Can I really be what I want to be as a Berserker?

[DarumaRanger]

<p>Hail and well met all,</p><p>I'm looking for a melee alt and initially thought the Berserker would fill the bill nicely... after having read these forums... now I'm not so sure.</p><p>If you'll indulge me a moment I'd like to tell you what I'm looking for and hopefully you can tell me where, if anywhere, I can find it, ("where" as in what class).</p><p>I want a plate wearing dual axe wielding blender of death <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>I want to solo well... doesn't have to be the best... just pretty well.</p><p>I don't want to go down the "Buckler line" for AA's... I don't care if that's the best way to go.</p><p>I don't want to use a 2H weapon... I don't care if that's the best way to go.</p><p>I don't want to be "sword and board" ... I don't care if that's the best way to go.</p><p>I just want to always DW axes... and while, as you've probably figured out from my above statements... dual wielding does NOT have to be the best way to go... I don't want to be GIMPED either.  </p><p>I just want to dual wield my axes, wear plate, and roam the land finding adventure.</p><p>But everything I read, and heck even pics in the picture thread, seems to indicate the way to go is the "Buckler Line" of AA's using sword and board... or using 2H weapons.</p><p>I rarely see anything about a Berserker being a viable solo'er by sticking exclusively to dual wielding, (preferably axes but I'd consider other weapons too).</p><p>Can I be a viable solo'er, find good adventures, and progress at a so-so rate... not slow as  snail but doesn't have to be fast as lightning either, by ignoring 2H weapons or sword and board and sticking to, and spec'ing AA's for dual wielding?</p><p>If so, are there any hints/tips to make what seems to be the least effective path a bit more effective?  AA spec tips?  Stat tips?  Gear tips?  etc etc?</p><p>Thanks, folks.</p><p>Take care.</p>

[millfac]

<p>I could be wrong but here's what I think...</p><p>For a DW axe zerker the Str line is a shoe in. The 24% crits are nuts and so is the additional hate, its a must have!</p><p> for your second line imho Agi is the best, it will allow you to do much more damage (ae) and in turn hold more hate, the +defense and +agi helps ALOT too since you will not be using a shield.</p><p>Gear wise? Pretty straight forward... MC or better plate, MC or better axes... and most importantly all of the +crit% items you can find... lots of str...lots of sta. </p><p> not wanting sword and board or axe and board or any board makes it seem as if you don't really want to tank anything serious, and since you don't want the buckler line you don't want the best dps, but for DW axes that to me is the best way to go since AGI requires a spear for only one ability. (meaning you'd still get use out of the good stuff in the line even with axes)</p>

[tgore]

<p>I am/was a dual wielding solo'r until the upper end of the 60's. So in answer to your question can you be a dual axe wielding, plate wearing blender of death progressing at a so so rate and still be valuable to groups my answer is you bet.  I played the dps role in many groups behind a MT and did just fine.  As mentioned above str and agi lines will prolly be your best bet (make sure to master II or I your AE spells for the blender of death desire).  I don't think I ever dual wielded axes but I did dual slash pierce blunt all the time.  It was fun and now that I am transforming into a better group MT (I went whatever line eliminated defensive offensive penalties) I am still having fun. </p><p>Wulfgarr</p><p>Berserker of Storms of Vengeance</p>

[RaunII]

<p>if you wish to go for the dual wielding solo berserker of doom, go for it! you may not be as effective as a berserker with a two hander or a 1 handed sword wielding dinner plate wearing STA line junky, but you can still solo just fine. go down the STR and AGI lines. DPS mod + Crit chance and axe attack on STR line for the win. forget the INT lines haste, dual wields reload too fast for it...it would be worthless to you.</p><p>Keep your STR and STA up with gear and jewelry. find adornments that affect your DPS and not haste.</p><p>Lastly, have fun! you can play any character the way YOU want to play it! May not be the best or most effective, but who cares if you have fun doing it?</p>

[thisthingsucks]

sure you can, i used to DW alot, and i mostly solo unless im raiding. at 70 i usually use and axe and buckler for dps reasons, but i alreayd have one nice DW axe and if i get another with about the same damage im gonna start DW in raids just to see how it compares to axe and buckler

[DarumaRanger]

<p>Thank you very much for the input/advice folks.</p><p>As for tanking as some mentioned... the only thing I plan to tank is whatever *I* am fighting <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>This is not a grouping character and certainly not planning to spec, equip, etc to be a tanking character... so I'm not worried that by focusing exclusively on a DW'ing type Berserker that I'll be hampering my tanking ability to some degree... but I appreciate that input just the same.</p><p>My wee lil' Berserker is Lv 10 now, just got off the Isle of Refuge, (they don't call it that anymore do they?), and looked over spell scroll prices to upgrade my CA's... and [Removed for Content] near died of a heart attack !! hehehe.</p><p>They're way, WAY more expensive than my Warden's spell upgrades are <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Ah well... life goes on and I'll manage... just means an awful lot of green things need to die <evil grin> MUAHAHAHAHA !!</p><p>Oh... by the way... I loved, LOVED, gathering up a host of green con skeletons on the Isle at Lv 9 and AoE'ing them and watching them fall on their butts and just wreaking havoc on them... hopefully I'll be able to do more of that as I level <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Thanks again for the input, take care folks.</p>