Optimizing my Dragonborn Thaneborn Barbarian

[ourchair]

Had my first game with my Barbarian.

Level 5, dealt about 76 damage with a critical hit of 2d12+1d6+12, with 1d12+1d6 critical bonus and a 1d12+1d6+12 bonus attack.

I ultimately went with a CON of 13 and a DEX of 14, while still being able to max out my CHA and STR. That meant decent Reflex. I was lucky and rarely got my defenses hit. Which meant I didn't get the bloody bonuses I really wanted from Dragonborn Fury, Dragonborn Frenzy and Battlecrazed Fullblade.

This is only my third time playing a striker, and I'm not terribly happy with the tactical qualities of one. I'm not dissing the role, but it doesn't seem like it's built for me the way a Combat Superiority Fighter is, which to me gives you more than just "I hit it with my sword!" while still retaining the excitement of hitting things.

I'm thinking perhaps I should consider multiclassing this guy, and giving him a minor in leader through a Warlord feat or something.

Thoughts?

 

[ourchair]

So, we've been playing pretty religiously and I've leveled him up to level 6, taking the Resourceful Leader multiclass and retraining one of his utilities into Vengeance is Mine (immediate reaction to an enemy's successful attack on him = he MBAs and ally shifts his speed to make an extra MBA).

My plan now is to create more tactical satisfaction in a less DPS oriented barbarian by upping his Thaneborn flavor towards leader functionality. That means he won't do as much damage as the Halfling Monk or the Dwarf Avenger, but when the Halfling Bard or Gnome Wizard are absent, he can provide attack/defense buffs and debuffs.

So now I'm torn between building him towards a Fearbringer Thane or a Paragon Multiclass Warlord. Here's a paragon build plan for the latter:


====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Torinn, level 11
Dragonborn, Barbarian, Paragon Multiclassing
Feral Might: Thaneborn Triumph
Dragonborn Racial Power: Dragonfear
Background: Dragonbonded Clan (+2 to Intimidate)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 21, Con 14, Dex 15, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 19.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 13, Dex 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 14.

AC: 23 Fort: 24 Reflex: 21 Will: 21
HP: 89 Surges: 10 Surge Value: 24

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +11, Athletics +14, Intimidate +22, Diplomacy +14

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +4, Bluff +9, Dungeoneering +5, Endurance +6, Heal +5, History +6, Insight +5, Nature +5, Perception +5, Religion +4, Stealth +6, Streetwise +9, Thievery +6

FEATS
Level 1: Weapon Proficiency (Fullblade)
Level 2: Resourceful Leader
Level 4: Intimidation of the Dragon
Level 6: Novice Power
Level 8: Acolyte Power
Level 10: Heavy Blade Expertise
Level 11: Adept Power

POWERS
Barbarian at-will 1: Howling Strike
Barbarian at-will 1: Devastating Strike
Paragon Multiclassing: Join the Crowd
Barbarian encounter 1: Rending Strike (retrained to Vengeance is Mine at Novice Power)
Barbarian daily 1: Thunder Hooves Rage
Barbarian utility 2: Shrug It Off
Barbarian encounter 3: Roaring Challenge
Barbarian daily 5: Earthquake Dragon's Rage
Barbarian utility 6: Sudden Leap (Skill Power) (retrained to Rousing Words at Acolyte Power)
Barbarian encounter 7: Fearsome Smash
Barbarian daily 9: Flying Serpent Rage
Barbarian utility 10: Heart Strike