Viable to combine Barbarian with Shaman

[uwfsam2000]

Just wanted some opinions to see if it’s viable to play a MC Shaman(unsure which archetype) with a few levels of Barbarian?

Just not sure how effective it would be. Maybe use a 2h and with rage and spells could be fun.

Also, from a role playing perspective it certainly makes sense.


Thoughts?

[Wraith]

if you wanted to play as a rager that cast it would be easier just going bloodrager.

[Stink Bug]

Not too much synergy, but just about any build is possible as long as you’re prepared to adjust the difficulty if need be; the most important thing is fun. Just be aware you won’t be able to cast while raging, as Wraith said try a bloodrager, Skald, or Rampager Druid if you want a caster who angrily slings spells.

That said barbarian instinctual warrior and the Spirit Hunter Shaman might work decently together. You can make great use of all those instinctual warrior Wisdom abilities and the Spirit Hunter will allow you to enchant your weapons. Can focus on protective hexes. Battle Spirit is a decent choice, but you can see which others might fit your character better. Shaman spells in general aren’t great but you do have some nice protective ones; depending on how deep you’re going in barbarian caster level might be an issue.

[kodama]

You could also go

1)Full Spirit Hunter Shaman -> Angel (for merged spellbook with better buffs and caster level 30) -> Legend with whichever Barbarian you prefer as a second class beyond level 20
2)Full Barbarian of choice (Instinctual Warrior would be best probably) -> Trickster for Perc 2 feats -> Legend with whichever Shaman archetype you wish.

The drawback of this solution would be spending most of the game either as Shaman or as Barbarian (you get the opportunity to pick Legend Path quite late, in Act 5).

Shaman is not great class to take dips, especially in earlier parts of the game + if you want them to go melee, since that would greatly delay their Hex progression (and cost you some).

If you want to spend the whole game as raging spellcaster then going Bloodrager like @Wraith suggested or Skald could work much better for you.

[Gorwe]

I combined Barbarian with Crusader. But that is Legend shenanigans. He soloed most of the game afterwards. Too bad Areelu wasn't a worthy nemesis. It'd be more sexy if we had some Thoth-Amon, oh well!

Legend rocks!

[uwfsam2000]

Originally posted by Stink Bug:

Not too much synergy, but just about any build is possible as long as you’re prepared to adjust the difficulty if need be; the most important thing is fun. Just be aware you won’t be able to cast while raging, as Wraith said try a bloodrager, Skald, or Rampager Druid if you want a caster who angrily slings spells.

That said barbarian instinctual warrior and the Spirit Hunter Shaman might work decently together. You can make great use of all those instinctual warrior Wisdom abilities and the Spirit Hunter will allow you to enchant your weapons. Can focus on protective hexes. Battle Spirit is a decent choice, but you can see which others might fit your character better. Shaman spells in general aren’t great but you do have some nice protective ones; depending on how deep you’re going in barbarian caster level might be an issue.

This is an interesting build, which I could see myself doing. How many Barb levels as a instinctual warrior would you do, I’d imagine you’d want very high Str and wiz, then con?

Maybe a 2h weapon or dex based?

I can see great synergy though. Could be a strong mc

[uwfsam2000]

Originally posted by Stink Bug:

Not too much synergy, but just about any build is possible as long as you’re prepared to adjust the difficulty if need be; the most important thing is fun. Just be aware you won’t be able to cast while raging, as Wraith said try a bloodrager, Skald, or Rampager Druid if you want a caster who angrily slings spells.

That said barbarian instinctual warrior and the Spirit Hunter Shaman might work decently together. You can make great use of all those instinctual warrior Wisdom abilities and the Spirit Hunter will allow you to enchant your weapons. Can focus on protective hexes. Battle Spirit is a decent choice, but you can see which others might fit your character better. Shaman spells in general aren’t great but you do have some nice protective ones; depending on how deep you’re going in barbarian caster level might be an issue.

True, I’ve never actually looked into the Skald or Rampager Druid, I will have to learn more. Do I need to use claws as a Ramp druid?

[Conquista]

sounds like one of camellias builds with going 16 into spirit hunter, 2 into instinctual warrior and 2 into any other high bab class

[uwfsam2000]

Originally posted by Conquista:

sounds like one of camellias builds with going 16 into spirit hunter, 2 into instinctual warrior and 2 into any other high bab class

Just curious my friend, why not 4 IW levels?

[Stink Bug]

Originally posted by uwfsam2000:

Originally posted by Stink Bug:

Not too much synergy, but just about any build is possible as long as you’re prepared to adjust the difficulty if need be; the most important thing is fun. Just be aware you won’t be able to cast while raging, as Wraith said try a bloodrager, Skald, or Rampager Druid if you want a caster who angrily slings spells.

That said barbarian instinctual warrior and the Spirit Hunter Shaman might work decently together. You can make great use of all those instinctual warrior Wisdom abilities and the Spirit Hunter will allow you to enchant your weapons. Can focus on protective hexes. Battle Spirit is a decent choice, but you can see which others might fit your character better. Shaman spells in general aren’t great but you do have some nice protective ones; depending on how deep you’re going in barbarian caster level might be an issue.

True, I’ve never actually looked into the Skald or Rampager Druid, I will have to learn more. Do I need to use claws as a Ramp druid?

Fewer Barbarian levels the better IMO, to answer your previous question; I personally wouldn’t go past 4 instinctual warrior (to get the wisdom boon and a rage power).

Rampager Druid’s “rage” works with any natural attacks, but only natural attacks; but as a bonus you aren’t fatigued afterwards and can cast during a rampage. Owlcat finally fixed magic fang and there are plenty of amulets of mighty fist to enhance your natural weapons. I’m playing a demon single-class Rampager on Core right now and he’s the highest damage dealer in the party while polymorphed, and accurate too.

[Conquista]

Originally posted by uwfsam2000:

Originally posted by Conquista:

sounds like one of camellias builds with going 16 into spirit hunter, 2 into instinctual warrior and 2 into any other high bab class

Just curious my friend, why not 4 IW levels?

3-4 of instinctual warrior will mostly only offer a rage power that is either low totem tier or badly scaled because of the missing barbarian levels

if you go instead into 2 fighter you can get 2 additional feats
or 2 demonslayer give you better hitchance against demons and 1 additional feat

but it does depend on you overall build, so going 4 into instinctual warrior is also possible

[Stink Bug]

Originally posted by Conquista:

Originally posted by uwfsam2000:

Just curious my friend, why not 4 IW levels?

3-4 of instinctual warrior will mostly only offer a rage power that is either low totem tier or badly scaled because of the missing barbarian levels

Does IW qualify for extra rage power at level 4? If so I can see animal fury, lesser fiend totem, scent and maybe some stances being compelling options against fighter combat feats.

[uwfsam2000]

Originally posted by Conquista:

Originally posted by uwfsam2000:

Just curious my friend, why not 4 IW levels?

3-4 of instinctual warrior will mostly only offer a rage power that is either low totem tier or badly scaled because of the missing barbarian levels

if you go instead into 2 fighter you can get 2 additional feats
or 2 demonslayer give you better hitchance against demons and 1 additional feat

but it does depend on you overall build, so going 4 into instinctual warrior is also possible

So 4 IW then rest SH, should I go straight IW first then rest Spirit shaman? Str or dex based?

[uwfsam2000]

Originally posted by Stink Bug:

Originally posted by uwfsam2000:

True, I’ve never actually looked into the Skald or Rampager Druid, I will have to learn more. Do I need to use claws as a Ramp druid?

Fewer Barbarian levels the better IMO, to answer your previous question; I personally wouldn’t go past 4 instinctual warrior (to get the wisdom boon and a rage power).

Rampager Druid’s “rage” works with any natural attacks, but only natural attacks; but as a bonus you aren’t fatigued afterwards and can cast during a rampage. Owlcat finally fixed magic fang and there are plenty of amulets of mighty fist to enhance your natural weapons. I’m playing a demon single-class Rampager on Core right now and he’s the highest damage dealer in the party while polymorphed, and accurate too.

I just saw the druid Rampager , looks fun. Which mythic are you playing? I assume it’s pretty much set up for demon but idk if any other path works.

I just beat the game as a sorc/lich. So looking for something different. Add to it I just saw there is something called Greenrager, so I’m now more confused. I play on core.

[Stink Bug]

Originally posted by uwfsam2000:

Originally posted by Stink Bug:

Fewer Barbarian levels the better IMO, to answer your previous question; I personally wouldn’t go past 4 instinctual warrior (to get the wisdom boon and a rage power).

Rampager Druid’s “rage” works with any natural attacks, but only natural attacks; but as a bonus you aren’t fatigued afterwards and can cast during a rampage. Owlcat finally fixed magic fang and there are plenty of amulets of mighty fist to enhance your natural weapons. I’m playing a demon single-class Rampager on Core right now and he’s the highest damage dealer in the party while polymorphed, and accurate too.

I just saw the druid Rampager , looks fun. Which mythic are you playing? I assume it’s pretty much set up for demon but idk if any other path works.

I just beat the game as a sorc/lich. So looking for something different. Add to it I just saw there is something called Greenrager, so I’m now more confused. I play on core.

I went demon but there are a few redundancies, like the demon claws you get and the immunities if you pick electric Rampager. I saw Lich had this fantastic power for unholy damage to natural attacks and another for charge, but you already did Lich.

If you’re going with the IW/SH combo I’d personally go STR to avoid overlap with Camelia, but if you’re going for an unarmored build or not using her Dex might be better.

[Conquista]

Originally posted by Stink Bug:

Does IW qualify for extra rage power at level 4? If so I can see animal fury, lesser fiend totem, scent and maybe some stances being compelling options against fighter combat feats.

i think so

Originally posted by uwfsam2000:

So 4 IW then rest SH, should I go straight IW first then rest Spirit shaman? Str or dex based?

i would start with shaman for iceplant and than go to 12 with shaman for spells and to max barkskin and than go 2 into instinctual warrior than back to shaman till 18

or if you need the ac early on go shaman 1 than instinctual warrior 2 and than shaman till 18