Building A Barbarian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building A Barbarian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ice_Relic
08-17-06, 10:00 PM I am looking to optimize to a powerful barbarian. Anyone have suggestions on building a Dwarf Barbarian? Please give me suggestions (almost all books are available, just no gestault).
PhoenixInferno
08-17-06, 10:04 PM Frenzied Berserker
Rhonin the Big
08-17-06, 10:22 PM The key to optimizing a barbarian is getting the most bonuses to strength and constitution possible. There are many ways to do this, and alot of them are combined into a single build often:

1: Reckless Rage (races of stone) +2 extra strength and con while raging but an extra -2 to AC. Very good barbarian feat.
2: The furious weapon enhancement: Rage becomes greater rage, greater rage becomes Mighty! Its a +2 enhancement from Oriental Adventures.
3: 2 levels in Eye of Gruumish, +4 extra strength while raging but the ac penalty goes to -4ac. It stacks with reckless rage, but its orc-specific and requires proficiency in orc double-axe (not the best rage weapon.)
4: the 1st goliath barbarian racial substitution level: Rage becomes mountain rage, you become completely large and get an extra +2 strength.

An orc can take levels like this: Barb3/stoneblessed3/eye of gruumish2/frenzied berserker10/barbarian2.

strength bonus = +6 greater (when you can afford a +1 furious weapon) +2 reckless +2 mountain rage +4 swing blindly +10 greater frenzy = +24 strength while going completely psycho!
Surreal
08-17-06, 10:38 PM An orc can take levels like this: Barb3/stoneblessed3/eye of gruumish2/frenzied berserker10/barbarian2.
I don't think you can gain Mountain Rage retroactively after going through Stoneblessed levels.
Auldar
08-17-06, 10:42 PM Check my sig for an Arctic Dwarf (+2 str and con, -4 dex, -2 cha) Bear Totem Barbarian 1/Pugilist 2 (fighter)/Wild Defender 1 (ranger)/Duskblade 1/Deepwarden 2/Frenzied Berserker 5/Primeval (Dire Ape) 3/Exotic Weapon Master 1/Shapeshifter 1/Berserk 1/Warshaper 2

Str = 20 base + 4 raging + 6 frenzy + 6 battle fury + 12 Primeval Dire Ape form + 4 warshaper + 5 levels + 5 inherant + 6 enhancement + 2 furious enhancement + 2 Feral Power + 1 Regression = 73 (31 modifier)

Exotic Weapon Master's Uncanny Blow allows you to get double strength bonus to damage instead of 1.5 when wielding the Dwarven Waraxe.

Con = 20 base + 4 raging + 6 battle fury + 4 Primeval Dire Ape form + 4 warshaper + 5 inherant + 6 enhancement + 2 furious enhancement + 2 Feral Power + 1 Regression = 54 (22 modifier)

Your rage/frenzy/battle fury last 25ish rounds.
Your Dire Ape form lasts 30 rounds.
You apply your Con bonus to AC.
You apply your Con bonus to Will saves.
You have 10' reach and are large when in Ape form.
You have a natural bite attack, and can grow another natural attack.
You have a rend attack if you prefer to use your claws (you could use a mouthpick weapon to free your claws up, although it's a bit cheesy).

You can enter Dire Ape form 4/day (although using Lion's Pounce will use up some of the 3/day wild shapes from Shapeshifter)
You can rage and frenzy 3/day
You can battle fury 1/day

Anyway, I like it :)
Stickboy2323
08-17-06, 10:59 PM I've always liked the Dwarven Berserker PrC (PGtF or RoF, I think). It increases your rages per day faster than normal plus it gives you a few bonus feats, some of which are actually useful, and a couple neat abilities that compliment the flavor of a dwarven barbarian build very well. And since it's only a 5 level class you can take it and still get a full Frenzied Berserker progression as well pre epic.
Auldar
08-17-06, 11:25 PM I've always liked the Dwarven Berserker PrC (PGtF or RoF, I think). It increases your rages per day faster than normal plus it gives you a few bonus feats, some of which are actually useful, and a couple neat abilities that compliment the flavor of a dwarven barbarian build very well. And since it's only a 5 level class you can take it and still get a full Frenzied Berserker progression as well pre epic.

I believe you are refering to the Battlerager PrC from Races of Faerun?
Stickboy2323
08-18-06, 01:08 AM That's right. I'm at work and away from my books right now and my memory let me down. Bad memory!
Auldar
08-18-06, 01:17 AM That's right. I'm at work and away from my books right now and my memory let me down. Bad memory!

When in doubt, I always check here first :)

PrCs:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lists/prc

Feats:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lists/feats
Kuroi Kenshi
08-18-06, 01:23 AM Runescarred Berserker is a great PrC from Unapproachable East. It's like a straight barbarian that also gets limited spell use. Champion of Gwynharharharf(sp) is an exalted PrC that is like a paladin mixed with a barbarian, with no drawbacks other than having to be exalted.

But yeah, capitalize on the barbarian's higher than normal STR and CON, and you'll do fine. Shock Trooper + Combat Brute are two great tactical feats from complete warrior. One or both of them will serve ya well, especially for charging. If you want to be a great charger, Leap Attack and Battle Jump will help alot. Elusive Target (complete warrior) can be a great feat to have if you make your AC go to crap from raging and using shock trooper, as you can negate one opponent's power attacks per round.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ice_Relic 08-17-06, 10:00 PM	I am looking to optimize to a powerful barbarian. Anyone have suggestions on building a Dwarf Barbarian? Please give me suggestions (almost all books are available, just no gestault).
PhoenixInferno 08-17-06, 10:04 PM	Frenzied Berserker
Rhonin the Big 08-17-06, 10:22 PM	The key to optimizing a barbarian is getting the most bonuses to strength and constitution possible. There are many ways to do this, and alot of them are combined into a single build often: 1: Reckless Rage (races of stone) +2 extra strength and con while raging but an extra -2 to AC. Very good barbarian feat. 2: The furious weapon enhancement: Rage becomes greater rage, greater rage becomes Mighty! Its a +2 enhancement from Oriental Adventures. 3: 2 levels in Eye of Gruumish, +4 extra strength while raging but the ac penalty goes to -4ac. It stacks with reckless rage, but its orc-specific and requires proficiency in orc double-axe (not the best rage weapon.) 4: the 1st goliath barbarian racial substitution level: Rage becomes mountain rage, you become completely large and get an extra +2 strength. An orc can take levels like this: Barb3/stoneblessed3/eye of gruumish2/frenzied berserker10/barbarian2. strength bonus = +6 greater (when you can afford a +1 furious weapon) +2 reckless +2 mountain rage +4 swing blindly +10 greater frenzy = +24 strength while going completely psycho!
Surreal 08-17-06, 10:38 PM	An orc can take levels like this: Barb3/stoneblessed3/eye of gruumish2/frenzied berserker10/barbarian2. I don't think you can gain Mountain Rage retroactively after going through Stoneblessed levels.
Auldar 08-17-06, 10:42 PM	Check my sig for an Arctic Dwarf (+2 str and con, -4 dex, -2 cha) Bear Totem Barbarian 1/Pugilist 2 (fighter)/Wild Defender 1 (ranger)/Duskblade 1/Deepwarden 2/Frenzied Berserker 5/Primeval (Dire Ape) 3/Exotic Weapon Master 1/Shapeshifter 1/Berserk 1/Warshaper 2 Str = 20 base + 4 raging + 6 frenzy + 6 battle fury + 12 Primeval Dire Ape form + 4 warshaper + 5 levels + 5 inherant + 6 enhancement + 2 furious enhancement + 2 Feral Power + 1 Regression = 73 (31 modifier) Exotic Weapon Master's Uncanny Blow allows you to get double strength bonus to damage instead of 1.5 when wielding the Dwarven Waraxe. Con = 20 base + 4 raging + 6 battle fury + 4 Primeval Dire Ape form + 4 warshaper + 5 inherant + 6 enhancement + 2 furious enhancement + 2 Feral Power + 1 Regression = 54 (22 modifier) Your rage/frenzy/battle fury last 25ish rounds. Your Dire Ape form lasts 30 rounds. You apply your Con bonus to AC. You apply your Con bonus to Will saves. You have 10' reach and are large when in Ape form. You have a natural bite attack, and can grow another natural attack. You have a rend attack if you prefer to use your claws (you could use a mouthpick weapon to free your claws up, although it's a bit cheesy). You can enter Dire Ape form 4/day (although using Lion's Pounce will use up some of the 3/day wild shapes from Shapeshifter) You can rage and frenzy 3/day You can battle fury 1/day Anyway, I like it :)
Stickboy2323 08-17-06, 10:59 PM	I've always liked the Dwarven Berserker PrC (PGtF or RoF, I think). It increases your rages per day faster than normal plus it gives you a few bonus feats, some of which are actually useful, and a couple neat abilities that compliment the flavor of a dwarven barbarian build very well. And since it's only a 5 level class you can take it and still get a full Frenzied Berserker progression as well pre epic.
Auldar 08-17-06, 11:25 PM	I've always liked the Dwarven Berserker PrC (PGtF or RoF, I think). It increases your rages per day faster than normal plus it gives you a few bonus feats, some of which are actually useful, and a couple neat abilities that compliment the flavor of a dwarven barbarian build very well. And since it's only a 5 level class you can take it and still get a full Frenzied Berserker progression as well pre epic. I believe you are refering to the Battlerager PrC from Races of Faerun?
Stickboy2323 08-18-06, 01:08 AM	That's right. I'm at work and away from my books right now and my memory let me down. Bad memory!
Auldar 08-18-06, 01:17 AM	That's right. I'm at work and away from my books right now and my memory let me down. Bad memory! When in doubt, I always check here first :) PrCs: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lists/prc Feats: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lists/feats
Kuroi Kenshi 08-18-06, 01:23 AM	Runescarred Berserker is a great PrC from Unapproachable East. It's like a straight barbarian that also gets limited spell use. Champion of Gwynharharharf(sp) is an exalted PrC that is like a paladin mixed with a barbarian, with no drawbacks other than having to be exalted. But yeah, capitalize on the barbarian's higher than normal STR and CON, and you'll do fine. Shock Trooper + Combat Brute are two great tactical feats from complete warrior. One or both of them will serve ya well, especially for charging. If you want to be a great charger, Leap Attack and Battle Jump will help alot. Elusive Target (complete warrior) can be a great feat to have if you make your AC go to crap from raging and using shock trooper, as you can negate one opponent's power attacks per round.