Help with Dwarven Ftr/Barbarian choices

[Rashak Mani]

The PC group has broken up for "solo" adventures... my Dwarven 8 Ftr/4 Barb (going "Axe Idiot" PrC) is going to travel to Northern Greyhawk only with the Bard (10th). I sold a magical ring and got a part of the group loot. I am in doubt about what I should buy.... I have 12k gold more or less. I'm thinking of buying 2 "weak" magic items.

I want to cover the weak points of Barbarians. AC is good now. Close Qt.Combat kind of takes care of Grappling, Haste Boots allows for extra attacks. Am I correct in evaluating spells, especially Will saves, as my Achilles heel ?

How much would a Cloak of Resistance only for Will +4 or +5 cost ?

Any other way to boost my Will Defenses ?
What about a ring of counterspells ? Which spell is best for "mental" defenses ?

What might be a good and cheap item to put on my mount ?

( I really don't need or want to invest in armor or weapons btw... some stats

Feats = 3 mounted feats, Wpn Focus&Spec (Great Axe), Impr.Init, CQC, Cleave, Power Attack and Endurance.
Str 21 / Dex 16 / Con 16
Major Items: Boots of Haste, Mithril Full Plate +1, Vest Resist +2 )

 

[The Souljourner]

Cloaks of resistance are cheap cheap cheap. +3 is only 9000. I'd definitely go for that over a ring of counterspells, which any competent magic user would realize only works once.

Oh, and personally, I wouldn't allow one just for Will. Too many classes need just one save to be better to allow a cheaper cloak, especially when the original is already so cheap.

-The Souljourner

 

[James McMurray]

If you can scrounge up another 4,000gp get yourself a cloak of resistance +4. If not, go for a cloak of resistance +3 and save the other 3,000 for later when you can upgrade your cloak. Weak will saves are almost every fighter's achilles' heal, and multiclassing to other warior classes usually doesn't help any.

If your DM is an idiot, convince him that the 4,000gp price the DMG says a ring of constant protection from evil costs is a balanced amount.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I'm with Souljourner-- cloaks of resistance are cheap. Get a +3 one. Or better yet, upgrade that vest of resistance from +2 to +4. (12kgp at book prices). (A cloak of resistance wouldn't stack with it so you'll want to sell the vest if you don't upgrade it).

However, I wouldn't want an item that only added to will saves. Even raging fighte/barbarians can be killed by a failed fort save. And, when even 3.5 GSF can make a Destruction save DC 25, you'll want all of the fort save you can get. Oh, and when you get a fireball tossed at you with only the bard for company, you'll want to make the reflex save so you can face the next day with full hit points. (Bardic healing is a rather limited commodity and wands of CLW add up rather quickly if you use them to cure 50 hp/battle).

Anyway, a cheap item for your mount: +1 chain shirt barding. +1 collar of resistance. Horseshoes of the Zephyr (unfortunately not really that cheap but they'd make travelling and charging over snow easier).

 

[James McMurray]

Oops, I didn't realize you already had vest +2. Definitely upgrade it to +4.

 

[Rashak Mani]

Somewhere in 3.0 an adventure had a +4 or +5 Will Cloak of Resistance... it was cheaper than the full Cloak of Resistance. I would venture that using the +2 Vest and a +4 Will Cloak would be cheaper than upgrading to +3 Vest.

Any other items that can save this poor barbarian's arse ?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Neverwinter Nights has + will items. However, NWN is probably not a good model for a balanced D&D campaign. It works as a computer game but I wouldn't want to try it pen and paper.

On the whole, though, you're almost certain not to get more than a 50% discount for getting the resist item cloak only. So, for 8000gp you could effectively get +2 to your will saves--assuming it were allowed--or for 12000gp you could get +2 to all your saves. I don't really see the advantage. Especially when adventuring semi-alone, a single missed save can be really significant (think fort saves vs. poison or Ray of Exhaustion--not much a bard will be able to do about that and reflex saves vs. things like Otiluke's Resilient Sphere).

However, one thing you will want if you don't already have it is a few cure potions and a wand of cure light for the bard to heal you with. Maybe two or three wands.

Somewhere in 3.0 an adventure had a +4 or +5 Will Cloak of Resistance... it was cheaper than the full Cloak of Resistance. I would venture that using the +2 Vest and a +4 Will Cloak would be cheaper than upgrading to +3 Vest.

Any other items that can save this poor barbarian's arse ?

 

[Rashak Mani]

Especially when adventuring semi-alone, a single missed save can be really significant (think fort saves vs. poison or Ray of Exhaustion--not much a bard will be able to do about that and reflex saves vs. things like Otiluke's Resilient Sphere).

However, one thing you will want if you don't already have it is a few cure potions and a wand of cure light for the bard to heal you with. Maybe two or three wands.

Yep.. you guys certainly made the point for boosting saves. Though I am notorious for failing Saves. (One reason as a sorceror that I get all sorts of defensive spells that might avoid having to make a save at all !) So pschologically I would never have boosted my saves ! I feel like I fail them even when my saves are very good !!

Cure Light Wands are a must have... but for some silly reason my DM doesn't like us buying them frequently. ( I think they help avoid Clerics with no spells and no fun.) I will buy 1 or 2 if I the DM allows.

I'm thinking of buying Endurance and Wisdom Potions just in case I need a Const or Will save Boost in a combat. A Fly potion for an eventual emergency. Enlarge Potion too. Is there a Prot from Evil Potion ?

Is it worth getting +2 Con with Amulet of Health ? 12 hps won't make such a big difference or the +1 Fort save. 1 rnd of rage.