Gunter, the Barbarian Mage

[MongoJerry]

As I get in a little playing time with my Tourette's Barbarian, I am learning a few more detalis about Taunt. Anything you find to add to our discussion would be greatly appreciated for the "eventual" guide for that oddball build.

Yeah, I've already participated in that discussion a little. You and Zath confirmed a lot of things I saw in nightmare and that discussion was very helpful. I'll definitely report anything new I find.

Have you considered making a Malice Rune word pike/lance/warpike?

Hmmm... That's an interesting idea. Sadly, it has better enhanced damage than the Thresher I'm using now, although it doesn't have any ias. I'd much rather have a higher damage weapon, though, so if I can get some poison damage added through my helm or armor, I'm going to try to make an 'Honor' weapon for the damage and life leech. I'm going to start gambling on circlets as another way to try to get poison damage on a helm.

Do you allow yourself to whack at the monsters at all? If so, Battle Cry will at least drop their DR to modest levels and give you a shot at scoring hits. Daggers are Non Mastery weapons, and would suit your Sorceress/Magician theme. Since you put the Points into Dex, I expect you could get decent To Hit unless you lucked out and could make a Venom rune Word Kris or something like that.  Not sure if that fits your theme.

That's fine as long as I don't study the combat skills or masteries. In fact, that's the reason I have a poison damage charm in my inventory. Before my merc was able to deliver poison damage himself, I'd sometimes take a wack at a monster using my wand or staff just to stop monster regeneration for six seconds.

I'm a Mal short of making 'Venom', but if I did find a Mal, I'd probably use it to socket a good magic or rare polearm or spear for my merc. By the way, do you know how long Prevent Monster Heal lasts? Is it permanent, so that all you'd have to do is whack something once and switch out?

I'd be curious to see whether or not "Amp Damage" will boost your damage out put from WarCry. It is Physical Damage, not magical last I heard, and if your merc has an item that "casts Amp Damage" you might speed up your kill rate considerably.

That would be interesting to find out. The damage is definitely physical damage, since physical immunes don't get damaged at all by War Cry.

I have found that even one point in Find Potions, with a few War Cry adders, puts massive drinking assets at my beck at call.

I'm saving on skill points by using the Heart Carver on weapon switch which gives +4 Find Potion, +4 Find Item, and +4 Grim Ward. I've just started running Find Item on dead monster piles to look for items for my merc. Luckily, potions turn up a lot, too, so so far that's been enough. Once I get equipment for my merc, though, I think I'll take your suggestion and use Find Potions exclusively. That should save a lot of cash and running back to town to buy potions.

Love Your Show.

Thanks! :D