Dwarven Barbarian, would like advice [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dwarven Barbarian, would like advice [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
gundarc
04-14-06, 06:03 PM OK here it is, I have a 1st lvl Dwarf Barbarian.

Name Ungred Stormhammer
stats (Rolled)
Str 15
Dex 15
Con 18
Int 11
Wis 12
Cha 9
Com 3 (2nd ed stat rolled separately)

Feats Weapon Focus Waraxe

Background:
Born in his Families Mining complex in the mountains, Ungred grew up learing the Metalworking trade from his Cleric of Moradin Father. His mother ( a Defender) taught him the way of the axe. Things looked promising as the mine was profitable and work plentiful until (in his 27th year) the Orcs suprised the Defenders and overran the complex. The Dwarves rallied well and the fighting for the tunnels was long and hard but the sheer numbers and ogre allies forced the defenders back to the Final stand, The Temple of Moradin. Ungred (being a dwarf teen) was in the Temple with his parents and other non combatants and last remaining defenders when the Orcs and Ogre stormed in. The fight was brutal and bloody. Ungreds mother was one of the first to fall and Ungred rushed to her side only to be smashed in the face by the Ogre, and sent flying through the air into darkness.

Pain, wetness and a stench assailed him as he awoke to a deathly silence, the corpses of his friends and family around him. Ungred crawled to his mothers corpse cradling her broken body in his arms. Suddenly he heard orcish voices approaching and grabbed his mothers axe, his head pounded and his vision blurred but he was intent on killing these orcs or joining his ancestors trying. His eyes lit on the smashed shrine to Moradin and his fathers body sprawled before it and something inside him lit, his eyes scanned the dead and it began to Burn, the orcs and ogre walked in and it Raged. What happened next he knew not but when the rage ended he stood alone in the room surrounded by more corpses, but this time those of his enemies. Ungred hastily arranged the bodies of his parents before the Altar, straightened it as best he could and prayed for Help. Grabbing his fathers holy symbol, filled with despair and fatigued, he fled making for the outside and his escape vowing vengeance on all orcs and their kind.

Outside and in the wilderness Ungred quickly became lost and disoriented but with his loss, sadness and burning desire for revenge, he wandered where ever he chose killing or harassing orcs when opportunities arose.

Ok here's my problem. This background (please feel free to comment on) had Ungred set up to multiclass as a Cleric but I think it also cries out to Ranger as well. Any thougths? New to posting so be gentle :rolleyes:

Thanks
KoronBlackwing
04-15-06, 09:26 AM The background is good if a little cliche. As for multiclassing I would suggest strongly against it if your DM is a rules heavy sort that will impose the multiclass EXP penalty if you don't stay within 2 lvls.
noblebards
04-18-06, 04:56 AM I'm playing a dwarven barbarian, similarly, in another campaign that my friend is running. Here is my build so far.

1st level- Barbarian. Feat: Ancestral knowlege. (From races of Stone)
2nd level- Ranger. Favored enemy: Orc.
3rd level- Barbarian. Feat: Extra rage.
4th level- Ranger. Two-weapon fighting. +1 CON
5th level- Ranger. Get the endurance feat you need for free to become deepwarden.
6th level- Deepwarden. (From races of Stone) Also, pick up a feat that allows you to use a non-light weapon in the offhand without penalty.
7th level- Deepwarden.

After that you're set, you get to use your naturally high CON bonus instead of your DEX, wear a light mithral chain shirt and use two dwarven waraxes and go to town. You have a +7 BAB too, which is good. You'll have plenty of skills and ranger feats to make a good scout and plenty of hit points and fighting ability to be a frontline fighter/meatshield. I took the ancestral knowlege just to round out the character, a high wisdom (for ranger spells) helps you with a bardic knowledge substitute so you aren't too one-dimensional. After this build, I'd say take a level or two of fighter (dwarven substitution level at first for axe focus) to round out your combat. Fighter of course doesn't make you incur any XP penalties.

Enjoy.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
gundarc 04-14-06, 06:03 PM	OK here it is, I have a 1st lvl Dwarf Barbarian. Name Ungred Stormhammer stats (Rolled) Str 15 Dex 15 Con 18 Int 11 Wis 12 Cha 9 Com 3 (2nd ed stat rolled separately) Feats Weapon Focus Waraxe Background: Born in his Families Mining complex in the mountains, Ungred grew up learing the Metalworking trade from his Cleric of Moradin Father. His mother ( a Defender) taught him the way of the axe. Things looked promising as the mine was profitable and work plentiful until (in his 27th year) the Orcs suprised the Defenders and overran the complex. The Dwarves rallied well and the fighting for the tunnels was long and hard but the sheer numbers and ogre allies forced the defenders back to the Final stand, The Temple of Moradin. Ungred (being a dwarf teen) was in the Temple with his parents and other non combatants and last remaining defenders when the Orcs and Ogre stormed in. The fight was brutal and bloody. Ungreds mother was one of the first to fall and Ungred rushed to her side only to be smashed in the face by the Ogre, and sent flying through the air into darkness. Pain, wetness and a stench assailed him as he awoke to a deathly silence, the corpses of his friends and family around him. Ungred crawled to his mothers corpse cradling her broken body in his arms. Suddenly he heard orcish voices approaching and grabbed his mothers axe, his head pounded and his vision blurred but he was intent on killing these orcs or joining his ancestors trying. His eyes lit on the smashed shrine to Moradin and his fathers body sprawled before it and something inside him lit, his eyes scanned the dead and it began to Burn, the orcs and ogre walked in and it Raged. What happened next he knew not but when the rage ended he stood alone in the room surrounded by more corpses, but this time those of his enemies. Ungred hastily arranged the bodies of his parents before the Altar, straightened it as best he could and prayed for Help. Grabbing his fathers holy symbol, filled with despair and fatigued, he fled making for the outside and his escape vowing vengeance on all orcs and their kind. Outside and in the wilderness Ungred quickly became lost and disoriented but with his loss, sadness and burning desire for revenge, he wandered where ever he chose killing or harassing orcs when opportunities arose. Ok here's my problem. This background (please feel free to comment on) had Ungred set up to multiclass as a Cleric but I think it also cries out to Ranger as well. Any thougths? New to posting so be gentle :rolleyes: Thanks
KoronBlackwing 04-15-06, 09:26 AM	The background is good if a little cliche. As for multiclassing I would suggest strongly against it if your DM is a rules heavy sort that will impose the multiclass EXP penalty if you don't stay within 2 lvls.
noblebards 04-18-06, 04:56 AM	I'm playing a dwarven barbarian, similarly, in another campaign that my friend is running. Here is my build so far. 1st level- Barbarian. Feat: Ancestral knowlege. (From races of Stone) 2nd level- Ranger. Favored enemy: Orc. 3rd level- Barbarian. Feat: Extra rage. 4th level- Ranger. Two-weapon fighting. +1 CON 5th level- Ranger. Get the endurance feat you need for free to become deepwarden. 6th level- Deepwarden. (From races of Stone) Also, pick up a feat that allows you to use a non-light weapon in the offhand without penalty. 7th level- Deepwarden. After that you're set, you get to use your naturally high CON bonus instead of your DEX, wear a light mithral chain shirt and use two dwarven waraxes and go to town. You have a +7 BAB too, which is good. You'll have plenty of skills and ranger feats to make a good scout and plenty of hit points and fighting ability to be a frontline fighter/meatshield. I took the ancestral knowlege just to round out the character, a high wisdom (for ranger spells) helps you with a bardic knowledge substitute so you aren't too one-dimensional. After this build, I'd say take a level or two of fighter (dwarven substitution level at first for axe focus) to round out your combat. Fighter of course doesn't make you incur any XP penalties. Enjoy.