Barbarians, HP, and Rage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barbarians, HP, and Rage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kevtar
05-22-05, 04:48 PM What happens to barbarian HP when he gains HP, takes damage, and then at the end of the rage is in the negative range of his original HP.

for instance

Barb gains has 24hp and gains +12 when rages for a total of 36hp

during battle he sustains 37pts of damage (drops to -1)

at the end of battle, his rage ends... is he now at -13hp?

Thanks
Egres
05-22-05, 04:54 PM What happens to barbarian HP when he gains HP, takes damage, and then at the end of the rage is in the negative range of his original HP.

for instance

Barb gains has 24hp and gains +12 when rages for a total of 36hp

during battle he sustains 37pts of damage (drops to -1)

at the end of battle, his rage ends... is he now at -13hp?

Thanks
Right.

He's dead.
Neff
05-22-05, 04:54 PM In a word, yes. A barbarian loses HP at the end of a rage equal to the HP gained from the rage...effectively.
Malancthon
05-22-05, 05:51 PM Which is another reason why Whirling Frenzy from Unearthed Arcana is soooooooooooooo much better than normal rage.

Whirling Frenzy adds to your AC, which is better than lowering your AC just because you can take more damage (and possibly die because of it).

The Barbarian's d12 HD is more than enough HP. I find the bonus HP for raging to be superflious, although it looks nice. But it's a deathtrap.

And most importantly, Whirling Frenzy gives you an extra attack at your highest BAB (along with a -2 penelty to hit, which is pretty much negated by the +4 Strength).

The only thing Rage has over Whirling Frenzy is the Will bonus.
Aerunation
05-22-05, 10:31 PM I just look at it as giving the healer extra time to cast his cure spells :)
Manyfist
05-22-05, 10:43 PM Unless your going straight from the book, your Barbarin just died, which sucks. Yet you can change that by making it like Bonus HP, in such if he loses the Hp, no Ill effect, it keeps him from dieing at the end of rage. :P
Particle_Man
05-22-05, 11:00 PM Which is another reason why Whirling Frenzy from Unearthed Arcana is soooooooooooooo much better than normal rage.

The only thing Rage has over Whirling Frenzy is the Will bonus.

Although since Rage adds to Con, and Con determines the duration, the Rage will last 2 rounds longer than a Whirling Frenzy, other things being equal.

I like how one game book put it (Complete Warrior Power Gamer Guide or something) when it said something like "don't even write those bonus hit points down, or you will end up dead. When your hp gets you into "overtime" get out of combat and get healed. Immediately.

This is also why I think the "die hard" feat is really not worth it. Unless, of course, you are a barbarian using rage...:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kevtar 05-22-05, 04:48 PM	What happens to barbarian HP when he gains HP, takes damage, and then at the end of the rage is in the negative range of his original HP. for instance Barb gains has 24hp and gains +12 when rages for a total of 36hp during battle he sustains 37pts of damage (drops to -1) at the end of battle, his rage ends... is he now at -13hp? Thanks
Egres 05-22-05, 04:54 PM	What happens to barbarian HP when he gains HP, takes damage, and then at the end of the rage is in the negative range of his original HP. for instance Barb gains has 24hp and gains +12 when rages for a total of 36hp during battle he sustains 37pts of damage (drops to -1) at the end of battle, his rage ends... is he now at -13hp? Thanks Right. He's dead.
Neff 05-22-05, 04:54 PM	In a word, yes. A barbarian loses HP at the end of a rage equal to the HP gained from the rage...effectively.
Malancthon 05-22-05, 05:51 PM	Which is another reason why Whirling Frenzy from Unearthed Arcana is soooooooooooooo much better than normal rage. Whirling Frenzy adds to your AC, which is better than lowering your AC just because you can take more damage (and possibly die because of it). The Barbarian's d12 HD is more than enough HP. I find the bonus HP for raging to be superflious, although it looks nice. But it's a deathtrap. And most importantly, Whirling Frenzy gives you an extra attack at your highest BAB (along with a -2 penelty to hit, which is pretty much negated by the +4 Strength). The only thing Rage has over Whirling Frenzy is the Will bonus.
Aerunation 05-22-05, 10:31 PM	I just look at it as giving the healer extra time to cast his cure spells :)
Manyfist 05-22-05, 10:43 PM	Unless your going straight from the book, your Barbarin just died, which sucks. Yet you can change that by making it like Bonus HP, in such if he loses the Hp, no Ill effect, it keeps him from dieing at the end of rage. :P
Particle_Man 05-22-05, 11:00 PM	Which is another reason why Whirling Frenzy from Unearthed Arcana is soooooooooooooo much better than normal rage. The only thing Rage has over Whirling Frenzy is the Will bonus. Although since Rage adds to Con, and Con determines the duration, the Rage will last 2 rounds longer than a Whirling Frenzy, other things being equal. I like how one game book put it (Complete Warrior Power Gamer Guide or something) when it said something like "don't even write those bonus hit points down, or you will end up dead. When your hp gets you into "overtime" get out of combat and get healed. Immediately. This is also why I think the "die hard" feat is really not worth it. Unless, of course, you are a barbarian using rage...:)