterity Chestplate of Anon Kromms Helm Tanaras bandana Boots of agility In general, all items that increase agility and dexterity
Equip a one handed axe (broad axe, dwarven axe) of nimbleness in your right hand. Important is that it doesn't have any malus on parrying. In your left hand a hand axe of nimbleness is recommended.
?? Items ... des meisterlichen Messerwerfers wie z.B. Guter Talisman des meisterlichen Messerwerfers
The Rager
Description
The rage barbarian has above all one: a lot of actions He attacks only with Axemanship and so he is doing a lot of damage with every hit. Raging Boar works in the preround and gives him even more actions. You should wear only as much rage items as your support can counter the deduction of hitpoints, so if you run out of hitpoints, better take off one or two items. Because Raging Boar lowers your attack and defense parries, you shouldn`t even bother spending some points in them, better stand in the center or back.
Advantages / Disadvantages
Advantages:
* many actions * extremely high damage to a single opponent * parries can be resetted â more xp for other skills * good duel abilities
Disadvantages:
* needs intensive support * no parry
Suggested Races
Every race can be played with every race, but some races are better suited for a Support-Hunter than others.
Attributes
Dexterity: | pretty high as well, primary for melee parry, secondary for attack. |
Agility: | very high, primary for attack, range parry, initiative, secondary for melee parry. |
Perception: | increase for more damage, secondary for initiative and range parry. |
Strength: | hitpoints and damage (secondary attribute). |
Constitution: | for HP and item requirements. |
Remaining: | for item requirements. |
Note - if it costs less than primary roll attributes, you should raise the secondary ones 2 times, so the roll gain is the same.
Skills
Throwing Weapons | your main attack skill |
Dodge Blow | high enough so you won't get hit |
Dodge Missile | high enough so you won't get hit |
Magic Resistance | later goal should be about rank 10 |
Oxen Stubbornness | later goal should be about rank 10 |
Strength of the bear | increase in steps of 2 |
Burst of Speed | increase in steps of 2, use in preround. |
Berserker | increase and use for better initiative. |
Reaction | increase to rank 9 to get an additional action. |
Talents
Items
Chestplate of Barbroxu (rune of agility) Bracers of Barbroxu (rune of agility) Splints of Barbroxu (rune of agility) ? Klingenspringer-Faltenrock Gloves of Dexterity Chestplate of Anon Kromms Helm Tanaras bandana Boots of agility In general, all items that increase agility and dexterity
Equip a one handed axe (broad axe, dwarven axe) of nimbleness in your right hand. Important is that it doesn't have any malus on parrying. In your left hand a hand axe of nimbleness is recommended.
?? Items ... des meisterlichen Messerwerfers wie z.B. Guter Talisman des meisterlichen Messerwerfers
Throwing Weapons:
Discus & throwing axes belong to the best throwing weapons, whereas the discus is the better one of the two. Later on, one should put the ? Klingenspeer into the pocket.
A bola is useful as well, 'cause of the mali on the enemies which effect them at once. Especially the bola of accuracy is advisable.
Uniques: ? Hariettas Wurfaxt der Zauberbannung ? Eisklinge des Meuchelmörders
Both have high damage and mali for the enemy, whereas hariettas mali are only interesting for mages. Both have high fame requirements though.
As belt you should wear your trusted loincloth, e.g. good loincloth (orc skin)
Rings of dexterity, strength, agility and perception (or others) are always a good thing to have, the higher the bonus the better.
Around your neck a Helions amulet of minor healing is recommended, or in case of lack of mana a Helion of regeneration. Later on, the bigger variants are getting interesting.
The Roundhouse
Description
In general there are three main ways:
1. Roundhouse with standard two actions (plus possible boni from items without mali) - only useful if you lack mana or you are a blocker actually. Because of the same primary attributes quite achievable.
2. Roundhouse in combination with a Rager, by items with the curse of rage (e.g. leather bracers with the curse of rage). That grants you many actions, but permanent mali on parries and negative hitpoints regeneration as well. The requirements of willpower don't hurt, 'cause willpower increases mana and damage.
3. Roundhouse with many actions by Raging Boar, principally like the 2nd, without the negative hitpoints regeneration. The mali on parries can be circumvented if required, by just not using Raging Boar. Beware: very mana intensive, but it's absolutely possible to get six actions and to maintain that during the whole dungeon, with only some dropouts.
Advantages / Disadvantages
Advantage:
* attack many opponents at once * inexpensive change of damage types
Disadvantages:
* needs a lot of support * useless in duels * less damage without support
Suggested Races
Every race can be played with every racce, but some races are better suited for a Support-Hunter than others.
Attributes
Attributes:
Dexterity <<< very high, it's a primary attribute Agility <<< pretty high as well, it's a secondary attribute and increases initiative Willpower <<< pretty high, gives you the needed mana Strength <<< increase for hitpoints Constitution <<< increase for hitpoints Perception <<< increase a bit for intiative (secondary) Intelligence <<< increase a bit for more mana Remaining <<< for item requirements
Skills
Skills:
Roundhouse <<< as high as your mana support can maintain Double Strike <<< increase in steps of 4, increases Roundhouse possibly Raging Boar <<< raise to rank 1, 10 or 20 and the actual weapon skill to fulfill item requirements Parries (Dodge Blow, Dodge Missile) are an issue for disputes. With items of rage it's pretty pointless skilling these, with Raging Boar you should have them up to an acceptable rank. The other parries like Oxen Stubbornness and Magic Resistance should be skilled by all means, rank 10 is advisable on the long run.
Supporting skills are: Throwing Weapons Battle Cry Berserker Feint or Feign Attack
Useful are as well: Mystic Trollblood (restricted to several races)
Talents
Items
chestplate of Barbroxu (rune of dexterity) bracers of Barbroxu (rune of dexterity) splints of Barbroxu (rune of dexterity) chestplate of Barbroxu (rune of agility) bracers of Barbroxu (rune of agility) splints of Barbroxu (rune of agility) improved orcish boots of dexterity (beware, orcish armor has mali on social and magic parry) gloves of dexterity chestplate of Anon Kromms helm boots of speed basically all items that increase agility and dexterity
Items with mana regeneration:
loincloth (linen) in every variation bronze bracers of Moak Helions amulet of minor regeneration & Helions amulet of greater regeneration ? Smaragdsplitter-Sachen ? Steinstatue der Schlange perfect magical items, e.g. perfect talisman of battle cry ? Orden der Schlacht bei Kargash Peak warpaint of Barbroxu (red) weapons with the prefix "amethyst", e.g. amethyst hand axe in the left hand and a amethyst broad axe in your right hand. Of course all variations are possible, important is the prefix "amethyst".
FAQ
Thanks to "Grom Hellscream" from Aberon, who put together this guide.