Hi, I just wanna try a tank barb for catacombs for fun. I've made a barb and it's doing ok so far considering I'm poor, but I just want to make sure I know what I'm looking for.
Basically from what I've read around here... I'm just looking for the highest defense armor I can get (with str if possible) Highest dmg weapons I can get, and mass strength charms? But won't I only need one charm since the secondary charm doesn;t give you the extra strength?
I'm not sure where to put my stats either
Does anyone know how to build an effective tank barb that can help me out with some info? ty

If you want to tank, you will want an armor with ee instead of stats- ee/ stats if you can afford it.

Armor: Plate with ee, or ee/ stats
Weapon: I like axes on a barb for the consistent damage. But you can use a club, sword if you want for the higher crits.
Charm: Strength or dex, if you chose another type of weapon.

*If you do use something other than a axe, keep your stats balanced: Ie: 90 - 120 dex/ 1xx str

And you receive the stats from the first charm, not the second.

I would go your first 10 points into vita, and more if you'd like more life along the way.
And the rest of the points into str.


Ladder slasher begginers guide: http://forums.d2jsp.org/index.php?showtopic=24496799&f=74
Simple barbarian guide: http://forums.d2jsp.org/index.php?showtopic=28895083&f=74

Also, I'm not sure how to change my proficencies. Or can I even do that? It says I have a lot for mace and warhammer. I've just started using an axe recently and I notice that as I level my axe prof is raising. Is leveling while using that weapon type the only way to raise your profs?

So..
high ee axe
high ee (with str if possible) plate
strength charm?

10 to vita.. rest to str?

as of right now on my current barb i have a 72ee +3 crit strike alloy axe... 21 str, 19-57 def, 1%critical flux 1%armor pierce alloy plate mail... 33%ee, 177 max life, 3% mind numb, 1% armor pierce, 4% extra experience main charm.. 50%ee and other mods 2nd charm

stats so far i think are 5 to dex, 5 to vita, rest to str

should i remake and do new stats/start with an axe from the very beginning? what is a typical strength charm that would be better than my current one?

also, i've read that ee from the 2nd charm works... does that mean that the 50%ee on my second charm is increasing my damage?

This post was edited by Belarathon on May 20 2009 02:03pm

If you're not playing HC, then there is no reason to put any into Vita. Just stack yourself in str/dex.

In the 2nd charm slot (Acc Charm), EE is the only thing that works at -25% efficiency. You're not gaining anything from having that Wind charm there, because the EE on the charm only affects the magic dmg of the charm, not your physical weapon. EE only affects the item it is on.

Here is a decent guide: http://forums.d2jsp.org/index.php?showtopic=18377324&f=272

This post was edited by IceWeasel on May 20 2009 02:31pm

Ok, so for physical damage characters, the secondary charm is basically pointless?

Not at all. It really depends on what you're charms are doing... Primary slot should be +stats (str/dex), but if that slot isn't a heal charm, then you'd want a high EE heal in your 2nd slot.

If you wanted to make a character which can TANK the most hits while receiving the least damage, then you will need around 90-110 INT and 80-100 DEX, rest STR, with an EE plate.
This works best with a guardian, and they are cheap and effective, because they can also heal in catacombs (people will you for that).

Really? Int does what... decrease magical damage?
I'd be fine with being a massive tank who can just sit at the front lines and take the brunt of the damage. I guess healing people could be a nice complimentary to that, but I don't think I'm good enough at the game to try too much yet lol. I still don't know anything at all... I basically just click. I didn't even know how to show my armor to people or how to tell if someone was at the front middle or back until earlier today.
I can't really afford anything at all right now anyways so I guess for now I'll just keep the gear I have on my barb and keep catacombing and learning until I have some fg to afford better items.

Don't worry, I was in the same spot about 1.5 months ago. Now I'm pretty comfortable with the game, although I learn new things quite often still!