Barbarian Fast Movement [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barbarian Fast Movement [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
chrushinator
08-31-05, 10:57 PM A barbarian's land speed is faster than the norm by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when he is wearing no armor, light armor or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load.

...

For example, a human barbarian has a speed of 40 feet, rather than 30 feet, when wearing light or no armor. When wearing medium armor or carrying a medium load, his speed drops to 30 feet.

I didn't see this contradiction pointed out in the official errata. From reading the character optimization board, I thiink that the consensus is toward the latter explanation, since it elaborates with multiple examples. But I'm not sure, so I thought I'd ask what the official stance is.
ccubed
08-31-05, 11:21 PM Here's a full quote regarding Barbarian movement and armor interaction from the Main FAQ (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/Main35FAQv08242005.zip):
"Just how fast can a dwarf barbarian, or other race with
a speed of 20, move in medium armor? There are two
prevailing opinions on this: 25 feet (10 feet more than that
of a typical dwarf in medium armor) or 20 feet (the result
of consulting table 7–6 for a creature with a speed of 30
feet). What is the intent of the statements on page 122 of the
Player’s Handbook regarding table 7–6: “Dwarves, gnomes,
and halflings have an unencumbered speed of 20 feet. They
use the second column.” That is, where should the emphasis
be placed, on the mention of race or on the inclusion of
unencumbered speed?
Table 7–6 uses base speeds, not races. Always apply any
speed increases a character has before applying the effects of
armor (see page 147 in the Player’s Handbook). A halfling or
gnome barbarian in medium armor has a speed of 20 feet. A
dwarf barbarian in medium armor has a speed of 30 feet
because medium or heavy armor doesn’t reduce a dwarf’s
speed (see page 14 in the Player’s Handbook)."
ShinAkuma2
09-01-05, 12:53 AM There's not much to explain, really. A medium Barbarian with medium armor has speed of 30, as opposed to a normal medium character's speed of 20. This isn't a contradiction to fast movement; it's because of fast movement.
ccubed
09-01-05, 01:10 AM Well according to the FAQ and the quote I posted above, that's not true Shin. That ruling and the information on Bonuses to Speed on page 147 of the Player's Handbook indicate you would apply the +10 speed bonus and then be restricted by the armor's maximum speed. So a Human Barbarian in Medium armor would have a base speed of 40' but would be reduced to 20' because that's the max speed for Medium armor.

edit: Although looking at the FAQ rulings, the tables listed and the PHB notes on speed, I don't know that my example is correct since there is no listing for a 40' base regarding armor speed. It also seems like, contrary to the FAQ, a Gnome or Haflling Barbarian should have a base speed of 30' and then it should be reduced by 5' by small-medium armor shown on page 123, but oh well.
Greyman
09-01-05, 04:24 AM edit: Although looking at the FAQ rulings, the tables listed and the PHB notes on speed, I don't know that my example is correct since there is no listing for a 40' base regarding armor speed. You can always check the System Reference Document (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35) if you can't find something in the books, or they are not close at hand.Armor and Encumbrance for Other Base Speeds.
The table below provides reduced speed figures for all base speeds from 20 feet to 100 feet (in 10-foot increments).
Base Speed Reduced Speed
20 ft. 15 ft.
30 ft. 20 ft.
40 ft. 30 ft.
50 ft. 35 ft.
60 ft. 40 ft.
70 ft. 50 ft.
80 ft. 55 ft.
90 ft. 60 ft.
100 ft. 70 ft.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
chrushinator 08-31-05, 10:57 PM	A barbarian's land speed is faster than the norm by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when he is wearing no armor, light armor or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load. ... For example, a human barbarian has a speed of 40 feet, rather than 30 feet, when wearing light or no armor. When wearing medium armor or carrying a medium load, his speed drops to 30 feet. I didn't see this contradiction pointed out in the official errata. From reading the character optimization board, I thiink that the consensus is toward the latter explanation, since it elaborates with multiple examples. But I'm not sure, so I thought I'd ask what the official stance is.
ccubed 08-31-05, 11:21 PM	Here's a full quote regarding Barbarian movement and armor interaction from the Main FAQ (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/Main35FAQv08242005.zip): "Just how fast can a dwarf barbarian, or other race with a speed of 20, move in medium armor? There are two prevailing opinions on this: 25 feet (10 feet more than that of a typical dwarf in medium armor) or 20 feet (the result of consulting table 7–6 for a creature with a speed of 30 feet). What is the intent of the statements on page 122 of the Player’s Handbook regarding table 7–6: “Dwarves, gnomes, and halflings have an unencumbered speed of 20 feet. They use the second column.” That is, where should the emphasis be placed, on the mention of race or on the inclusion of unencumbered speed? Table 7–6 uses base speeds, not races. Always apply any speed increases a character has before applying the effects of armor (see page 147 in the Player’s Handbook). A halfling or gnome barbarian in medium armor has a speed of 20 feet. A dwarf barbarian in medium armor has a speed of 30 feet because medium or heavy armor doesn’t reduce a dwarf’s speed (see page 14 in the Player’s Handbook)."
ShinAkuma2 09-01-05, 12:53 AM	There's not much to explain, really. A medium Barbarian with medium armor has speed of 30, as opposed to a normal medium character's speed of 20. This isn't a contradiction to fast movement; it's because of fast movement.
ccubed 09-01-05, 01:10 AM	Well according to the FAQ and the quote I posted above, that's not true Shin. That ruling and the information on Bonuses to Speed on page 147 of the Player's Handbook indicate you would apply the +10 speed bonus and then be restricted by the armor's maximum speed. So a Human Barbarian in Medium armor would have a base speed of 40' but would be reduced to 20' because that's the max speed for Medium armor. edit: Although looking at the FAQ rulings, the tables listed and the PHB notes on speed, I don't know that my example is correct since there is no listing for a 40' base regarding armor speed. It also seems like, contrary to the FAQ, a Gnome or Haflling Barbarian should have a base speed of 30' and then it should be reduced by 5' by small-medium armor shown on page 123, but oh well.
Greyman 09-01-05, 04:24 AM	edit: Although looking at the FAQ rulings, the tables listed and the PHB notes on speed, I don't know that my example is correct since there is no listing for a 40' base regarding armor speed. You can always check the System Reference Document (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35) if you can't find something in the books, or they are not close at hand.Armor and Encumbrance for Other Base Speeds. The table below provides reduced speed figures for all base speeds from 20 feet to 100 feet (in 10-foot increments). Base Speed Reduced Speed 20 ft. 15 ft. 30 ft. 20 ft. 40 ft. 30 ft. 50 ft. 35 ft. 60 ft. 40 ft. 70 ft. 50 ft. 80 ft. 55 ft. 90 ft. 60 ft. 100 ft. 70 ft.