Aiming perfection with Conc-IronBarb

[:1]Hi guys. Few weeks ago I opened this topic to get some help about a safe, tank-like HC build what can cut through Hell with no problem. From 1h/shield WW I went to 1h/Shield Conc just because of the defense bonus and honestly I can't stand my barb spinning around 0-24 So yeah, here I am with a Barb who has many items set it stone, but I still find it a bit difficult to choose a decent armor (and mix the remaining slots)

As a defense oriented HC IronBarb I maxed BO, Shout, Conc, and Sword Mastery. Now I'm hesitating between Ironskin and Bash to put the rest of the points on. Don't know if the +defense worth sacrificing the dmg bonus of Bash but my real issue is choosing between CoH and Forti.

Although CoH sounds obvious in most situations, I just don't feel it really worth that Ber rune with my current gear and stats. As you can see, with no Anni, no Torch and no Body Armor, 2 of my resist are already maxed in hell. While CoH has some very good adds, even with a low baba torch I'd feel that +65 all res would be wasted. It can boost my other 2 resist quite well, but that's all. While Forti still has a decent 25-30 allres (and +5 lightning making my lightning resist a very good 90% with a 20 absorb). Tha crucial part is that Forti has a 200% edef bonus what makes it more a "defense" oriented armor (no, really it's an offensive armor ofc) then CoH with it's low 70% edef bonus. So basically I have to decide weather +35% allres (most part of this wont even be recognised due to the already maxed resists) +2 all skill and Lifeleech worth a Ber rune over 300% ed, 200% edef, +5% max lightning res, and X to life... Forti even has som PDR on it, and with that armor I'd have more def, life, lightres, and damage... really don't know what to do.

Also here are some picture about my rare stuff. The gloves I use (IAS is a charm, 3% LL, nice FR... I like this beauty a lot) and the ring. (AR, pdr, vita, allres, nuff said

The other part what gives me headaches is socketing. I have 60+20+20 IAS on me atm. Next breakpoint would be 149 wich is far, BUT achieveable with a fana merc and some 15% ias jewels here and there. In the other had, I can stick with this speed (which is fast enough) and socket 40%ed in arreat and 7% chance to block (to lower the dex requiements on max block and put the points into vita). Or if I choose forti over Coh i can socket Um in SS and that would cover the rest of the resists.

help me make this Barb a perf Conc barb|||Hi,

Just a couple quick thoughts before I go out. The real big benefit of fort is the damage mainly. The other attributes are gravy. Defense is overated with a shield in hand, which also goes along with Conc. Yes you get a big Defense boost from conc, but to me the real benefit is that it cannot be interrupted, which means you can attack and leech forever.

The question then comes down to, when I kill stuff do I want it to take forever? In that case consider a good defense can also be from a good offense.

Understanding the tank concept, it's hard to go wrong either way and Fort+ebotd seems logical to me, and I like it for everyday random hack-n-slash. However, I know you try to run with a killer, but if you ever went up against ubers with your current setup it would fail. And the fact is that conc is very viable vs the ubers. You need crushing blow, ow and overstacked resist for that. Coh, guilliams face, dracs and probably a phase grief would be closer to perfect for that.

Either way, I don't think you can always strike a "perfect" balance between offense and defense, but you can indeed change whatever you want to suit your gameplay style.|||Imo Fortitude and Bash is a no-brainer, mostly for the reasons already explained above: The best defense is a good offense. With max block and an uninterruptible attack the defense gains from Iron Skin won't make or break the char, while more damage always helps. It's pretty silly to choose a low-defense armor with the amount of +def% you have, plus Fort's Shiver Armor is equivalent to another 13 points in Iron Skin. You'll be safe enough with War Cry, Battle Cry and Howl at your disposal, so from this point on I think you should try to maximize damage.

I would stay away from a Faith merc. A merc with Reaper's is by far (far) the best setup ito both safety and damage.

I won't say anything regarding the IAS issue because all I'm thinking about is a Grief Phaseblade |||Oh **** I've typed my message for an hour and now it's gone due to logoff during writing. I'm pissed now!!

So you say that Forti > CoH in my situation due to the fact that 300%edmg is the best defense Well, I thought the same. Bigger defense, bigger dmg, enough resists, and plus life can't go wrong. The +2 all skill (+2 BO, Iron Skin, Conc, Sword Mastery) won't make up the differences.

So Forti set. Still got problem with belts. 2 possibilities:

TGods + Forti + SS = 90% LR 20 Absorb and 35%DR

Dungo + Forti + SS = 80% LR 0 Absorb and 45-50% DR

I think for a HC (Iron)Barb 50%DR cap is a must (just like 75% block or max BO). The question is, do I need 90% LR and 20 Absorb when Souls only appears in few places (where I can swap Tgods anywtim). I think I'll go dungo. Although, gonna miss the str attributes of Tgods)

Socketing isn't really an issue since I wont go for 149 IAS Breakpoint, but I think I can't go wrong with a 40% edmg jewel in helm and UM or ETH is SS to cover the remaining resistances or lowering the dex req. for max block (thus boosting vita).

What do you think? (and please somebody can tell me how ed% works. works the same in weapons and armomrs?)

Regards|||That sucks, I almost always /select all/copy/ if I drag my feet on a post since the same BS has happened to me before.

Personally I don't think you need either of these in absolute terms....

TGods + Forti + SS = 90% LR 20 Absorb and 35%DR

Dungo + Forti + SS = 80% LR 0 Absorb and 45-50% DR



BUT... I do find the Tgod/Fort combo more useful with the light res/sorb than I do with 50%DR/dungo combo. It's been awhile since I've baaled and was given "Hot-TP's" or ran into a pack of mana-burn souls-however, with TGods on 24/7 I have no fear.

If you find you must go 50% DR, you could also consider a string of ears or upped version. That would give you the DR + even more insane leech stack. Justa thought|||Just a quick pic of my new toy I'm literally IN LOVE with the character. I already started to feel the downside of this character. The 'I'm immune to death' side Check him out here

Arreat

Highlord

Forti wire fleece (214% ed)

eBotD Cb (very low, 359% ed, but it's mine:P)

gore rider

dwarf

Crafted ring (allres, AR, PDR, life, mana)

Tgods

Rare gloves (20 IAS 3%LL dual-res gloves)

SS

Armor is 30450 during Conc. this is not 100% though. there are some socketing and upgrading left and no annihilus, nor the might aura of the merc (he jsut dont activate it no matter what...).|||Another possibility is to combine 1handed conc with Zeal. That way you can keep the fast swing speed of grief and switch to zeal if surrounded by monsters and things get dicy.

My choice for gear optimization of that build would be though combat skills would need to be slightly adjusted