Shattered Kingdoms

Well yeah, but it's basically enough for one heal, and if you get into a fight while already frenzied you don't gain any passive bonuses at all, not to mention that barbarians parry less than mercs on account of not having eparry or high innate accuracy on their weapons.

Um so if barbs get reduced to light armor, does that mean we can have sprite barbarians? Cause I would be all over that like stink on fresh poo.

Dropping barbs to light armor is a wimp but it is negated by the fact that fury is imbalanced. Maybe get rid of arms, shoulders, and hands armor only. You might just might be able to beat one if you cut off an arm. Kinda fits with the barbarian class too. Taking away breastplates and helms is just silly because even the most stupid brute is going to require that stuff.

Rial, did you know that frenzy gives the same damage bonus as fury? Merc>barb in end game if he can get access to high level frenzy.

Yeah but can't barbs stack frenzy and fury? And if not can we get an immediate wimp on frenzy.

lol

No, frenzy does not stack with fury. That would be insane, and would explain why you think fury is so OP.

What's the point of fury if frenzy is as good as fury? Makes fury pointless and barbs garbage.

Well that was kind of a 180 there.

Generally, the main advantage of fury is that you can use it with any weapon and get the +speed bonus that goes with it, while a merc can only get his +speed bonus with the weapons he is specialized in. The other bonuses of fury are that it heals you 20%, gives a bonus to your saves, and does not require a powerful potion of frenzy. Minimizing the need for consumables is a pretty nice boost. But yes, in the end-game, I think most veterans would agree that the mercenary has the advantage. The advantage is not huge, though. As mentioned in previous posts, either class excels in capable hands.

I prefer to play barbs because of the versatility of fury, and I love the counterstrike and tracking skills. In terms of overall usefulness, though, I don't think these match evenly with retreat, access to bows, trip, eparry, and so on.

I have brought this up myself. I see a barb being like Conan the barbarian, a girth, a loin cloth, some boots, a scabbard and a sword. I have suggested they be made a light armor class before fury went in. I don't know if I would want to tinker with them now, they are well balanced, but conceptually I agree completely.