Barbarian Rage Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barbarian Rage Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
nunchuckgun
04-24-06, 04:24 PM A fellow party member of mine is rolling a barb and wants some advice. He pretty much wants to be a rage-a-holic. He's dwarven and odds are he's using the dwarven urgosh from PHB once he can get his hands on one.
I've told him the obvious: take extra rage. A build that avoids caster levels as he's pretty fresh to the game would be optimal he says, so how do we get the most out of rage?

Also I was wondering what book Tireless Rage is in?

oh and his stats are:
14 str
12 dex
19 con
12 int
11 wis
10 cha
after racial bonuses and our dm's allowed point swap.
Woodstock_01
04-24-06, 04:34 PM If he takes the Dwarfen Urgrosh, try the following: Go for Exotic Weapon Master and take the 'Flurry of Strikes'-Weapon Trick. (use the Urgrosh two-handed not only for a better Power Attack-ratio)
rilem
04-24-06, 04:44 PM Books allowed?

Tireless Rage is in the PHB, 17th level barbarians get it. There's also the feat Tireless (from Player's Guide to Faerun) which makes you immune to fatigue, and the Horizon Walker Desert Terrain ability, which does the same thing.

I'd recommend against the Urgosh as you don't have the stats for TWF (although the EWM exploit is nice).

Dwarven Battlerager (some realms book) could be interesting.
ravenkith
04-24-06, 04:49 PM There are a couple of ways to take a barbarian, but with the books as given, and the stated goal, Frenzied Berserker (Complete Warrior) seems to be the top pick. Go straight barbarian til you can get into the class, then max out FB, and finish up with more barbarian.

If you want to get into it faster, you can try throwing in two (but no more than two) fighter levels to help get the feats quicker. Improved sunder is fun, if not profitable, and rage for everyone is always nice :)
rilem
04-24-06, 04:52 PM There are a couple of ways to take a barbarian, but with the books as given, and the stated goal, Frenzied Berserker.

Not with those stats and not with a new player. F.B. is a partykiller without a strong Will save, and should be designed from the ground up with that in mind.
Surreal
04-24-06, 04:59 PM If you're starting at higher ECL, a Dwarven were-wolverine lets you rage as much as you want (and the dire wolverine version makes you large). Grab a couple levels of some fighter-type, take some Warshaper levels, then dip into Deepwarden to put those Con bonuses into AC. It's not necessarily the most optimal, but you're a raging machine.
PhoenixInferno
04-24-06, 05:18 PM If you're starting at higher ECL, a Dwarven were-wolverine lets you rage as much as you want (and the dire wolverine version makes you large). Grab a couple levels of some fighter-type, take some Warshaper levels, then dip into Deepwarden to put those Con bonuses into AC. It's not necessarily the most optimal, but you're a raging machine.And a little over-complicated for the brand-new player, I think. Barbarian 20 is going to be good for him, I think. Maybe Battlerager levels also.
Surreal
04-24-06, 05:38 PM True, 'tis a tad overdone for someone new.

Start with barbarian levels, and maybe dip into the ever so popular fighter 2. Present a few possible prestige classes, so that they can eventually build in that direction. They should get the hang of it after a couple good sessions and working with the numbers upon levelling up.

Possible prestige classes: Bear Warrior, Exotic Weapon Master, Battlerager, Champion of Gwynfblargh...
nunchuckgun
04-24-06, 05:39 PM Which book has the battlerager?
rilem
04-24-06, 05:45 PM Races of Faerun.

Bbn/Fighter/BattleRager/HorizonWalker could work, as Battlerager/HW have complementary feats.
nunchuckgun
04-24-06, 09:23 PM Wow okay cool! Battlerager looks pretty sweet. I will definetly be recommending that for him.
Bloodlust_the_Bold
04-25-06, 03:34 AM the best rage machine is the FB, but yes either the character or the party has to take precautions to prevent him from killing the party (there are many threads on this)

Battlerager is fun, reminds of the dwarves in Salvatore's books

Champion of Gwynharwyf from the Book of exalted deeds
for the new player, righteous wrath also from exalted deeds is a must

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nunchuckgun 04-24-06, 04:24 PM	A fellow party member of mine is rolling a barb and wants some advice. He pretty much wants to be a rage-a-holic. He's dwarven and odds are he's using the dwarven urgosh from PHB once he can get his hands on one. I've told him the obvious: take extra rage. A build that avoids caster levels as he's pretty fresh to the game would be optimal he says, so how do we get the most out of rage? Also I was wondering what book Tireless Rage is in? oh and his stats are: 14 str 12 dex 19 con 12 int 11 wis 10 cha after racial bonuses and our dm's allowed point swap.
Woodstock_01 04-24-06, 04:34 PM	If he takes the Dwarfen Urgrosh, try the following: Go for Exotic Weapon Master and take the 'Flurry of Strikes'-Weapon Trick. (use the Urgrosh two-handed not only for a better Power Attack-ratio)
rilem 04-24-06, 04:44 PM	Books allowed? Tireless Rage is in the PHB, 17th level barbarians get it. There's also the feat Tireless (from Player's Guide to Faerun) which makes you immune to fatigue, and the Horizon Walker Desert Terrain ability, which does the same thing. I'd recommend against the Urgosh as you don't have the stats for TWF (although the EWM exploit is nice). Dwarven Battlerager (some realms book) could be interesting.
ravenkith 04-24-06, 04:49 PM	There are a couple of ways to take a barbarian, but with the books as given, and the stated goal, Frenzied Berserker (Complete Warrior) seems to be the top pick. Go straight barbarian til you can get into the class, then max out FB, and finish up with more barbarian. If you want to get into it faster, you can try throwing in two (but no more than two) fighter levels to help get the feats quicker. Improved sunder is fun, if not profitable, and rage for everyone is always nice :)
rilem 04-24-06, 04:52 PM	There are a couple of ways to take a barbarian, but with the books as given, and the stated goal, Frenzied Berserker. Not with those stats and not with a new player. F.B. is a partykiller without a strong Will save, and should be designed from the ground up with that in mind.
Surreal 04-24-06, 04:59 PM	If you're starting at higher ECL, a Dwarven were-wolverine lets you rage as much as you want (and the dire wolverine version makes you large). Grab a couple levels of some fighter-type, take some Warshaper levels, then dip into Deepwarden to put those Con bonuses into AC. It's not necessarily the most optimal, but you're a raging machine.
PhoenixInferno 04-24-06, 05:18 PM	If you're starting at higher ECL, a Dwarven were-wolverine lets you rage as much as you want (and the dire wolverine version makes you large). Grab a couple levels of some fighter-type, take some Warshaper levels, then dip into Deepwarden to put those Con bonuses into AC. It's not necessarily the most optimal, but you're a raging machine.And a little over-complicated for the brand-new player, I think. Barbarian 20 is going to be good for him, I think. Maybe Battlerager levels also.
Surreal 04-24-06, 05:38 PM	True, 'tis a tad overdone for someone new. Start with barbarian levels, and maybe dip into the ever so popular fighter 2. Present a few possible prestige classes, so that they can eventually build in that direction. They should get the hang of it after a couple good sessions and working with the numbers upon levelling up. Possible prestige classes: Bear Warrior, Exotic Weapon Master, Battlerager, Champion of Gwynfblargh...
nunchuckgun 04-24-06, 05:39 PM	Which book has the battlerager?
rilem 04-24-06, 05:45 PM	Races of Faerun. Bbn/Fighter/BattleRager/HorizonWalker could work, as Battlerager/HW have complementary feats.
nunchuckgun 04-24-06, 09:23 PM	Wow okay cool! Battlerager looks pretty sweet. I will definetly be recommending that for him.
Bloodlust_the_Bold 04-25-06, 03:34 AM	the best rage machine is the FB, but yes either the character or the party has to take precautions to prevent him from killing the party (there are many threads on this) Battlerager is fun, reminds of the dwarves in Salvatore's books Champion of Gwynharwyf from the Book of exalted deeds for the new player, righteous wrath also from exalted deeds is a must