Zen Barbarian
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:55 pm
Alright, this build tries to make using a barbarian fun.
First, you need to get into character. As a Zen barbarian, you have obtained enlightenment, and have thus forsaken all worldly possessions. You are the wizened old man who taunts and jeers at his enemies, using non-violent means of self-defense to make them look like fools. You understand the true futility of violence. You will never wear gear or wield a weapon. You will never have gold to lose or potions to heal with. You are fearless, and will never run from battle. You may, on occasion, pick up a scroll of town portal, but you must use it immediately!
So:
Stats – Split equally between Vitality and Energy, putting points into energy first.
Skills:
20 Leap
1 Find potion
1 Find Item
20 Grim Totem
1 Increased Stamina
20 Increased Speed
1 Howl
1 Taunt
Max Leap first, then Increased Speed and Grim Totem. You cannot be hit when leaping, and grim totem is extremely effective at making monsters run away. Use these skills combined with Taunt to control combat. There really is no reason to put more points in taunt, because it lasts seemingly forever, and you are just attracting the attention of monsters to keep them off from the party, or call them back to meet there doom at someone elses hands.
Note on leap: The radius that you knock monsters back increases with every level, and eventually you will be sending monsters to all four corners of a room when you jump in the center of it. In fact, at level 20, you can keep cows at the very edge of your screen perpetually. Melee monsters should never get close enough to hit you are the party. In fact, sorc's and zon's will love you, but hammerdins and melee characters will be annoyed by you constantly spreading the enemies around and knocking them away.
All of your stat points go into energy and vitality. Your strength and dex don’t matter, because you have forsaken earthly possessions. You will not die very often at all. Doing nightmare baal runs, I die maybe once every 3 runs, and that's becasue of Burning Souls.
Of course, you realize the ultimate key to success is allowing others to do the work. Your goal is to spread chaos and keep your party alive.
At level 60, I have killed two fallen and one level 74 javazon (not at all sure how it happened, but it cleary said "Mada_java was slain by Tim_Ferno").
First, you need to get into character. As a Zen barbarian, you have obtained enlightenment, and have thus forsaken all worldly possessions. You are the wizened old man who taunts and jeers at his enemies, using non-violent means of self-defense to make them look like fools. You understand the true futility of violence. You will never wear gear or wield a weapon. You will never have gold to lose or potions to heal with. You are fearless, and will never run from battle. You may, on occasion, pick up a scroll of town portal, but you must use it immediately!
So:
Stats – Split equally between Vitality and Energy, putting points into energy first.
Skills:
20 Leap
1 Find potion
1 Find Item
20 Grim Totem
1 Increased Stamina
20 Increased Speed
1 Howl
1 Taunt
Max Leap first, then Increased Speed and Grim Totem. You cannot be hit when leaping, and grim totem is extremely effective at making monsters run away. Use these skills combined with Taunt to control combat. There really is no reason to put more points in taunt, because it lasts seemingly forever, and you are just attracting the attention of monsters to keep them off from the party, or call them back to meet there doom at someone elses hands.
Note on leap: The radius that you knock monsters back increases with every level, and eventually you will be sending monsters to all four corners of a room when you jump in the center of it. In fact, at level 20, you can keep cows at the very edge of your screen perpetually. Melee monsters should never get close enough to hit you are the party. In fact, sorc's and zon's will love you, but hammerdins and melee characters will be annoyed by you constantly spreading the enemies around and knocking them away.
All of your stat points go into energy and vitality. Your strength and dex don’t matter, because you have forsaken earthly possessions. You will not die very often at all. Doing nightmare baal runs, I die maybe once every 3 runs, and that's becasue of Burning Souls.
Of course, you realize the ultimate key to success is allowing others to do the work. Your goal is to spread chaos and keep your party alive.
At level 60, I have killed two fallen and one level 74 javazon (not at all sure how it happened, but it cleary said "Mada_java was slain by Tim_Ferno").