Dark Feasting or weapon expertise for lvl 2 barbarian?

[cobrazarro]

This is what I went with. The heal on the dark feasting looks nice, but I'm wondering if the +1 to attacks I'd get with weapon expertise would be better since I'd be using it more often. Is dark feasting any good at later levels? Also, let me know if you notice something in my build that's messed up. Thanks for any input you might have!


Pickles, level 2
Revenant, Barbarian
Feral Might: Rageblood Vigor
Choose your Race in Life: Githzerai
Background: Wandering Mercenary (Wandering Mercenary Benefit)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 18, Con 15, Dex 15, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 10.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 18, Con 13, Dex 13, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 10.


AC: 17 Fort: 17 Reflex: 14 Will: 11
HP: 36 Surges: 10 Surge Value: 9

TRAINED SKILLS
Perception +6, Athletics +9, Acrobatics +7

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana, Bluff +1, Diplomacy +1, Dungeoneering +1, Endurance +4, Heal +1, History, Insight +1, Intimidate +3, Nature +1, Religion, Stealth +2, Streetwise +1, Thievery +2

FEATS
Level 1: Githzerai Blade Master
Level 2: Dark Feasting

POWERS
Barbarian at-will 1: Pressing Strike
Barbarian at-will 1: Howling Strike
Barbarian encounter 1: Desperate Fury
Barbarian daily 1: Thunder Hooves Rage
Barbarian utility 2: Combat Sprint

ITEMS
Hide Armor, Adventurer's Kit, Grappling Hook, Crowbar, Javelin, Challenge-Seeking Fullblade +1

 

[The Human Target]

Both are fine.

A plus one to hit is always nice, but it is kinda boring and you already have a really good to hit mod anyway.

I'd go dark feasting. You can always use the temp hp, especially since you didn't pick any powers that let you generate them beyond your rageblood class feature.

Plus, its super flavorful.

 

[Neverfate]

I'd say lose the Githzerai past life. The +2 to full blades is nice, but there's no other feats there. Revenants have an awful racial encounter power. I'd say switch into a race with a better racial. Go for something like Half-Orc for their encounter power. Add an extra d12 to choice attacks (or preferably Crits). Dark Reaping never really pans out for me, so I'd rather have a useful encounter power/soul for a revenant (I've played two revenants to paragon).

If you want to keep the gith soul for the +2 damage on the weapon, I'd say go for the weapon expertise. It's no use focusing on a weak encounter power, unless you really like the flavor of dark reaping (and that's fine, it's a flavorful power), though Dark Feasting might not benefit that much.

 

[Prestidigitalis]

Also, let me know if you notice something in my build that's messed up.

Actually, yes. The name "Pickles" would be much more appropriate for a Paladin. Barbarians should have names like Nathan, Malachi, or possibly Buddy Holly.

 

[Neverfate]

Or William Murderface . . .

(Metalocalypse reference. . . anyone?)

 

[cobrazarro]

Actually, yes. The name "Pickles" would be much more appropriate for a Paladin. Barbarians should have names like Nathan, Malachi, or possibly Buddy Holly.

Well, he's named pickles because he's like Johnny Appleseed... but with pickles instead of apples... and a barbarian.

 

[cobrazarro]

I'd say lose the Githzerai past life. The +2 to full blades is nice, but there's no other feats there. Revenants have an awful racial encounter power. I'd say switch into a race with a better racial. Go for something like Half-Orc for their encounter power. Add an extra d12 to choice attacks (or preferably Crits). Dark Reaping never really pans out for me, so I'd rather have a useful encounter power/soul for a revenant (I've played two revenants to paragon).

If you want to keep the gith soul for the +2 damage on the weapon, I'd say go for the weapon expertise. It's no use focusing on a weak encounter power, unless you really like the flavor of dark reaping (and that's fine, it's a flavorful power), though Dark Feasting might not benefit that much.

That's good advice, sadly, I've already begun playing this character and I doubt my DM will let me change my character's past life. I'm pretty imaginative though, so I might be able to rationalize how pickles used to also be a half orc. I'll go check out their racial feats now.

 

[Herschel]

Expertise can wait. It really doesn't do a whole lot for you until mid Paragon when you start with an 18 attack stat and use a +3 weapon. You're already at the top of the curve. Opt for flavor with mechanical kickers ftw!

The other thing I'd do is re-examine your rage power. I love Thunderhooves, but not with your build. You don't have any way to use it well without a defender forcing hard choices for the baddie.

 

[cobrazarro]

I love Thunderhooves, but not with your build. You don't have any way to use it well without a defender forcing hard choices for the baddie.

I'm not sure what you mean by this, can you give an example? I usually use the rage with pressing strike (shift through the baddie square and smack them) or charge right through them. The only other rage that looks sweet is the one that gives temp hp = to Str modifier with every hit. Can you explain what you mean about defenders and baddies and give an example of which rage you think would work better? My group actually doesn't have a defender, so the baddies seem to group around me, making it easy to shift or run through their spaces. I've only been playing this game for a few months so I can see that I might be missing something.

 

[lonebrendan]

If you are looking for temp to keep you alive I would suggest you go in another direction.

Dark Feasting works as an encounter power which triggers on an enemy dropping to zero within a range of 5. Since you are a Rageblood Barbarian, you wouldn't want to trigger that on your own kill because your class feature grabs you 2 temp anyway. The different sources wouldn't stack. So you are stuck using it on one of your teammates kills. If you already have temp it may inefficiently replace your temp from the class ability.

I would take Improved Rageblood Vigor (bringing you up to 7 temp on your kill). It works on all of your kills, not just as an enounter. As a big damage dealer you will be the one doing much of the killing in a 5 square range.

Grab the level 3 item Belt of Feral Might, which will add your strength mod to that.. at level 2 you are netting 11 temp on every kill.

Go for a minion first, then swift charge to a real target..Very awesome.