Quote (the_nub @ Wed, Aug 13 2008, 08:23am)
Maybe you should explain why the low fcr "chance to stun" from the small aoe warcry is better than the very quick garunteed chance to knockback+lock all monsters on the screen with leap? Seems incredibly fail to me.
Oh and I mean a real reason, not that bs "I'd have to chase them down so it wastes time". If you actually have skill you'll be fine trapping them all so you don't have to waste time running around.
Warcry is a guranteed stun on normal non-unique Monsters. Except you have to be close to you targets. The radius is not that large. Once they are stunned you are guranteed 6+ seconds (depending on skill of warcry etc) of stun. During this time you can switch and apply Battle Cry (extremely effective on trav). On Unique monsters like Geleb and Ismail, it has a % chance to stun them. If i had to put a % on it, Id say like 20% or lower. But they can be stunned and often do get stunned. Warcry + Battle Cry effectively reduces your enemies ability in defense and attack. Which in turn makes it very easy and fast to do hell trav.
With leap, you are almost locked into leap. You have to constantly reapply it. This also can mess up your merc's ability to kill. I can not go into the mechanics of leap as I never tried it in my build as I stated in my original Post. But after 4 seasons of gold find barbs, Ive run with quite a few and have seen barbs with similar gear lack in kill time. I've watched their mercs constantly switch targets unable to fixate on one ( leads me to believe leap acts as a teleport type spell and pulls your merc (could be wrong) and also that with the knockback it confuses the merc with the constant change in targets.
Another reason I believe warcry is better, is the added damage. With my build and skills, Im at around lvl 42 warcry without sacrificing gold find (+1 warcry +35-40% gold find gc's). It does around 680ish and adds up on each apply. You are able to help out your merc with every pulse of the warcry. If you feel like chugging mana pots, you can help out alot. With leap, there is no added damage, and no added bonuses. Its a pure knockback.
Another reason why I feel this is better and probably already stated in my main post, but with this build you can run right up to them and stun them. The leap build requires (most leap builds or guides recommend this or do this) is to run directly into Dura 1. The trick behind this is to get all of the monsters on the lower level up to the upper level and not spread all over the place. Then all you do is leap them into a corner. Ive seen barbs on numerous runs split them down the middle and have them going all over the place. Then they attract Heirophants and other necros if around and it messes everything up. I know you didnt want an explanation of having to chase, but I would like to show you how time consuming it can be.
The leap build does get the job done and is effective. But for being fast, effective and getting the job done, I believe the warcry build is a far superior build.
Hope this helps, if not PM me.