Post/Author/DateTime	Post
poogie525 11-27-06, 02:36 AM	How would you go about beefing out a barbarian? I am currently level 2 and playing the savage tides campaign ( dungeon and dragon magazine). I fight with a falchion since its a pirate kinda setting. Well I was looknig for a prestige class for barbarian but I coudn't really find one that was better than the 20 levels barbarian offers. Could anyone find something better? Maybe something just suted for the campaign? It is an aquatic based campaign. We go from land to sea then repeat. So really anything that will help in either situation but not rely on one to much.
KurenaiYami 11-27-06, 02:38 AM	How would you go about beefing out a barbarian? I am currently level 2 and playing the savage tides campaign ( dungeon and dragon magazine). I fight with a falchion since its a pirate kinda setting. Well I was looknig for a prestige class for barbarian but I coudn't really find one that was better than the 20 levels barbarian offers. Could anyone find something better? Maybe something just suted for the campaign? It is an aquatic based campaign. We go from land to sea then repeat. So really anything that will help in either situation but not rely on one to much. Frenzied Berseker is stronger for sure, but...there's that whole "killing all your party members" thing. Base Barbarian is pretty cool though.
rudie 11-27-06, 02:47 AM	I rather like barbarians. My favorite was a bbn 7 Animal lord 2. Animal lord and bear warrior are good prc's for barbarians.
Tyler Do'Urden 11-27-06, 03:29 AM	Get your Strength as high as possible. Take Power Attack. Pick up a two-handed weapon. Done.
Gorteck 11-27-06, 04:10 AM	Get your Strength as high as possible. Take Power Attack. Pick up a two-handed weapon. Done. :heehee Wow hears a guy that knows how to solve problems the easyest way about it no if and ors or buts about it ... Do what he just said and if you know what your doing you can run around and rampage now ...
MerlintheTuna 11-27-06, 10:52 AM	Get your Strength as high as possible. Take Power Attack. Pick up a two-handed weapon. Done. You missed the last step. "Take Leap Attack" is another key one, though that's more for extra credit than for just passing the class.
Tyler Do'Urden 11-27-06, 10:55 AM	You can go in a couple different directions after that, actually. Slightly more common due to seniority is Great Cleave. Also an option is a 4-level sidestep into fighter for Weapon Specialization and later Melee Weapon Mastery. There's also Brutal Throw and Power Throw. Point is barbarians rock the hizzouse by hitting it with things.
Sabo 11-27-06, 11:26 AM	How would you go about beefing out a barbarian? I am currently level 2 and playing the savage tides campaign ( dungeon and dragon magazine). I fight with a falchion since its a pirate kinda setting. Well I was looknig for a prestige class for barbarian but I coudn't really find one that was better than the 20 levels barbarian offers. Could anyone find something better? Maybe something just suted for the campaign? It is an aquatic based campaign. We go from land to sea then repeat. So really anything that will help in either situation but not rely on one to much. There is the Reckless Rage feat in Races of Stone for all your maxing out rage goodiness. There is a weapon property in Oriential Adventures called either Beresker or Furious just cranks up your rage. There is that nice barbarian PrC; Champion of Gwynharwye in Book of Exalted Deeds, you get all your rage benifits as a barbarian, detect evil(at will), smite evil, engery resistance, divine grace, slightly higher Dr/-, fearsome fury(just crank your intimidate skill to the max, and watch as your foes become shaken) some minor spell casting that can be cast during your rage. In short it is just awesome for a Chaotic Good Barbarian, although it does does suffer from a bit of MAD as it needs a 14 wisdom to get all the spellcasting out of it and decent charisma does not hurt either for the divine grace and smite evil.
angryman 11-27-06, 11:26 AM	Any feat that makes your rage last longer, do more or generally make you more violent is good too.
Tyler Do'Urden 11-27-06, 11:39 AM	Any feat that makes your rage last longer... That would be Extend Rage. It's 5 rounds I believe.
kelvinaw273 11-27-06, 12:07 PM	Strange as it may seem might I suggest Dread Pirate? After all, the most famous barbarian of them all spent some time as a pirate ....
poogie525 11-27-06, 03:25 PM	I will not take the frenzied berserker since last time I did I killed the party (all 5 other members). The champion of gwynharawyff is a good class and since it is in the campaign I might go into that. Dread pirate doesn't sound bad exept my 7 charisma (I am a dwarf).
Lockwood 11-27-06, 03:30 PM	I am playing my first barbarian now. I too have looked over the prestige classes and was not too moved by them. Straight barbarian is pretty cool, IMHO. the above advice is correct... high strength, two handed weapon (or double weapon), and begin the slaughter!
Judging Eagle 11-27-06, 03:59 PM	I will not take the frenzied berserker since last time I did I killed the party (all 5 other members). The champion of gwynharawyff is a good class and since it is in the campaign I might go into that. Dread pirate doesn't sound bad exept my 7 charisma (I am a dwarf). Well, if the you and the rest of the party didn't realize that frenzy can equal problems.... Really, just get everyone in the party who can cast Charm Person on you to do so each day. Or have a party member cast Calm Emotions that you fail your save against. Really the Frenzied Zerker comes in two flavours; those that will always fail their will save to 'snap out of it' (and they are then charmed/calmed by party members; so no problem) or those that will always make the save and thus is't a non-issue. Really, the class's down-side becomes a nonn-issue in interdependant parties that work as a team. Work on your teamwork as a group over making an awesome character.
allenchan 11-27-06, 04:48 PM	Any feat that makes your rage last longer I've honestly never had a combat with a barbarian that lasted for more then con+3 rounds. 3 rounds alone is impressive.
rudie 11-27-06, 05:33 PM	Any feat that makes your rage last longer, do more or generally make you more violent is good too. I usually take instantanious rage or destructive rage when I make barbarians I dont bother with extended rage a lot of the time.
angryman 11-28-06, 07:59 AM	Yeah but sometimes the DM will run a truly epic battle which lasts for ages (say, a war) and having your rage last for 8+CON rounds is cool anyway.
Puskara 11-28-06, 11:00 AM	There are two PrCs that are really good for Barbarians. Each one is dependent upon your character of course but can fit in ANY campaign. 1. Champion of Gwyharwyhhf (Book of Exalted Deeds) Rage and spellcasting goodness, only for Chaotic Good characters. Note: I happen to know that the campaign you are playing in has a Cult of Gwyharwyhhf so this would definitly fit. 2. Devoted Defender (Sword and Fist) This is a 3.0 PrC however the writer of the Complete Warrior commented that to keep the price of the book down PrCs that did not need updating were not included in the 3.5 books. Thus, Devoted Defender is already 3.5 compatible. Many will advise you to take only 3 levels of devoted defender but I disagree. True you get all their main abilities in the first 3 levels but by lvl 10 of the PrC you get huge bonuses to those abilities, get +5 to Dodge AC, two good saves, etc. This allows you to take essentially all the damage for a party member save from area effect spells (unless of course they are at the edge of the area of effect and by switching with them they would then be out of the affected area. I have personally played a Deep Halfling Barbarian 6 / Devoted defender 6 and they are excellent. I recommend at least a 16 DEX and to take combat reflexes to make the most of your greatly increased attacks of opportunity. This combo is good when your character is paired with a weaker tank such as a Ranger, Rogue, or best yet a primary spellcaster. The spellcaster can cast all their spells while threatened as you can switch with them and take the AoO for them and then respond with your own AoO. This also allows them to use touch spells which are more powerfull than other spells of their level but are normally too dangerous for them to use. Note that Improved Uncanny Dodge allows you to switch with your charge even during a round where you are surprised. So even if an invisible, silenced, ethereal, ninja tries to sudden strike your charge you can switch with them and take the hit, at your full AC, and almost certainly without any sneak or sudden strike damage. This is handy from a RP perspective if your character is in love with another PC, they have saved your life and you have sworn and oath to protect them, or if you think another PC is god (like my little halfling did). Best of luck! Puskara
Dragonprime 11-28-06, 04:28 PM	I never really needed a prestige class simply because some part of the Barbarian's class abilities are updated every level. Getting good feats is really the only necessary change.
Phantem2 11-28-06, 06:50 PM	if your going into epic levels, go frenzied beserker and bear warior granted it takes a while but the strength score you get is awsome.
Yalon 11-28-06, 09:32 PM	I can't believe no one has mentioned the best feat for any Barbarian- Extra Rage! I mean, extended rage? Why bother. If your fights are lasting more than 4 rounds, you're the only one left alive in the party anyway. And after 2 levels of Barbarian, drop it and get a real class. 4 levels of fighter is good. Ranger works well if you want to keep up your skills, and the Tome of Battle classes synergize exceptionally well.