A question about barbarians [Archive] - Wizards Community

A question about barbarians [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zen78.5
10-26-04, 08:47 PM I am currently playing a barbarian earth genasi and am really enjoying his strength stats to the max in battle. But the whole extra hp when raging still has me a little confused. At his current level he gains 11 extra hp when raging, which if he has used up 10 when the rage ends he is already at -10 and only has one saving throw before permanent death. Now I like my character and would really like to see him live for a bit longer, are there any tricks in the rules that I am missing that may elongate his lifespan by more than a few encounters?????? Any help is appreciated.
Zen78.5
Malancthon
10-26-04, 09:05 PM Either don't rage, use Whirling Frenzy variant, which doesn't give you extra HP that you don't need and gives you extra AC which you CAN use instead as well as an extra attack and the fun strength bonus, or have a cleric or druid cast Vigor on you while you rage and hope it lasts long enough to get you on positive HP.
catharz
10-26-04, 09:08 PM I At his current level he gains 11 extra hp when raging, which if he has used up 10 when the rage ends he is already at -10 and only has one saving throw before permanent death.

Are you saying that your character has a base of -11 HP? WTH???
Malancthon
10-26-04, 09:19 PM Hmm... actually, that's impossible, I believe... a 5th level character with rage (whether barbarian 5 or bar 1 and ftr4 or whatever) will gain a bonus of 10 HP (+2 per CL, because of the +4 to Con while raging). A 6th level character with rage will gain a bonus of 12 HP. 11 is impossible, unless there's some feat I'm not thinking of.

But anyway, to answer the question, say the character is fighting and gets down to 1 HP, then rages (assume 5th level). His HP goes up to 11. He takes 10 points of damage, going back to 1 HP. After raging, his HP drops to -9, giving him one turn to save from losing that last HP. At -10, he dies. Dead. Stiff. et al.

How to avoid that is Zen's question, I believe.
djinni
10-27-04, 12:01 AM After raging, his HP drops to -9

temporary hitpoint loss won't kill you, if in the proposed situation you stop raging you drop to 0 hit points, but not enough to kill you.
Zathyr
10-27-04, 12:03 AM Can't you just drink a potion?
djinni
10-27-04, 12:11 AM if you are just in rage yes you can drink a potion I think.
frenzy is a big huge nono. alot of people like the four level dip into FB for the "deathless frenzy"
Funny Slaughter
10-27-04, 02:14 AM i really dont see the problem. if mr. barbarian gets down to 1 HP and rages he avoids his sure death when he takes further damage. its time to run for the healer now ("medic!").

gs
Funny
charlesatan
10-27-04, 08:50 AM Despite the baffling "11 extra hp", here's the thing:

For example, you're raging and you're down to your 0 hit points. Your rage ends, placing you at -11 hp. Before that happens, hopefully one of your other party members actually heals you (like the cleric, druid, paladin, or even the bard). Or drink a healing potion or something. Because once your rage ends, it's instant death for you if it reaches that point. The rage ability is there for you to survive in combat longer. I mean if you weren't raging, you'd be unconscious by the time you hit the 10 hp mark (since 10 - 11 = -1).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zen78.5 10-26-04, 08:47 PM	I am currently playing a barbarian earth genasi and am really enjoying his strength stats to the max in battle. But the whole extra hp when raging still has me a little confused. At his current level he gains 11 extra hp when raging, which if he has used up 10 when the rage ends he is already at -10 and only has one saving throw before permanent death. Now I like my character and would really like to see him live for a bit longer, are there any tricks in the rules that I am missing that may elongate his lifespan by more than a few encounters?????? Any help is appreciated. Zen78.5
Malancthon 10-26-04, 09:05 PM	Either don't rage, use Whirling Frenzy variant, which doesn't give you extra HP that you don't need and gives you extra AC which you CAN use instead as well as an extra attack and the fun strength bonus, or have a cleric or druid cast Vigor on you while you rage and hope it lasts long enough to get you on positive HP.
catharz 10-26-04, 09:08 PM	I At his current level he gains 11 extra hp when raging, which if he has used up 10 when the rage ends he is already at -10 and only has one saving throw before permanent death. Are you saying that your character has a base of -11 HP? WTH???
Malancthon 10-26-04, 09:19 PM	Hmm... actually, that's impossible, I believe... a 5th level character with rage (whether barbarian 5 or bar 1 and ftr4 or whatever) will gain a bonus of 10 HP (+2 per CL, because of the +4 to Con while raging). A 6th level character with rage will gain a bonus of 12 HP. 11 is impossible, unless there's some feat I'm not thinking of. But anyway, to answer the question, say the character is fighting and gets down to 1 HP, then rages (assume 5th level). His HP goes up to 11. He takes 10 points of damage, going back to 1 HP. After raging, his HP drops to -9, giving him one turn to save from losing that last HP. At -10, he dies. Dead. Stiff. et al. How to avoid that is Zen's question, I believe.
djinni 10-27-04, 12:01 AM	After raging, his HP drops to -9 temporary hitpoint loss won't kill you, if in the proposed situation you stop raging you drop to 0 hit points, but not enough to kill you.
Zathyr 10-27-04, 12:03 AM	Can't you just drink a potion?
djinni 10-27-04, 12:11 AM	if you are just in rage yes you can drink a potion I think. frenzy is a big huge nono. alot of people like the four level dip into FB for the "deathless frenzy"
Funny Slaughter 10-27-04, 02:14 AM	i really dont see the problem. if mr. barbarian gets down to 1 HP and rages he avoids his sure death when he takes further damage. its time to run for the healer now ("medic!"). gs Funny
charlesatan 10-27-04, 08:50 AM	Despite the baffling "11 extra hp", here's the thing: For example, you're raging and you're down to your 0 hit points. Your rage ends, placing you at -11 hp. Before that happens, hopefully one of your other party members actually heals you (like the cleric, druid, paladin, or even the bard). Or drink a healing potion or something. Because once your rage ends, it's instant death for you if it reaches that point. The rage ability is there for you to survive in combat longer. I mean if you weren't raging, you'd be unconscious by the time you hit the 10 hp mark (since 10 - 11 = -1).