Alternate Barbarian - Steppes Rider [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternate Barbarian - Steppes Rider [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thurbane
08-13-06, 05:48 AM Hi all,

I need a little help developing a variant Barbarian class for my campaign.

My campaign has two destinct types of Barbarians - the frozen North "Viking" type barbarians, and the Eastern steppes "Mongol" type barbarians.

Basically, what I want to do is give the Steppes Barbarian a horse combat/riding feat chain instead of a Rage ability.

I was thinking of a bonus feat at 1st level, then at every even level (2,4,6,8 etc.) like a fighter. The bonus feat list will look something like this:

Mounted Combat (1st)
Spirited Charge
Trample
Skill Focus (Ride)
Animal Affinity
Mounted Archery or Ride By Attack
Weapon Focus (Composite Shortbow, Sabre or Lance)
Improved Mounted Archery

...any suggestions to expand this list, or to otherwise emphasize mounted combat at the expense of Rage?
VonRichthofen
08-13-06, 07:54 AM Bonus feats equal to a fighter's are too much.

Basically, you'll make them a mounted fighter that trade heavy armour/tower shield & weapon spec for increased movement, (improved) uncanny dodge, trap sense, damage reduction and an increased hit die. That's a little too good.

I'd go for something like one bonus feat every times their rage would improve, maybe one every four levels, but no more.

There need to be reasons left to play a fighter. If you keep the list very narrow, it might work out as you pointed it, but I'd council against that.
Teydyn
08-13-06, 09:27 AM Eastern steppes "Mongol" type barbarians.

Basically, what I want to do is give the Steppes Barbarian a horse combat/riding feat chain instead of a Rage ability.
Hmm, take the Ranger, give them a new Fighting Style (Mounted Combat & Co.), have the Animal Companion be their Horse and call it done?
Shadowfax7
08-13-06, 09:30 AM I suggest 4-5 bonus feats in exchange for Rage and its related abilities, Greater Rage, Tireless Rage, Indomitable Will and Mighty Rage.

Mounted Combat @ 1st level
Mounted Archery @ 4th level
Ride-by Attack @ 8th level
Spirited Charge @ 12th level
Trample @ 16th level

I would even consider keeping Indomitable Will @ 14th level, but making it kick in during a mounted charge only, instead of while raging.
VonRichthofen
08-13-06, 09:34 AM Hmm, take the Ranger, give them a new Fighting Style (Mounted Combat & Co.), have the Animal Companion be their Horse and call it done?

Quite a good concept, alltough I'd have to ask what will happen to their favoured enemies & spells, the concept does not seem to work for massed troops like Djengis Khan's Mongol hordes (300.000 rangers, anybody?). On the other hand, since most of them wouldn't exctly be high level, why not give it a try?
SeptimusMagistos
08-13-06, 10:56 AM I deem this to be historically acurate. Except that Mongols were shrimps who couldn't take a punch. This looks more like the mighty Skith tribe(not sure about the spelling).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thurbane 08-13-06, 05:48 AM	Hi all, I need a little help developing a variant Barbarian class for my campaign. My campaign has two destinct types of Barbarians - the frozen North "Viking" type barbarians, and the Eastern steppes "Mongol" type barbarians. Basically, what I want to do is give the Steppes Barbarian a horse combat/riding feat chain instead of a Rage ability. I was thinking of a bonus feat at 1st level, then at every even level (2,4,6,8 etc.) like a fighter. The bonus feat list will look something like this: Mounted Combat (1st) Spirited Charge Trample Skill Focus (Ride) Animal Affinity Mounted Archery or Ride By Attack Weapon Focus (Composite Shortbow, Sabre or Lance) Improved Mounted Archery ...any suggestions to expand this list, or to otherwise emphasize mounted combat at the expense of Rage?
VonRichthofen 08-13-06, 07:54 AM	Bonus feats equal to a fighter's are too much. Basically, you'll make them a mounted fighter that trade heavy armour/tower shield & weapon spec for increased movement, (improved) uncanny dodge, trap sense, damage reduction and an increased hit die. That's a little too good. I'd go for something like one bonus feat every times their rage would improve, maybe one every four levels, but no more. There need to be reasons left to play a fighter. If you keep the list very narrow, it might work out as you pointed it, but I'd council against that.
Teydyn 08-13-06, 09:27 AM	Eastern steppes "Mongol" type barbarians. Basically, what I want to do is give the Steppes Barbarian a horse combat/riding feat chain instead of a Rage ability. Hmm, take the Ranger, give them a new Fighting Style (Mounted Combat & Co.), have the Animal Companion be their Horse and call it done?
Shadowfax7 08-13-06, 09:30 AM	I suggest 4-5 bonus feats in exchange for Rage and its related abilities, Greater Rage, Tireless Rage, Indomitable Will and Mighty Rage. Mounted Combat @ 1st level Mounted Archery @ 4th level Ride-by Attack @ 8th level Spirited Charge @ 12th level Trample @ 16th level I would even consider keeping Indomitable Will @ 14th level, but making it kick in during a mounted charge only, instead of while raging.
VonRichthofen 08-13-06, 09:34 AM	Hmm, take the Ranger, give them a new Fighting Style (Mounted Combat & Co.), have the Animal Companion be their Horse and call it done? Quite a good concept, alltough I'd have to ask what will happen to their favoured enemies & spells, the concept does not seem to work for massed troops like Djengis Khan's Mongol hordes (300.000 rangers, anybody?). On the other hand, since most of them wouldn't exctly be high level, why not give it a try?
SeptimusMagistos 08-13-06, 10:56 AM	I deem this to be historically acurate. Except that Mongols were shrimps who couldn't take a punch. This looks more like the mighty Skith tribe(not sure about the spelling).