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Appetite for Destruction: The Barbarian's Handbook (by lordduskblade)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nibelung" data-source="post: 6712005" data-attributes="member: 74499"><p><strong>Originally posted by lordduskblade:</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>At-Will Powers: Fundamentals of Destruction</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong>Given that there are several powers in this list that can only be used if you're wielding a weapon in two hands or wielding two weapons, I will be separating this list into categories to make the process easier.<strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong>This section boils down to what you're taking apart from <strong>Howling Strike</strong>, because that is the quintessential Barbarian At-Will. Most Barbarians will be partial to <strong>Pressing Strike</strong>, though I could see some builds taking <strong>Recuperating Strike</strong>, <strong>Savage Reach</strong>, or<strong> Whirling Rend</strong> instead.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><strong>Any Weapon:</strong></strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">Foe to Foe </span>(PHH 1)</strong> - This At-Will is a plain old MBA unless you have dropped a non-minion enemy this encounter, at which point it becomes marginally more damaging than a non-charging Howling Strike at Heroic Tier, and strictly inferior thereafter. Painfully bad.</p><p></p><p><strong>Howl of Fury (PrP)</strong> - Essentially an MBA that spreads out a bit of area damage based on your Constitution, and it grows somewhat if you're raging. This is a pretty neat way to check if any nearby enemies are minions, as well as soften up one opponent while you damage another, which makes it a decent choice.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Pressing Strike</span> (PHB 2)</strong> - Shifting 2 squares for free before the attack is good. Being able to move through enemy squares during that movement is great. Extra damage while raging is just icing. The second At-Will on the majority of Barbarians.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><strong>Two-Handed Weapon:</strong></strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #800080">Devastating Strike</span> (PHB 2)</strong> - It offers a hefty bonus to damage over a normal MBA, but it also comes saddled with an effective -2 penalty to all your defenses unless you're raging. Given that Howling Strike offers marginally lower damage, charge capability, and no drawback, I find this power a tough sell.<strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900">Howling Strike</span> (PHB 2)</strong> - This is THE definitive Barbarian At-Will: it has its extra damage rolled right into the power, it can be used on a charge, and offers some extra speed while raging and charging. Given how invested a Barbarian is in charge optimization and the fact that this offers extra damage over a normal attack, I find that this power is an absolute must for Barbarians (if you're a Whirler, I recommend a double weapon or some way to draw and stow weapons as a free action so you can use this as well).</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Recuperating Strike</span> (PHB 2)</strong> - Some solid temporary hit points as an additional effect of an otherwise plain attack, with some extra damage attached as levels go on, as well as a sizable jump in the amount of THP granted when you are raging, especially at lower levels. It's a pretty nice power to have.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Savage Reach</span> (D 384)</strong> - It requires a Reach weapon, but an At-Will slide that becomes larger when you rage is a pretty nice boost for the niche of characters that is interested in them (aka the Polearm users). While I prefer the overall package that Pressing Strike brings to the table, I won't be all that shocked if a Polearm Barbarian takes this instead.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><strong>Two Weapons:</strong></strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Whirling Rend</span> (PrP)</strong> - An At-Will meant for Whirlers to take, and it's pretty good, as you will be dealing plenty of damage to two targets simultaneously. Likely the second At-Will on a Whirler, but no one else can (or should) even use it.<strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nibelung, post: 6712005, member: 74499"] [b]Originally posted by lordduskblade:[/b] [b]At-Will Powers: Fundamentals of Destruction [/b] [b] [/b]Given that there are several powers in this list that can only be used if you're wielding a weapon in two hands or wielding two weapons, I will be separating this list into categories to make the process easier.[b] [/b]This section boils down to what you're taking apart from [b]Howling Strike[/b], because that is the quintessential Barbarian At-Will. Most Barbarians will be partial to [b]Pressing Strike[/b], though I could see some builds taking [b]Recuperating Strike[/b], [b]Savage Reach[/b], or[b] Whirling Rend[/b] instead. [Size=3][b][b]Any Weapon:[/b][/b][/size] [b][COLOR=#ff0000]Foe to Foe [/COLOR](PHH 1)[/b] - This At-Will is a plain old MBA unless you have dropped a non-minion enemy this encounter, at which point it becomes marginally more damaging than a non-charging Howling Strike at Heroic Tier, and strictly inferior thereafter. Painfully bad. [b]Howl of Fury (PrP)[/b] - Essentially an MBA that spreads out a bit of area damage based on your Constitution, and it grows somewhat if you're raging. This is a pretty neat way to check if any nearby enemies are minions, as well as soften up one opponent while you damage another, which makes it a decent choice. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Pressing Strike[/COLOR] (PHB 2)[/b] - Shifting 2 squares for free before the attack is good. Being able to move through enemy squares during that movement is great. Extra damage while raging is just icing. The second At-Will on the majority of Barbarians. [Size=3][b][b]Two-Handed Weapon:[/b][/b][/size] [b][COLOR=#800080]Devastating Strike[/COLOR] (PHB 2)[/b] - It offers a hefty bonus to damage over a normal MBA, but it also comes saddled with an effective -2 penalty to all your defenses unless you're raging. Given that Howling Strike offers marginally lower damage, charge capability, and no drawback, I find this power a tough sell.[b] [COLOR=#ff9900]Howling Strike[/COLOR] (PHB 2)[/b] - This is THE definitive Barbarian At-Will: it has its extra damage rolled right into the power, it can be used on a charge, and offers some extra speed while raging and charging. Given how invested a Barbarian is in charge optimization and the fact that this offers extra damage over a normal attack, I find that this power is an absolute must for Barbarians (if you're a Whirler, I recommend a double weapon or some way to draw and stow weapons as a free action so you can use this as well). [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Recuperating Strike[/COLOR] (PHB 2)[/b] - Some solid temporary hit points as an additional effect of an otherwise plain attack, with some extra damage attached as levels go on, as well as a sizable jump in the amount of THP granted when you are raging, especially at lower levels. It's a pretty nice power to have. [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Savage Reach[/COLOR] (D 384)[/b] - It requires a Reach weapon, but an At-Will slide that becomes larger when you rage is a pretty nice boost for the niche of characters that is interested in them (aka the Polearm users). While I prefer the overall package that Pressing Strike brings to the table, I won't be all that shocked if a Polearm Barbarian takes this instead. [Size=3][b][b]Two Weapons:[/b][/b][/size] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Whirling Rend[/COLOR] (PrP)[/b] - An At-Will meant for Whirlers to take, and it's pretty good, as you will be dealing plenty of damage to two targets simultaneously. Likely the second At-Will on a Whirler, but no one else can (or should) even use it.[b] [/b][b][/b] [/QUOTE]
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Appetite for Destruction: The Barbarian's Handbook (by lordduskblade)
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