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Message: <blockquote data-quote="David Argall" data-source="post: 582325" data-attributes="member: 4481">don't use power attack"Power Attack and Cleave are both great feats. At lower levels the combination allows to cut through your unworthy foes. At higher levels, you'll still probably drop foes often enough to get extra attacks from Cleave occasionally,"   It's hard to argue with those who say Power Attack is proper barbarian roleplay, but any claim that it is good rollplay is subject to serious attack.  Do not use it at 1st level, and probably not at any level.   You are 1st barbarian with 16 ST and rage vs some orcs.  Every hit drops one.  They only have 4 hp.  Power attack quite simply means you miss an extra time.   So we put you vs a gnoll who can stand a hit [11 hp].  But we do the math and find you average 5.175 damage without PA and 5 with it.  Again it hurts you.     At higher levels there are combinations where PA can be useful, but it requires you have a high chance of hitting and that PA adds a major percentage to your damage.  At 5th level, we are talking about an additional 25% of totally missing.  You get really buffed up by the cleric and mage and you can whomp monsters for 50 pts.   That's not going to make 5 points worth much.    If you are going to try this path anyway, you should be human.  As noted, that extra feat is quite helpful.  You need to be 3rd level barbarian to get Cleave otherwise.  So if you want to cleave orcs, be human.</blockquote>

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