Why does my berserker suck so much? (not a whine)

[Dalensbane]

<DIV>Just wondering why my berserker is so lame. I get my butt beaten down to less than half hp when fighting orc marauders which are blue!! Whats going on? I have soldiers stance, weapon shield, battle chant, fury, bloodlust and battle tactics. My AC is 3500 with my 2h and 3900 or so with a shield. I have big problems trying to solo stuff on my own...when i come here i hear about people being able to solo really well. So what is wrong with my character? What am i doing wrong? Suggestions please?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Heres my gear with armor class values:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Feysteel Platemail Helm - 145</DIV> <DIV>Ebon Eye Breastlplate - 374 </DIV> <DIV>Pristine Forged Feyiron Vanguard Spaulders - 203</DIV> <DIV>Pristine Forged Feyiron Vanguard Gussets - 203</DIV> <DIV>Pristine Forged Feyiron Vanguard Gauntlets - 135</DIV> <DIV>Black Tainted Leggings - 218</DIV> <DIV>Forged Feyiron Vanguard Sabatons - 135</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Pristine Fashioned Velium Torque - 35</DIV> <DIV>Earring of Shadow - 37</DIV> <DIV>Pristine Fashioned Velium Band - 35</DIV> <DIV>The Ring Of Necrolos - 38</DIV> <DIV>Glowing Clay Bracelet - 38</DIV> <DIV>Pristine Fashioned Velium Bangle - 35</DIV> <DIV>Cloth Sash - 37</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Shiny Metallic Shield - 446</DIV> <DIV>Weakened Ghoulbane and Shiny Brass Halberd for weapons.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Am level 32</DIV> <P>Message Edited by Dalensbane16 on <SPAN class=date_text>02-27-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>11:41 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Dalensbane16 on <span class=date_text>02-27-2005</span> <span class=time_text>11:42 AM</span>

[DaemonSlay]

<DIV>Has your equipment got status bonuses...? (silly question i know)</DIV> <DIV>What are your combat abilities levels? AppIVs? adepts? Masters?</DIV> <DIV>How often do you use blood rage?</DIV> <DIV>do you use defensive skills such as Soidlers stance and hunker down?</DIV> <DIV>Do you use abilitys to weaken the enemy such as Maul/mangel</DIV> <DIV>do you use DoTs?</DIV> <DIV>do you keep berserk up?</DIV>

[Dalensbane]

<DIV>Yes they all have stats, spent a lot of my money upgrading my equipment.</DIV> <DIV>Most are actually App1s and some are Adept1s or App4s.</DIV> <DIV>Never use blood rage when tanking because im taking quite a beating when soloing so blood rage would not be a good idea.</DIV> <DIV>I use Soldiers Stance, but not hunker down.</DIV> <DIV>I use maul, but not mangle as maul is a better version of it.</DIV> <DIV>I use DoTs.</DIV> <DIV>I do berserk yes.</DIV>

[JediAveng]

<DIV>Is all your armor white or better? Is all your weapons white or better? When tanking for a group  - go 1h and shield and use a tower shield - do not use a lesser shield regardless of it stat bonuses. Get all adept 1 skills or at the least appren 4 - especially for your 12 hour stance.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Good luck.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-Jedi- </DIV>

[Davish_Darkwolf]

<DIV>Dont take colors of those mobs that seriously. I have noticed sometimes when fighting yellow solo mobs in Zek (ie. Sullon Lumberjacks) i end up with the same HPs  than when i fight blue Marauders.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Its strange yes, but i think mobs are a bit harder now in general.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But guess what?  Yesterday was fighting a Yellow solo Lumberjack and then suddenly 4 green lions jumped on me, so i was fighting 1 yellow and 4 greens at the same time.  I survived.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Later on, i was fighting again a Yellow lumberjack and the same lions attacked me, this time  4 blue lions. I stood there fighting and survived.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What i do notice in every fight is that the first seconds are crucial. In the beginning of the fight they tend to hit you HARD and then slow down a bit on damage on the rest of the fight.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So i sometimes use  Havoc before a fight.  The difference in damage taken is amazing in those first hits.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Im always using Reckless Stance and Focus Rage.  When possible i buff myself with Weapon Shield, Screaming Fury + Uthros Superior Tactics (more than 500 hps bonus + haste + 17 str), Tides of War, Battle chant, Greater Fury, Bloodlust.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Favorite techniques at level 37:  Maul,  Stomp,  Berserker Barrage, Stunning Cry, Vicious Blow, Whirlwind and off course Enrage</DIV> <DIV> </DIV><p>Message Edited by Davish_Darkwolf on <span class=date_text>02-28-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:10 PM</span>

[CherobylJ]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Dalensbane16 wrote:<BR> <DIV> I get my butt beaten down to less than half hp when fighting orc marauders which are blue!! Whats going on? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>...(sic)..</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Am level 32</DIV> <P>Message Edited by Dalensbane16 on <SPAN class=date_text>02-27-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>11:41 AM</SPAN></P> <P>Message Edited by Dalensbane16 on <SPAN class=date_text>02-27-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>11:42 AM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>The maruader orcs is Zek are tough little buggers for their con (I'm assuming these are the "new" solo mobs that replaced previous groups).  They can barrage in the 300-400 range if they get lucky (kinda like us)...so in my opinion its not you man its the mob in this case.</P> <P> </P>

[Dalensbane]

<DIV>Just wondering which is better, reckless stance or soldiers stance? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I think soldiers stance is +4 defense and parry + some penalties</DIV> <DIV>Reckless stance is +5 to defense + some penalties</DIV>

[Tarindel]

I always pop havoc right before engaging. Helps keep those initial hits down a bit.

[Super Du]

<DIV>Serkies are not a solo class haha...</DIV> <DIV>stick to doing green mobs if u want to solo <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  har har</DIV>

[Davish_Darkwolf]

<DIV>Strange as it may seem, although Soldier's Stance has a parry bonus on it and it's stackable with my parry bonus from Weapon Shield,  i seem to mitigate a lot better with  Reckless Stance.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Noticed this before and again today, doing some tests. Didnt parse numbers, but was killing blue group mobs yesterday with Reckless Stance and today with Soldier's Stance got my  butt handled to me on a plate using Soldier's Stance (and fighting the exact same mobs).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Quite strange since Reckless doesnt have much more attack or defense bonus  (attack is only +1 and AC but a few numbers)..</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Oh.... and Super Do.....   sure we solo great, if played well, never had problems soloing so far, in fact soloed my last 2 levels    <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><p>Message Edited by Davish_Darkwolf on <span class=date_text>03-01-2005</span> <span class=time_text>02:35 AM</span>

[Jyste]

<DIV>In reply to the OP I seem to have the same problem at times.</DIV> <DIV>I can fight green^^ group mobs and not even lose half a box of health, but when fighting blue or white solo mobs I sometimes end with less than half health. Just one of those quirks. </DIV>

[Scarax]

<DIV>I use Reckless Stance Adept I over Soldiers Stance Adept I. Not going to say one is better than the other. Maybe I'll get some data on it and post back later...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Tested using level 34 Berserker with Pristine Forged Feyiron Armor, Shiny Brass Halberd using Adept I versions of both Soldiers Stance and Reckless Stance fighting Green ^^ Skeletal Veterans in Thundering Steppes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- Using Soldiers Stance Adept I Only (No other buffs)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Avg Damage Taken Per Fight: 700 HP's</DIV> <DIV>Avg Number of Parries against Mob Per Fight: 11</DIV> <DIV>Avg Number of Mob Misses against Me Per Fight: 11</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- Using Reckless Stance Adept I Only (No other buffs)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Avg Damage Taken Per Fight: 720</DIV> <DIV>Avg Number of Parries against Mob Per Fight: 11</DIV> <DIV>Avg Number of Mob Misses against Me Per Fight: 11</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There were definite variances between fights. For example here are two extreme instances of a Soldier Stance Fight:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Fight A</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Damage Taken 590 - Parries: 13 - Misses: 12</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Fight B</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Damage Taken 1041 - Parries: 10 - Misses: 11</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Here are two extreme examples of Reckless Stance fights:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Fight A</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Damage Taken 1438 - Parries: 11 - Misses 11</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Fight B</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Damage Taken 650 - Parries 11 - Misses 12</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I did a total of 20 fights total both ways and between 20 fights they are a wash statistically. In fact, they're so similar that I am starting to wonder if there's any real difference between the two skills at all. I plan to do some additional tests with hit percentage given the changes in weapon skills, but I expect them to be the same again. Anyone else got any additional information between these skills? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Right now it looks like you can use either one and do just fine.</DIV></DIV><p>Message Edited by Scaraxes on <span class=date_text>03-02-2005</span> <span class=time_text>02:29 PM</span>

[Hyf]

<DIV>Doesn't look like you're doing anything wrong. You have a little low ac, but other than that you should be fine. Try killing other solo mobs of the same level, see if orc marauders are just weird.</DIV>

[Toxa]

<DIV>if you think your berzerker sucks then you have no idea how to play the class.</DIV>

[reakshav]

<DIV>How are youir healers?</DIV> <DIV> Im level 31 and have amost identical gear to you, and I can tank them fine.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[elrob]

<DIV>Sounds like you need to hit them hard and fast by increasing the damage you inflicting and in my opinion the best way for that is to Duel Wield, and use Weapon Shield in addition (provided you have enough concentration). I have tried SBH vs duel weild usig weapon shield with both and I nocticed a considerable difference on the number times I parried or reposted with higher results from the duel weild. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Burlap - 36 Barbarian Zerker, permafrost server</DIV>

[CyonideWolfp]

<DIV>I think it's a quirk too, I solo just fine with my berserker.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My only suggestion would be to make sure you have good food/drink, as this will offset the fact you end with lower HP (and/or power).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And if it wasn't said before, I didn't read all the responses, chain HO's.  I usually, after buffing, only use 3 or 4 actual attacks on a mob (my Maul type attack, its not maul it's been upgraded, but I forget name, Berserker Barrage, Coupe, and Stomp, sometimes I'll throw in press if it's a caster to break it up some).  But yeah, with food and drink that is Tier 4 or better I can pretty much go non stop and at time in RV taken 2 blues at at time of the bandits (when they hit they hit hard, but seem to miss a lot and have like zero HP, they drop like flies).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I think that's important too, find mobs that traditionally are weak on HP.  Our dps will drop them fast and you'll overall take less damage.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Cyonide</DIV>

[Thunderbr]

All mobs are different, don't just by color...I've been able to take down yellow mobs with ease while having trouble with some green mobs, really odd.

[Dead Sy]

<blockquote><hr>Dalensbane16 wrote:<DIV>Most are actually App1s and some are Adept1s or App4s.</DIV><hr></blockquote>This is your problem right here. Upgrade them skills. NOW. Your gear looks great. Grab some Adepts for your favorite spells and you'll be kicking [censored by me to save Faarbot the trouble!] in no time.

[rd]

<DIV>I have a feeling that no matter what class you picked, you'd be on that board asking why my <insert class> sucks.  From what I can tell, no class is really bad or really good, it's the person behind the toon. </DIV>