Combat Skills

The Barbarian´s Combat skills exist to increase his power with weapons, whether they be of steel or of his own bare flesh.  This tree also opens up many new strategies with which to wage combat on the Barbarian´s enemies. 

Like all of the Barbarian´s skills, these Combat Skills are mostly straightforward and to the point.  None of them require equipped items to be used, except in the case where it changes the way a Barbarian could wield weapons (like Double Swing or Double Throw).  The tree is roughly divided up into three different catagories of skills: those that alter a Barbarian´s movement while attacking, those changing or altering the damage an attack does, or those that alter how a Barbarian wields his weapons.

These skills are all active skills.

Bash (Req: Clvl 1) Bash adds damage to a Barbarian´s attack.  The use of the skill is accompanied by a sweeping rush of dust caused by the sweep of the weapon.  Bash opens up most of the skill tree for the Barbarian, and is an excellent first choice for a skill in his retinue.

Leap (Req: Clvl 5) One of the most unusual skills for any character, the Barbarian´s Leap skill allows him to bound into the air and over some obstacles.  While airborne the Barbarian is nigh invulnerable, and it is a good way to escape combat (or enter it).

Double Swing (req: Clvl 5, Bash) Double Swing allows the Barbarian to wield two weapons at once, and able to strike two adjacencent spots simultaneously.  We don´t know if Souble Swing will be limited, or if he will have to obey extra strictures for wielding two powerful weapons.

Stun (Req: Clvl 10, Bash) Stun gives the Barbarian the power to stun a foe with a successful hit from an attack.  Stunned foes stop moving or attacking, setting them up for a brutal follow-up with normal attacks or another high-power skill.

Crushing Blow (Req: Clvl 10, Double Swing, Bash) This skill grants the Barbarian a much more powerful attack, and it is rumored that the Barbarian can "charge" this skill by holding down the selected mouse button, draining more mana for more damage with a successful hit.

Leap Attack (Req: Clvl 15, Leap) Leap Attack combines the Clvl 5 Leap skill with an attack when the Barbarian lands, making this skill more offensive than its predecessor.  Leap Attack is a great way to enter a melee battle, leaping in for an attack then leaping back out.

Concentrate (Req: Clvl 15, Bash, Stun) Not much is known about the Concentrate skill, but we think it is a combination of both Bash and Stun, and may also have a sort of "charging" element like Crushing Blow does.  It would make for a mean and powerful attack.

Double Throw (Req: Clvl 20, Double Swing, Crushing Blow, Bash) Double functions like Double Swing, except that with this skill the Barbarian can equip to missle weapons (like two javelins) and throw them simultaneously.  The ability to do this could pack a ton of damage.

Whirlwind (Req: Clvl 25, Leap, Leap Attack, Bash, Stun, Concentrate) The Whirlwind skill is unknown at this time, but we think it may allows the Barbarian to enter into a sort of spin, becoming a whirling cyclone of damaging steel and weapons.  This attack may also have other powers as befits the prerequisite skills for it to be attained.

Berserk (Req: Clvl 25, Bash, Stun, Concentrate) Berserk is also unknown, but owning up to its name it will probably increase the Barbarian´s damage dramatically while temporarily removing him from the player´s control and placing him under an erratic AI control.