Which is more important for Bbn: Dex or Con?

[Joshua Randall]

I'm building a barbarian PC using only the core rules (3.5) and 25-point buy with the default array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8). Assuming Strength gets the 15, which ability should get the next highest stat (14): Dexterity or Constitution? And why?

My split-personality thoughts:

Dexterity should get a higher stat than Constitution. Your Con will increase anyway when you rage, but your Dex won't. Furthermore, because you will mostly be wearing only light armor, you can actually use your higher Dex bonus, unlike the tank fighters in full plate. The higher Dex not only improves your AC but also your Ref saves (which are otherwise a weak point of barbarians). And if you want to stoop to the atypical barbarian tactic of using a bow (*sneer*), Dex improves your ranged attack bonus.

Constitution should get a higher stat than Dexterity. Your Con is an essential stat because it governs both how tough you are (hp) and how long you can rage. Especially at low levels, more hp are crucial. At high levels, you're not going to be able to ramp your AC up high enough to avoid getting hit; and since you're going to get hit, you need high Con to have more hp so you can survive. Also, you don't rage in every fight, so a higher base Con is important for non-raging combats.

Please help one of my split personalities argue the other one into submission. Thanks!

 

[Magic Slim]

Solve your problems and play a dwarven barbarian. Put your 15 is STR, 14 in DEX and 13 in CON.

Slim

 

[Dark Jezter]

I'm playing a barbarian in a campaign, and my second-highest ability is in constiution (highest ability obviously being strength), with third-highest being in dexterity.

My line of thinking was much like your pro-constitution thoughts: At higher levels, you're gonna get hit no matter how high your AC is, so the extra Con will help you stay alive longer.

 

[Thanee]

Definitely Con!

Barbarians have pretty low AC usually and have to make up for with hit points. While better Dex does increase AC, it still won't give a great AC, with their light armor and Rage penalties.

Also Con increases Rage duration.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Con is more important for the reasons listed above. Fighters actually can get ACs high enough that, at mid to high levels, skilled opponents need to roll well to hit them. Barbarians--who typically wear light armor and use two handed weapons--generally can't. So as a barbarian, you need to accept that your AC will only ever be good enough to stop weak critters from hitting you and strong critters from power attacking.

Constitution, on the other hand, gets you more hit points--which you'll need since you're going to get hit a lot regardless of what you do--and longer rages.

 

[Darklone]

In that case? Raise strength to 16 or even to 17, Con to 14 and Dex at maximum 12.

 

[Thanee]

I'd probably make it like this...

STR 15 (obviously)
DEX 10 (that must suffice )
CON 14 (Hit Points and Rage duration)
INT 13 (Feat requirements and Skills)
WIS 12 (Will save and Skills)
CHA 8 (well, the 8 must go somewhere...)

Of course, if your char will rather be a "dumb" Barbarian, this would also work...

S15 D13 C14 I10 W12 C8 (or I8 C10)

Bye
Thanee

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Con!!!

Your Hit Points are your armor.

Unless you make Dex your very highest priority OR plan on wearing heavy armor + shield OR are a Monk with great stats, there is no practical way you can avoid getting hit and hit often at higher levels. This is especially true for Barbarians because they take an AC hit when raging.

I would go with:
15 Str
14 Con
13 Wis
12 Int
10 Dex
8 Cha

You will not have a great AC but the DR will help against mooks. As I said before, the big guys will always hit you anyways. You can pick up a cheap 1000 gp +1 stat item to boost you Wis for a better Will save, and the Int gives you some nice skills. Presumably you would take Power Attack and Cleave early in your career.

If you want more mobility, you could consider the Spring Attack chain; that would be a good reason to take a 13 Dex.

A 13 Int is only helpful if you plan on going for the Combat Expertise + Trip?/Disarm? route. That is an attractive option for a Barbarian/Fighter but I would not do it as a straight Barbarian.

 

[The Souljourner]

Yeah, the thing about con is that it scales with level, while the other abilities don't. The +1 bonus from higher dex will always be only +1 to your AC, whereas the +1 from higher constitution could be 15, 20, or more hitpoints.

Besides, it's cooler having a barbarian with a ton of hitpoints than having one that's dodgy.. leave that to the monks and rogues.

-The Souljourner

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I might even argue that you put your highest score into con, and let str be number two.