How to feel like a PoE 1 barbarian in Deadfire?

[Daethoron]

So I'm about to import a PoE1 game I finished a few months ago and start that character in Deadfire. In PoE1 I was a barbarian who used carnage, high int, and certain weapons to spread debuffs like crazy through rapid AoE attacks. I'd like to use a similar playstyle in Deadfire, but the changes to carnage obviously mean I need to find a different way to do that, and I'm hoping for some input on how effective the ideas I've come up with are and whether there's anything I'm not considering.

The classes I'm looking at now are barbarian, monk, and rogue in some combination (bonus points if the final build includes barbarian just for continuity's sake, but I can live without it). Barbarian would rely on spirit frenzy and the furyshaper's terrify ward. Monk would add stuns, the weaken on crit passive, and a pile of intellect from turning wheel for aoe size and affliction duration. Rogue comes with persistent distraction and a whole pile of afflictions, but they're all active abilities so I'm not sure how much consistent uptime I could get on them. I'm also considering the Whispers of the Endless Paths greatsword, which seems like a near requirement to spread rogue debuffs in any quantity, but I've seen conflicting information on what abilities its aoe actually works with (anyone know how it interacts with heart of fury if I stay a single class barb?). If I do use it I'd probably also bring willbreaker around, or some other replacement if I'm not a barbarian, for single target fights.

So, do these ideas seem workable? Which class combination would fill this role best? What classes and abilities have I missed that would help me live my past life of a screaming whirlwind that sickens, disorients, weakens and interrupts everything it touches? Any advice and input all you deadfire gurus can provide will be most appreciated!

Race is nature godlike, build should be melee (2h or dual wield is fine), focus on debuffing and/ or controlling, again including barbarian would feel good for rp but I can live without it.

Playthrough will be RTwP mode, full party size with story companions, trying PotD for the first time but willing to forfeit and go back to veteran if I or the party I roll with just isn't good enough for it.

Edited August 12, 2020 by Daethoron

[Boeroer]

You can use a AoE weapon to spread afflictions like a Barb could do with Carnage in PoE.

For example Citzal's Spirit Lance works like that. 

A rel. popular choice is Monk/Wizard since the monk has access to a +10 INT buff (enlarges the AoE) and other great stuff such as Stunning Surge or Force of Anguish which work with the AoE of the Lance. But Barb/Wizard also works well - also because of the increased attack speed and most notably Blood Thirst later on.  

Another way to spread debuffs as a Barb multi or single class is to use Lord Darryn's Voulge. A Barb will apply sickened with it in an AoE through Static Thunder. A Monk/Barb can use crit conversions and then Swift Flurry to turn the Voulge into a deadly cascading weapon.

Yet another way is to use a whatever/Beckoner  (Berserker/Beckoner is tricky but has the highest potential) and grab Grave Calling (sabre) with the enchantment "Chilling Grave" and the one that paralyzes. This paralysis also works with the Chillfog that gets cast once you kill a vessel - and you can trigger it by killing your own skeletons... That's blinding + paralyzing via Chillfog and also staggering via Carnage/Spirit Frenzy as well as apply shaken with a shout. Furyshaper's wards will get replaced by other summons, so it's not a good pick for a Beckoner multiclass. 

 

 

[dgray62]

I've been playing a SC Furyshaper with LDV, and it hits like a truck. And once you get Blood Ward you don't have to worry about healing anymore.

[Daethoron]

Thank you for the input! Somehow Lord Darryn's Voulge hadn't made it onto my list of possible weapons, but I can definitely see it working. I'm thinking monk/ barb now that I know there's a good choice out there if Whispers of the Endless Paths doesn't interact with abilities the way I expect it to or if I decide it just doesn't do enough damage. And yeah, I can see the hit to crit conversion getting important with this, will focus on it.

[Boeroer]

Blood ward is indeed very powerful since it drains from all damage you cause, AoEs and DoTs included.

Edited August 13, 2020 by Boeroer

[dgray62]

A barbarian/monk wielding LDV produces frequent static thunder AOE explosions. It's a very satisfying build. Most people will go with the berserker subclass to get the frenzy hit to crit conversion, which helps land static thunder. But you'll need healing from party members to offset the raw damage from berserker frenzy.