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Barbarian vs Berserker 2° time: which is better?

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  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    SionIV said:

    zur312 said:

    how do u get 25 str as berserker if you dual wield with foa and defender of eastheaven?
    your calculatuions are wrong? again?

    and now barbarian has 3 more hp? that is so nice so you added something to this weird "1" and now it is 3?

    It would be lovely if you read what i wrote.

    On level 8 the barbarian has 1 more health, which we had in the other thread. Now the fact is that i wrote level 9(!) now whch makes it 3 more health.

    Level 8 barbarian : 1 more health
    Level 9 barbarian : 3 more health.

    For the 25 str?

    You use girdle of frost or fire giant strength and DuHM.

    And would you please refrain from saying i'm wrong AGAIN when i was only wrong once. Which was miss calculations on my part and a modded game.

    I'm trying to be polite here and i can't help but feel you're taking this a little personal?
    If you are going to bring up BG2 stuff then you lose DUHM post-spellhold. The difference in damage between the fire giant girdle and 25 strength is 4 (5 in the case of the frost giant girdle). When you factor in the extra 1/2 or full APR (depending on improved haste) and extra damage a berserker gets the berserker will still win here.
    SionIV said:


    [Edited] : You can only use 1 HLA at a time. So if you use whirlwind you lose out on hardiness etc. So the berserker will always have 1 more APR unless you're using greater whirlwind.

    At level 20 Hardiness lasts for a turn so it is possible to have more than one HLA going at once.
    zur312 said:

    SionIV said:

    zur312 said:

    how do u get 25 str as berserker if you dual wield with foa and defender of eastheaven?
    your calculatuions are wrong? again?

    and now barbarian has 3 more hp? that is so nice so you added something to this weird "1" and now it is 3?

    It would be lovely if you read what i wrote.

    On level 8 the barbarian has 1 more health, which we had in the other thread. Now the fact is that i wrote level 9(!) now whch makes it 3 more health.

    Level 8 barbarian : 1 more health
    Level 9 barbarian : 3 more health.

    For the 25 str?

    You use girdle of frost or fire giant strength and DuHM.

    And would you please refrain from saying i'm wrong AGAIN when i was only wrong once. Which was miss calculations on my part and a modded game.

    I'm trying to be polite here and i can't help but feel you're taking this a little personal?

    now he won't be 3 more hp i told you

    if you are using girdle of strength barbarian is now ahead because girdle of magic resistance gives him 50% dr from magic that your berserken can not wear in the same time or he will lose his str and be less effective in combat
    and duhm + those girdles is impossible because they are later on in the game and you lost your duhm
    it is not my fault you are skewing everything towards berserker in terms of this thread

    Its a good point about the girdle but I'm pretty sure the type of damage the girdle is limited in preventing is restricted to like Magic Missile and Horrid Wilting type damage. Not all spell damage.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    edited July 2013
    SionIV said:

    zur312 said:


    well if he test this 100 times and barb wins 80% we will know who is better ... lol

    you can't cast improved invisibility because barbarian will be 1 round ahead with hardiness or other hla so this is dumb

    Ofcourse you'll be allowed to prebuff.
    why would you allow prebuff for 2 fighters? they are not mages or clerics
    maybe barbarian would just drink 20 potions for resistance against fire cold lighting poison acid xd

    do you feel how stupid it is?
  • EejitEejit Member Posts: 55
    Barbarian is better because his Rage is less of an insta-win button, faster movement speed is fun and always wearing the best Full Plate is boring.

    Berserker is superior for pure power-gaming with its dual-class options. Yawn.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    elminster said:

    SionIV said:

    zur312 said:

    how do u get 25 str as berserker if you dual wield with foa and defender of eastheaven?
    your calculatuions are wrong? again?

    and now barbarian has 3 more hp? that is so nice so you added something to this weird "1" and now it is 3?

    It would be lovely if you read what i wrote.

    On level 8 the barbarian has 1 more health, which we had in the other thread. Now the fact is that i wrote level 9(!) now whch makes it 3 more health.

    Level 8 barbarian : 1 more health
    Level 9 barbarian : 3 more health.

    For the 25 str?

    You use girdle of frost or fire giant strength and DuHM.

    And would you please refrain from saying i'm wrong AGAIN when i was only wrong once. Which was miss calculations on my part and a modded game.

    I'm trying to be polite here and i can't help but feel you're taking this a little personal?
    If you are going to bring up BG2 stuff then you lose DUHM post-spellhold. The difference in damage between the fire giant girdle and 25 strength is 4 (5 in the case of the frost giant girdle). When you factor in the extra 1/2 or full APR (depending on improved haste) and extra damage a berserker gets the berserker will still win here.
    SionIV said:


    [Edited] : You can only use 1 HLA at a time. So if you use whirlwind you lose out on hardiness etc. So the berserker will always have 1 more APR unless you're using greater whirlwind.

    At level 20 Hardiness lasts for a turn so it is possible to have more than one HLA going at once.
    zur312 said:

    SionIV said:

    zur312 said:

    how do u get 25 str as berserker if you dual wield with foa and defender of eastheaven?
    your calculatuions are wrong? again?

    and now barbarian has 3 more hp? that is so nice so you added something to this weird "1" and now it is 3?

    It would be lovely if you read what i wrote.

    On level 8 the barbarian has 1 more health, which we had in the other thread. Now the fact is that i wrote level 9(!) now whch makes it 3 more health.

    Level 8 barbarian : 1 more health
    Level 9 barbarian : 3 more health.

    For the 25 str?

    You use girdle of frost or fire giant strength and DuHM.

    And would you please refrain from saying i'm wrong AGAIN when i was only wrong once. Which was miss calculations on my part and a modded game.

    I'm trying to be polite here and i can't help but feel you're taking this a little personal?

    now he won't be 3 more hp i told you

    if you are using girdle of strength barbarian is now ahead because girdle of magic resistance gives him 50% dr from magic that your berserken can not wear in the same time or he will lose his str and be less effective in combat
    and duhm + those girdles is impossible because they are later on in the game and you lost your duhm
    it is not my fault you are skewing everything towards berserker in terms of this thread

    Its a good point about the girdle but I'm pretty sure the type of damage the girdle is limited in preventing is restricted to like Magic Missile and Horrid Wilting type damage. Not all spell damage.
    ofc it is magic missle and horrid wilting but barb will use it while berserker won't
    so clear adv for barb
  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    1.) No one is saying when we're fighting. It's possible to still have DuHM and get 25 STR from being high level. If we're going to say when we fight, then we have to put it up in segments.

    Pre underdark
    Post underdark
    pre ToB
    post ToB

    2.) It doesn't change the fact that the barbarian can use hardiness + greater whirlwind. As the berserker could use Hardiness + critical strike and truly beat the barbarian through the ground.

    3.) The belt only protects against MAGICAL damage. So lightning, fire, dragons breath it doesn't do jack against. It is a good belt but i wouldn't give it to my berserker, he will survive the horrid wilting but my rogue most probably won't.

    4.) Ofcourse you're allowed to prebuff with the items you pick. It's like saying a barbarian win over a F/C because they can't prebuff. And i didn't add potions because that would be silly, i see nothing wrong with using the buffs you have on your items of choise.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    yeah you can prebuff with items but when you are prebuffing barbarian won't just sit there and wait for your 10 buffs

    magical damage is not for this fight but for mages

    why would barbarian use greater whirlwind?
  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    edited July 2013
    This will really be my last post here, as i feel this is going out of hand rather quickly.

    Level 1 :

    The berserker is better at this level and the incomming levels aswell because the rage grants him +15 HP.

    --------------------------------------

    Level 8 (BG1/BGEE CAP) :

    [Barbarian]

    1 more health
    1 more damage

    [Berserker]

    2 more Thac0
    6 more armor /*1
    ---------------------------------------

    Level 9 (Start of SoA) :

    [Barbarian]

    3 more health

    [Berserker]

    3 more Thac0
    6 more armor /*1
    -------------------------------------------
    Level 15 (Mid of SoA)

    [Barbarian]

    15 more health
    15% Damage reduction

    [Berserker]

    3 more damage /*3
    5 more Thac0
    4 more armor /*2

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------


    1* = In BG1 the best armor that the barbarian can get is drizzt armor which is AC1, the same as a full plate.

    [Barbarian]

    AC 1
    Rage - 2AC

    [Berserk]

    AC 1 (Full plate)
    Ring of protection +2
    Rage + 2

    That is 6 more armor.

    -------------------------------------------------------------

    2* Mid game the best armor you'll get on your barbarian is Red dragon scale -1

    [Barbarian]

    AC - 1
    Rage - 2AC

    [Berserker]

    AC - 1 (Plate of balduran)
    Rage + 2 AC

    It's also possible to replace the balduran with a full plate + ring of protection +2 for the saving throws.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    3* At level 15 DuHM grants you +5 to your abilities. This will put your berserker to 24 STR.


    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    It's much easier to get good gear for your berserker. Already from the start you can get full plate which is much better than what the barbarian can get. In BG1 the difference is huge between the barbarian and the berserker. In early-mid BG2 the berserker will still be much ahead of the barbarian. Once you get to end game the Berserker will go past him in damage and the barbarian will get 20% damage reduction and more health for survivability.

    The best armor you can get for a Barbarian in SoA are the Shadow and red dragon armor. Both which require you to kill a dragon to get. The berserker can pick up a full plate from the group at the tavern in waukeen right out of irenicus dungeon.

    And the berserker can dual class if needed. A level 13 berserker / xx cleric will have the same damage reduction and through clerical spells much better damage and survivability.
    zur312 said:

    yeah you can prebuff with items but when you are prebuffing barbarian won't just sit there and wait for your 10 buffs

    magical damage is not for this fight but for mages

    why would barbarian use greater whirlwind?

    If he doesn't use greater whirlwind the Berserker will have 1 more APR than him.

    Barbarian and berserker both use Hardiness + Critical strike = Berserker got 1 more APR

    Barbarian and berserker both use hardiness = Berserker got 1 more APR

    The only way for the barbarian to get equal or better APR is by using greater whirlwind. And if he does that then the berserker can do critical strike instead and with improved haste deal much more damage.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    edited July 2013
    SionIV said:

    This will really be my last post here, as i feel this is going out of hand rather quickly.

    Level 1 :

    The berserker is better at this level and the incomming levels aswell because the rage grants him +15 HP.

    --------------------------------------

    Level 8 (BG1/BGEE CAP) :

    [Barbarian]

    1 more health
    1 more damage

    [Berserker]

    2 more Thac0
    6 more armor /*1
    ---------------------------------------

    Level 9 (Start of SoA) :

    [Barbarian]

    3 more health

    [Berserker]

    3 more Thac0
    6 more armor /*1
    -------------------------------------------
    Level 15 (Mid of SoA)

    [Barbarian]

    15 more health
    15% Damage reduction

    [Berserker]

    3 more damage /*3
    5 more Thac0
    4 more armor /*2

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------


    1* = In BG1 the best armor that the barbarian can get is drizzt armor which is AC1, the same as a full plate.

    [Barbarian]

    AC 1
    Rage - 2AC

    [Berserk]

    AC 1 (Full plate)
    Ring of protection +2
    Rage + 2

    That is 6 more armor.

    -------------------------------------------------------------

    2* Mid game the best armor you'll get on your barbarian is Red dragon scale -1

    [Barbarian]

    AC - 1
    Rage - 2AC

    [Berserker]

    AC - 1 (Plate of balduran)
    Rage + 2 AC

    It's also possible to replace the balduran with a full plate + ring of protection +2 for the saving throws.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    3* At level 15 DuHM grants you +5 to your abilities. This will put your berserker to 24 STR.


    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    It's much easier to get good gear for your berserker. Already from the start you can get full plate which is much better than what the barbarian can get. In BG1 the difference is huge between the barbarian and the berserker. In early-mid BG2 the berserker will still be much ahead of the barbarian. Once you get to end game the Berserker will go past him in damage and the barbarian will get 20% damage reduction and more health for survivability.

    The best armor you can get for a Barbarian in SoA are the Shadow and red dragon armor. Both which require you to kill a dragon to get. The berserker can pick up a full plate from the group at the tavern in waukeen right out of irenicus dungeon.

    And the berserker can dual class if needed. A level 13 berserker / xx cleric will have the same damage reduction and through clerical spells much better damage and survivability.

    zur312 said:

    yeah you can prebuff with items but when you are prebuffing barbarian won't just sit there and wait for your 10 buffs

    magical damage is not for this fight but for mages

    why would barbarian use greater whirlwind?

    If he doesn't use greater whirlwind the Berserker will have 1 more APR than him.

    Barbarian and berserker both use Hardiness + Critical strike = Berserker got 1 more APR

    Barbarian and berserker both use hardiness = Berserker got 1 more APR

    The only way for the barbarian to get equal or better APR is by using greater whirlwind. And if he does that then the berserker can do critical strike instead and with improved haste deal much more damage.
    it is only 1 apr vs all the barbarian DR%

    another false statement
    13berserker/cleric won't have the same damage reduction because barbarian with HLA will be 80% or something!

    why are you doing this? again?


    and why are you copying the same wrong arguments about 8 and 9th level? i told you you were wrong
  • SpaceInvaderSpaceInvader Member Posts: 2,125
    @SionVI
    Well, there is no way you can win with that equip.
    Anyway, I just created them.
    I will give you DUHM and all the prebuff you desire, it won't change anything :)
    BRB frapsing
  • SpaceInvaderSpaceInvader Member Posts: 2,125
    edited July 2013
    Sorry if I have to hide the GUI, I tested it with BG2:EE and I'm not allowed to show any new content.
    You can trust me that I didn't cheat on anything.
    Prebuff for both: DUHM, Stoneskin, Hardiness and GWA.

    Enjoy.

    Video removed--the NDA is there for a reason, SpaceInvader.
    Post edited by Dee on
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    well i can't see anything
  • DeeDee Member Posts: 10,447
    Probably for the best, in all honesty--posting a video from the beta would be a breach of NDA.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    who cares about NDA capslock letters
    what we have here is serious discussion!
  • SpaceInvaderSpaceInvader Member Posts: 2,125
    Dee said:

    Probably for the best, in all honesty--posting a video from the beta would be a breach of NDA.

    Yes, that's why I kept the GUI hidden ;)
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    edited July 2013
    hoped for at least dmg in dialog boxes

    well that was pretty fast thx space invader

    berserker 266hp
    barb 264

    berserker tried 15 hits (not always connected)
    barbarian 13 hits (not always connected)


    after
    1st hit:barb 256hp
    248
    240
    234
    227
    219
    212
    204
    199
    191
    183
    175
    167 = dead berserker
    berserkerd dmg per hit~~7,4615 (97/13hits)
    barb dmg per hit~~20,4615 (266/~~13hits)


    barb was 167hp after fight

    it looks a lot worst for berserker than i expected he only managet to do 97 dmg

    was this pure berserker? did you use foa +5?
    Post edited by zur312 on
  • SpaceInvaderSpaceInvader Member Posts: 2,125
    zur312 said:

    LLOL could you project this in cinema and record with a fridge? i can't see anything

    hoped for at least dmg in dialog boxes

    Maybe you should switch to 1080p?
  • DeeDee Member Posts: 10,447
    Hear hear!

    However, you could always just run the numbers, based on the THAC0, damage range, hit points, and AC for both characters.

    For any given attack, calculate the percentage chance that the attack will hit the other person's AC, and multiply it by the average damage (between minimum and maximum damage). Thus, if you deal 10 damage per attack on average, and you have a 50% chance to hit, your net damage (for the purposes of the discussion) is 5.

    That's your baseline per attack. Then you can calculate per round how much damage you'll deal to your opponent, and you can even account for special abilities like Greater Whirlwind (increases the number of attacks) or Hardiness (reduces damage percentage). Each point of THAC0 is a difference of 5% to the net, just like any point of AC. Apply damage reduction after everything else; so if your net damage is 10 because you're using Critical Strike, but your target has 20% damage reduction, the total damage for that attack is 8.

    It doesn't account for things like kiting (which is difficult to represent because it reflects the player's skill at timing movement, rather than the character's raw abilities), but for comparing the numbers it's actually a more reliable scenario than running the actual combat with random values.
  • Lord_TansheronLord_Tansheron Member Posts: 4,212
    edited July 2013
    To be honest, while this discussion certainly has theoretical merit, I think it's far less interesting than a debate of the respective dual-class combinations, especially Barbarian->Cleric vs. Berserker->Cleric. Once you start stacking resistances, I think the advantage of the Barbarian becomes more apparent. Yes, Berserker still retains more damage output and the immunity to Imprisonment (for whatever that's worth), but in terms of tanking capability the Barbarian->Cleric just blows the Berserker out of the water.

    But to be fair: unless you are playing on full mods and Insane difficulty, the extra beef is probably not very relevant nor needed and you'd indeed rather have the extra damage from a Berserker's grandmastery. But mobs on Insane hit HARD! Not to mention that the THAC0s of modded enemies are truly ridiculous (we're talking base THAC0s of -10 and lower in ToB), backstabs are rampant, and several bosses/encounters pelt you with Timestop + attack combos (which negates AC completely). Heck, there's even mobs using the Critical Strike HLA! Having someone capable of soaking all that is a substantial asset throughout the game; at endgame just as much as early to mid game.

    And before someone starts it: allowing dual class for both is the only way to have a discussion at all. If you restrict Barbarian to single class, Berserker just wins hands down, the end, nothing to see.
  • DeeDee Member Posts: 10,447

    Dee said:

    Probably for the best, in all honesty--posting a video from the beta would be a breach of NDA.

    Yes, that's why I kept the GUI hidden ;)
    Sorry, but I had to remove the video. Feel free to run the scenario with vanilla BG2, but we can't let you post Beta footage.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    edited July 2013
    don't worry space invader i got your video with every resolution it is very good

    what did u use on barbarian? Roranach's Horn +50% resistence to blunt weapons- so he was healed by berserker? or what?


    this many resistance yes
  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    edited July 2013

    @SionVI
    Well, there is no way you can win with that equip.
    Anyway, I just created them.
    I will give you DUHM and all the prebuff you desire, it won't change anything :)
    BRB frapsing

    1.) please do show your gear.
    zur312 said:

    don't worry space invader i got your video with every resolution it is very good

    what did u use on barbarian? Roranach's Horn +50% resistence to blunt weapons- so he was healed by berserker? or what?


    this many resistance yes

    FoA +5 is crushing damage, so Roranach's Horn won't work.
    zur312 said:

    hoped for at least dmg in dialog boxes

    well that was pretty fast thx space invader

    berserker 266hp
    barb 264

    berserker tried 15 hits (not always connected)
    barbarian 13 hits (not always connected)


    after
    1st hit:barb 256hp
    248
    240
    234
    227
    219
    212
    204
    199
    191
    183
    175
    167 = dead berserker
    berserkerd dmg per hit~~7,4615 (97/13hits)
    barb dmg per hit~~20,4615 (266/~~13hits)


    barb was 167hp after fight

    it looks a lot worst for berserker than i expected he only managet to do 97 dmg

    was this pure berserker? did you use foa +5?

    I don't have to tell you that this is highly unlikely. With 33 damage per hit and 10 elemental damage there is no way that he will deal 7 damage a hit.

    The barbarian has 80% damage reduction
    The Berserker has 60% damage reduction

    The berserker has higher damage with DuHM.
    The berserker has higher Thac0
    The berserker has 1 higher APR and if he used Hardiness + greater whirlwind on his barbarian, he should have used hardiness + Critical strike on the berserker.

    I highly doubt that information is correct.

    The only reason i could see this possible was if you stacked elemental resistance with the 80% damage reduction.

    [Edited] : Just saw the movie, Stormstar with stacked resistance?

    And this proves that you had the better gear setup for the fight. :)

    Please use the exact same gear on your barbarian and put ravager on the Berserker.

    And use improved haste from the cloak and not ring of Gaxx.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    edited July 2013
    well 33dmg*21% ~=7
    so with stacked resist it could be pretty accurate
    but 20dmg*60%~=12
    and 12 is not 20
  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    zur312 said:

    well 33dmg*21% ~=7
    so with stacked resist it could be pretty accurate
    but 20dmg*60%~=12
    and 12 is not 20

    I'm curious as to his gear. As i mentioned earlier this isn't accurate as it's dependant on luck and gear choises. He knew what i would pick and it's easy enough to stack resistance for FoA +5 then and win with a stormstar.

    I tilt my hat in respect for the interesting gear he picked. But this does in no way prove the barbarian is better, just that he picked better gear than me knowing what i would come with.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    if mr "smart invader" won't put movie with same eq i might try tomorrow :)

  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    edited July 2013
    zur312 said:

    if mr "smart invader" won't put movie with same eq i might try tomorrow :)

    As much as i enjoy seing the movies and i'm glad he took his time to do this. It still is all about gear and counter-picking eachother. Stormstar and stacking elemental resistance with 80% damage reduction would soak up all FoA +5's damage. But you could still fall to the first hit of the ravager, so it's based on luck there.

    Now it would be great if someone would put together a BGEE / BGtrilogy movie. That would be more of a beat your face in fight. :)


  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    i don't know if i have working bgt at the moment so that would be hard

    but counterpicking can be avoided when they have the same gear
  • SpaceInvaderSpaceInvader Member Posts: 2,125
    zur312 said:


    what did u use on barbarian? Roranach's Horn +50% resistence to blunt weapons- so he was healed by berserker? or what?


    this many resistance yes

    Precisely ;)
  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    zur312 said:

    i don't know if i have working bgt at the moment so that would be hard

    but counterpicking can be avoided when they have the same gear

    That is true but then you have to take into consideration that they won't be optimal with the same gear. As the berserker want some way to get past the 80% damage reduction etc. It's the reason i would have picked FoA +5 but i didn't think he would stack resistance.

    But i would still like to see a fight with the same gear, or in BGT / BGEE.

    He probably used something like

    White dragon scale 50% resist cold
    Boots of grounding 50% light resist
    Ring of fire resistance 40%
    Enhanced helm of the rock 25%
    Stormstar 20%

    Light resist : 95%
    Cold resist : 75%
    Fire resistance : 65%
    Acid resistance : 25%
    Poison resistance : 25%

    I'm sure there is some way to improve the poison resistance aswell, i just can't remember it. Anyway i might also be completely wrong with this and he used something else. I'm curious as to what he used :)
  • SpaceInvaderSpaceInvader Member Posts: 2,125
    SionIV said:

    With 33 damage per hit and 10 elemental damage there is no way that he will deal 7 damage a hit.

    Ok, listen... A Barbarian reach 100+ DR vs blunt, it means that the more dmg you do with your Flail the more you heal him.
    Second, 10 elemental damage? Seriously? Do you consider resitances lol?
  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    edited July 2013

    SionIV said:

    With 33 damage per hit and 10 elemental damage there is no way that he will deal 7 damage a hit.

    Ok, listen... A Barbarian reach 100+ DR vs blunt, it means that the more dmg you do with your Flail the more you heal him.
    Second, 10 elemental damage? Seriously? Do you consider resitances lol?
    Flail is crushing damage, the helm is blunt damage.

    [Edited]: Ignore me i'm an idiot, it's the same thing in BG2. I even looked it up to make sure i wouldn't fall for the damn helm 100%+ trick. Should have picked another weapon :P
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