Barbarian Trap Sense???? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barbarian Trap Sense???? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
infideli
09-24-06, 10:07 AM Why?

Whose brilliant idea was it to give barbarians trap sense? In 3.0 they did not have it and their other abilities were at higher levels... so this was part of a "power increase" for the barbarian class.

Why would a barbarian have special ability regarding traps as opposed to animal magnetism (charisma bonus for animals or chaotics) or maybe for fierceness (intimidate) or heartiness (bonus versus death effects) or thoughtlessness (initiative binus for moving to attack only)?

I have never seen a barbarian learning traps in the game or even walking ahead to "absorb damage" from a trap as a meat shield. Why not do the monk thing and just give an extra feat at 5th (or whenever) and another every X levels for the PC to customize?

Next time I DM (just ended a campaign) I'll set a house rule to ERASE the trap sense bonus and add an equivalent power.

G
Thunder Dragonbane
09-24-06, 10:22 AM I would think that it would only work in a outdoor enviornment.

Barbarians would have to learn how to make traps and snares for hunting reasons.

If this is not the case, you may be right to swap it out.
Narthon
09-24-06, 10:39 AM Conan never got killed by a trap.

That is reason enough.
Jerks
09-24-06, 10:47 AM Exactly, people try to kill Conan with traps all the time and his backwater barbarian training always alerts him to danger just in time.

If you do get rid of it, I would caution you not to overcompensate. Giving out multiple feats, as you hinted at, is way too strong. Maybe one feat, two if you make them select from a small list of noncombat type feats, Alertness, Track, Endurance and so on. It's a very conditional type of ability that may or may not come into play, while a feat is often something that a player gets frequent use out of.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
infideli 09-24-06, 10:07 AM	Why? Whose brilliant idea was it to give barbarians trap sense? In 3.0 they did not have it and their other abilities were at higher levels... so this was part of a "power increase" for the barbarian class. Why would a barbarian have special ability regarding traps as opposed to animal magnetism (charisma bonus for animals or chaotics) or maybe for fierceness (intimidate) or heartiness (bonus versus death effects) or thoughtlessness (initiative binus for moving to attack only)? I have never seen a barbarian learning traps in the game or even walking ahead to "absorb damage" from a trap as a meat shield. Why not do the monk thing and just give an extra feat at 5th (or whenever) and another every X levels for the PC to customize? Next time I DM (just ended a campaign) I'll set a house rule to ERASE the trap sense bonus and add an equivalent power. G
Thunder Dragonbane 09-24-06, 10:22 AM	I would think that it would only work in a outdoor enviornment. Barbarians would have to learn how to make traps and snares for hunting reasons. If this is not the case, you may be right to swap it out.
Narthon 09-24-06, 10:39 AM	Conan never got killed by a trap. That is reason enough.
Jerks 09-24-06, 10:47 AM	Exactly, people try to kill Conan with traps all the time and his backwater barbarian training always alerts him to danger just in time. If you do get rid of it, I would caution you not to overcompensate. Giving out multiple feats, as you hinted at, is way too strong. Maybe one feat, two if you make them select from a small list of noncombat type feats, Alertness, Track, Endurance and so on. It's a very conditional type of ability that may or may not come into play, while a feat is often something that a player gets frequent use out of.