Barbarian DR Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barbarian DR Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jnrhayz
09-02-04, 04:24 PM Hello,

I am looking to build a BArbarian that uses no armor, so basically I need to max out his damage resistance and armor class.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
SmiloDan
09-02-04, 04:46 PM Can you take a level of Sorcerer and take Mage Armor and Shield? Or maybe Psychic Warrior and get Inertial Armor or whatever?

Dodge and Mobility and Combat Expertise will be useful too.

Spring Attack might help since you won't be near what you just swung at, given enough room. Also, reach weapons can help you avoid melee attacks. You're still going to be vulnerable to ranged weapons.

Also, maybe use the Unearthed Arcana variant rage that gives you an extra attack and bonus to AC?

Play a gnome and get a size bonus to AC, and Dodge bonus vs Giants, and some extra Con.
jnrhayz
09-02-04, 04:57 PM I am trying to stay away from the spell casting classes.

I built this character for a high level campaign in early 3.0 edition. I now want to build him for a low level 3.5 game, but his high AC came from magical items.

I am trying to figure out a way to simulate that because my current DM gives us magic that he thinks is cool and we have no say. I plan on using spring attack as soon as I can get it.
Shandrakor
09-02-04, 05:16 PM While you did state that you wanted to stay away from spellcasting classes, you left open the 'manifesting' classes. I'd like to put in a good word for the WARMIND, from the XPH. In 10 levels, you get:
DR 3/-
+4 STR and CON for 1 minute, 3x/day
+4 AC for 1 minute, 3 x/day
Affect 2 adjacent squares with a single blow; works on Cleave too.
Full BAB
2 Good Saves

As you can see, any fighter worth his salt will be taking this. The manifestations are more in the nature of a bonus, as you only get 5 powers. Better PP than a PW 10.

Happy Gaming!
HippieKiller
09-02-04, 05:26 PM It´s kinda an open door but get roll with it from savage species it will help your DR ALOT. if your dm allows it anyway ;)
potsick
09-02-04, 06:01 PM How about the MIneral Warrior Template. Gives you DR 8/Adamantine, +4 STR, +4 Con, -2 Int, Wis, Chr. A few other abilities as well. All for LA +1.

IMO one of the best templates (along with feral) for a barbarian.

Mineral Warrior is found in the Underdark Book or here Mineral Warrior (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20031003e)
PhaedrusXY
09-02-04, 07:04 PM What's your DM's stance on alignment restrictions/switching? A level or two of monk could add Wis to AC and give you improved grapple and a decent unarmed attack (brawler).
potsick
09-02-04, 07:09 PM OR you could pick up two levels of Deep Warden PRC from the Races of Stone (have to be a dwarf) and get you Con bonus to your AC. This goes very well with the Mineral Warrior Template.
Ipsissimus
09-03-04, 12:22 AM Try the Goliath Barbarian, with racial substitution levels in barbarian. You'll get a higher DR faster, granted it's adamantite it's double the rate. Take the feat that boosts your DR by +1, and you'll have a pretty mighty DR.

As for armor...well, you're a barbarian. Someone else will fill you in on that part. :D
Karkul
09-03-04, 01:15 AM Swashbuckler 5
Monk 2
Drunken Master 4
Dervish 10

Its not really a barbarian in the technical sense of DND, but from a roleplayers perspective it'd seem practically identical I think. I can see it in my head...

The player is sitting sharing a mug of ale among friends when he's ambushed by a group of Orcs. He quickly stands up, appearing to nearly loose his balance and stumbles around in a circle. To the suprise of the orcs this stumbling gets faster and faster until all you can see is a tornado of sword, robe, blood and...uh oh *blarph* and...vomit.

The build is pretty feat intensive unfortunatly, but assuming an INT score of 30, you can get up to +15 AC (some of that is via dodge-like abilities so only to one person).
jnrhayz
09-03-04, 09:26 AM Thanks for all the help, I am sure I can get at least one of these approved.
El_Machinae
09-03-04, 10:18 AM What parts of the rules am I missing?

I think that DR 8/adamantitie is AWESOME for +1LA. Why isn't it the most popular fighter template?
malaegoth
09-03-04, 11:45 AM because its kind of overpowered? Most of the people tend to shy away from poorly balanced stuff, so thats why you don't see some prestige classes, races, or templates brought up in serious optimization.
Stan the Sneak
09-03-04, 04:16 PM IIRC Berserk gets you increased DR on every even level. Easy to get.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jnrhayz 09-02-04, 04:24 PM	Hello, I am looking to build a BArbarian that uses no armor, so basically I need to max out his damage resistance and armor class. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks
SmiloDan 09-02-04, 04:46 PM	Can you take a level of Sorcerer and take Mage Armor and Shield? Or maybe Psychic Warrior and get Inertial Armor or whatever? Dodge and Mobility and Combat Expertise will be useful too. Spring Attack might help since you won't be near what you just swung at, given enough room. Also, reach weapons can help you avoid melee attacks. You're still going to be vulnerable to ranged weapons. Also, maybe use the Unearthed Arcana variant rage that gives you an extra attack and bonus to AC? Play a gnome and get a size bonus to AC, and Dodge bonus vs Giants, and some extra Con.
jnrhayz 09-02-04, 04:57 PM	I am trying to stay away from the spell casting classes. I built this character for a high level campaign in early 3.0 edition. I now want to build him for a low level 3.5 game, but his high AC came from magical items. I am trying to figure out a way to simulate that because my current DM gives us magic that he thinks is cool and we have no say. I plan on using spring attack as soon as I can get it.
Shandrakor 09-02-04, 05:16 PM	While you did state that you wanted to stay away from spellcasting classes, you left open the 'manifesting' classes. I'd like to put in a good word for the WARMIND, from the XPH. In 10 levels, you get: DR 3/- +4 STR and CON for 1 minute, 3x/day +4 AC for 1 minute, 3 x/day Affect 2 adjacent squares with a single blow; works on Cleave too. Full BAB 2 Good Saves As you can see, any fighter worth his salt will be taking this. The manifestations are more in the nature of a bonus, as you only get 5 powers. Better PP than a PW 10. Happy Gaming!
HippieKiller 09-02-04, 05:26 PM	It´s kinda an open door but get roll with it from savage species it will help your DR ALOT. if your dm allows it anyway ;)
potsick 09-02-04, 06:01 PM	How about the MIneral Warrior Template. Gives you DR 8/Adamantine, +4 STR, +4 Con, -2 Int, Wis, Chr. A few other abilities as well. All for LA +1. IMO one of the best templates (along with feral) for a barbarian. Mineral Warrior is found in the Underdark Book or here Mineral Warrior (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20031003e)
PhaedrusXY 09-02-04, 07:04 PM	What's your DM's stance on alignment restrictions/switching? A level or two of monk could add Wis to AC and give you improved grapple and a decent unarmed attack (brawler).
potsick 09-02-04, 07:09 PM	OR you could pick up two levels of Deep Warden PRC from the Races of Stone (have to be a dwarf) and get you Con bonus to your AC. This goes very well with the Mineral Warrior Template.
Ipsissimus 09-03-04, 12:22 AM	Try the Goliath Barbarian, with racial substitution levels in barbarian. You'll get a higher DR faster, granted it's adamantite it's double the rate. Take the feat that boosts your DR by +1, and you'll have a pretty mighty DR. As for armor...well, you're a barbarian. Someone else will fill you in on that part. :D
Karkul 09-03-04, 01:15 AM	Swashbuckler 5 Monk 2 Drunken Master 4 Dervish 10 Its not really a barbarian in the technical sense of DND, but from a roleplayers perspective it'd seem practically identical I think. I can see it in my head... The player is sitting sharing a mug of ale among friends when he's ambushed by a group of Orcs. He quickly stands up, appearing to nearly loose his balance and stumbles around in a circle. To the suprise of the orcs this stumbling gets faster and faster until all you can see is a tornado of sword, robe, blood and...uh oh blarph and...vomit. The build is pretty feat intensive unfortunatly, but assuming an INT score of 30, you can get up to +15 AC (some of that is via dodge-like abilities so only to one person).
jnrhayz 09-03-04, 09:26 AM	Thanks for all the help, I am sure I can get at least one of these approved.
El_Machinae 09-03-04, 10:18 AM	What parts of the rules am I missing? I think that DR 8/adamantitie is AWESOME for +1LA. Why isn't it the most popular fighter template?
malaegoth 09-03-04, 11:45 AM	because its kind of overpowered? Most of the people tend to shy away from poorly balanced stuff, so thats why you don't see some prestige classes, races, or templates brought up in serious optimization.
Stan the Sneak 09-03-04, 04:16 PM	IIRC Berserk gets you increased DR on every even level. Easy to get.