Barb. rage and the ability to tell friend from foe [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barb. rage and the ability to tell friend from foe [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Big Dawg
02-10-04, 10:11 AM Hello all:

We (my group) recently just picked up the Book of exalted deads. My friend was looking through it and saw that there is a PrC that grants abilities similar to the barbarian.

I haven't see it but according to him: early on you gain the ability to rage as per the barbarian in the PHB. Later you gain the ability to keep your head while raging and under this it says something along the lines of you may keep you head while raging granting you the ability to tell friend from foe while doing so.

my question is: Does this mean that a normal barbarian can not tell friend from foe? Is it more like blood rage.

We always play that Core over-rules everything, but in this case the BoED doesn't realy change the rule, it just adds on to the original rule.

IMO That would make the Barbarian not to much fun to play because you would always attack your friends by mistake.

Anyone else notice this, if so how did you handle it?

Thanks in advance.
detectevil
02-10-04, 10:17 AM I don't remember seeing this PrC, but I have seem a feat in BoED that allows you to "keep your head" during a rage. It doesn't mean you can't tell friend from foe while raging. The feat acctually allows you to take actions that you would normally not be allowed during a rage, such as using combat expertise, move silently, retreat from melee without ending your rage, etc.
Xavier X
02-10-04, 05:06 PM The rules for rage are fairly clear and would state anything as important as not being able to identify friend from foe. It doesn't say you lose the ability to think, just the ability to focus (mentally).

As a side note when I played a barbarian in a rage I would attack anything that attacked me, including friends (dominated, accidental hit, etc.), usually starting with the closest "foe" and working my way out. So even though the Barbarian is arguably the most single dimensioned character you still have a little room to roleplay. :D
ManTimeForgot
02-11-04, 03:11 AM Barbarian rage does not prevent friend/foe distinction. Frenzy of the frenzied berserker does however prevent such.

In a franzy the frenzied berserker automatically goes after the target which the character initially battles with or the one which provoked the frenzy. After that it's who ever is closest (i.e. its good advice to stay away from the dude while he's frenzying).

If the BoED feat actually affected the frenzy (gave friend foe distinguishability), then it would be really overpowered if a frenzied berserker could get it.

Thank You all and have a nice day.
Signed,
The Man Time Forgot
Sensei Gith
02-11-04, 08:10 AM The average intelligence scores of most barbarians nonwithstanding, all Rage does is makes you focus more on offense (and start producing adrenaline at an alarming rate). You'll get hit more, but you probably don't care.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Big Dawg 02-10-04, 10:11 AM	Hello all: We (my group) recently just picked up the Book of exalted deads. My friend was looking through it and saw that there is a PrC that grants abilities similar to the barbarian. I haven't see it but according to him: early on you gain the ability to rage as per the barbarian in the PHB. Later you gain the ability to keep your head while raging and under this it says something along the lines of you may keep you head while raging granting you the ability to tell friend from foe while doing so. my question is: Does this mean that a normal barbarian can not tell friend from foe? Is it more like blood rage. We always play that Core over-rules everything, but in this case the BoED doesn't realy change the rule, it just adds on to the original rule. IMO That would make the Barbarian not to much fun to play because you would always attack your friends by mistake. Anyone else notice this, if so how did you handle it? Thanks in advance.
detectevil 02-10-04, 10:17 AM	I don't remember seeing this PrC, but I have seem a feat in BoED that allows you to "keep your head" during a rage. It doesn't mean you can't tell friend from foe while raging. The feat acctually allows you to take actions that you would normally not be allowed during a rage, such as using combat expertise, move silently, retreat from melee without ending your rage, etc.
Xavier X 02-10-04, 05:06 PM	The rules for rage are fairly clear and would state anything as important as not being able to identify friend from foe. It doesn't say you lose the ability to think, just the ability to focus (mentally). As a side note when I played a barbarian in a rage I would attack anything that attacked me, including friends (dominated, accidental hit, etc.), usually starting with the closest "foe" and working my way out. So even though the Barbarian is arguably the most single dimensioned character you still have a little room to roleplay. :D
ManTimeForgot 02-11-04, 03:11 AM	Barbarian rage does not prevent friend/foe distinction. Frenzy of the frenzied berserker does however prevent such. In a franzy the frenzied berserker automatically goes after the target which the character initially battles with or the one which provoked the frenzy. After that it's who ever is closest (i.e. its good advice to stay away from the dude while he's frenzying). If the BoED feat actually affected the frenzy (gave friend foe distinguishability), then it would be really overpowered if a frenzied berserker could get it. Thank You all and have a nice day. Signed, The Man Time Forgot
Sensei Gith 02-11-04, 08:10 AM	The average intelligence scores of most barbarians nonwithstanding, all Rage does is makes you focus more on offense (and start producing adrenaline at an alarming rate). You'll get hit more, but you probably don't care.