Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fuzzycrusader 05-04-07, 03:03 AM	I'm trying to figure out the best way to make a Barbarian multi-classed with Wizard work. I mapped the character out under the assumption that I could take the battle caster feat, but when I looked into it I realized that I was dead wrong and that the feat wasn't even available to me. I was just wondering what you guys think the best way to go about this would be.
Naderion 05-04-07, 06:06 AM	I would make it a barbarian/sorcerer, that seems to be more beliveable than barbarian and wizards, two classes completly opposite in background.
CantripN 05-04-07, 06:13 AM	First of all, STAY AWAY FROM RAGE MAGE! Second, do it the same way you would for a Fighter and forget about progressing Rage. If you can cope with a weak PC, then Rage Mage will work, though...
Metafictional 05-04-07, 06:15 AM	Well, it can kind of make sense. Borrowing a concept from Nordic culture, let's examine a Barbarian people. No literacy? Well, obviously their culture has considered a written language. Perhaps, however, it is in the form of Runes, which only the Wise know. Rune writing has the power of the Gods, secret magics only known to the initiated. In a DnD setting, where the Wizard is the class most devoted to the power of written text (in the form of magical script), the integration of Barbarians and Wizards can make a bit more sense. In fact, one could see why a Barbarian, once he encounters Wizardry in the world beyond his homeland, could be either frightened, or intrigued by their powers. I remember a DM who thought a Barbarian/Bard wouldn't work, until I introduced him to the Skaldic tradition. Any combination of Classes can occur, it all depends on what cultures exist in your setting. As to how to make the Class work; I'd suggest looking at the Rage Mage (reprinted in Complete Arcane, I believe). You don't get much out of the PrC, granted, but at least it allows you to be a Barbarian and an Arcane Caster with less of a sting. Races of Stone has a few interesting Feats I would highly recommend for a melee caster hybrid, such as the ability to always take 10 on Concentration checks. Of course, if it's not flavor you want, but a more mechanically sound Barbarian spellcaster, I would probably recommend anything Psionic (Psychic Warrior is a good choice), the Duskblade, the Warmage, or possibly the Warlock. If not the aforementioned Bard. I don't recall if Swordsage has an alignment restriction, but if not, the "Arcane Swordsage" variant would work as well.
Eberik 05-04-07, 06:33 AM	Well, it can kind of make sense. Borrowing a concept from Nordic culture, let's examine a Barbarian people. No literacy? Well, obviously their culture has considered a written language. Perhaps, however, it is in the form of Runes, which only the Wise know. Rune writing has the power of the Gods, secret magics only known to the initiated. In a DnD setting, where the Wizard is the class most devoted to the power of written text (in the form of magical script), the integration of Barbarians and Wizards can make a bit more sense. In fact, one could see why a Barbarian, once he encounters Wizardry in the world beyond his homeland, could be either frightened, or intrigued by their powers. I remember a DM who thought a Barbarian/Bard wouldn't work, until I introduced him to the Skaldic tradition. Any combination of Classes can occur, it all depends on what cultures exist in your setting. As to how to make the Class work; I'd suggest looking at the Rage Mage (reprinted in Complete Arcane, I believe). You don't get much out of the PrC, granted, but at least it allows you to be a Barbarian and an Arcane Caster with less of a sting. Races of Stone has a few interesting Feats I would highly recommend for a melee caster hybrid, such as the ability to always take 10 on Concentration checks. Of course, if it's not flavor you want, but a more mechanically sound Barbarian spellcaster, I would probably recommend anything Psionic (Psychic Warrior is a good choice), the Duskblade, the Warmage, or possibly the Warlock. If not the aforementioned Bard. I don't recall if Swordsage has an alignment restriction, but if not, the "Arcane Swordsage" variant would work as well. One thing to remember, in Nordic culture, Viking is a verb not a title. It meant to "go raiding" or "go a-viking" basically. Most vikings would have just been fighter class not barbarian, cause well, the word originally meant that anyone who didn't speak greek, then it meant someone living outside of Rome, and then lastly it was refering to someone from outside of christian civilization. Frost and Fur (if you can find the book anywhere) is a perfect book for translating Nordic culture into D&D terms as far as classes and PrCs as well. But as for a barbarian/wizard, I would do like said before, just go barbarian/sorcerer. Just my opinion.
Khan the Destroyer 05-04-07, 06:36 AM	Choose spells that either buff you, summon something, or shape the battlefield. Because after that, your rage will prevent you from casting spells.
Ogg 05-04-07, 12:15 PM	I made a rage mage NPC, really wasn't too bad. He pre-buffed himself, fogged up the halls so he could approach then charged, leap attacked in the 1st round & used acid breath on the rest of the party in the 2nd round. It was fun but he was built more for flavor then powergaming. Anyways, you can try warmage (CAr) or battle sorcerer variant from UA they allow casting in light armor.
StevenO 05-04-07, 08:19 PM	I have liked the idea of running Barbarian as the martial component of what would be primarily a spellcasting character. If you are going to go more BARBARIAN/caster then I'd go with Barb4/caster2 and follow up with Abjurant Champion and other hybrid classes. Any fighter that wants to dip into arcane casting does well with the Abjurant Champ; it has a high BAB to qualify but a low spellcasting requirement but it advances your casting quickly. Here is a level 20 build to consider: Barbarian 5/ caster 1/ AbChamp5/ Rage Mage 9: BAB +16, CL 16 as lv9, Rage 4/d Of course other options exsist instead of Rage Mage which can get your BAB/CL up to +19; using Eldritch Knight instead gets you that BAB +19 with a level 14 casting abilitity.
runestar 05-04-07, 10:03 PM	You might want to just take a lv of wiz for the ability to use spell completion magic items such as wands. Which gives you to ability to cast personal ranged buffs on yourself prior to combat.
fuzzycrusader 05-05-07, 12:21 PM	Well thanks to everyone, this is all very helpful and I'll start looking into this stuff right away.