Drizzt one level of Barbarian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Drizzt one level of Barbarian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nickoleye
07-12-07, 06:49 PM In the FR campaign setting book Drizzt is listed as having 1 level of barbarian. Is this one level of barbarian gained from Drizzts barbarian like existence in Exile or from his time training with wulfgar in the Crystal Shard?
milotinous
07-12-07, 06:59 PM During "Exile" he had to fight to control and eventually master a "primal" rage-like effect that matched the rage used in the version of D&D at that time for Barbarians. The ability was not as controlled as it is in later versions.
My guess is that they kept the class because it is the closest thing to what he went through.
Personally, I would have used a new feat to represent this aspect of the character in 3.0/3.5 and added another level of ranger.
Shar_the_Black
07-12-07, 07:00 PM The level of barbarian and his rage ability is used to depict "The Hunter" phase he went into during Exile and for those short and infrequent times when he relapses back into that phase over the course of the series.
Shedeo
07-12-07, 07:44 PM Yes indeed, represented in Exile.

It also made a comeback in the Hunter's Blades trilogy. I would still go ahead and give him the level of Barbarian, but I would actually contemplate the Whirling Frenzy alternate out of Unearthed Arcana, though that loses out on the Constitution bonus.
Walls
07-12-07, 08:40 PM This is where a bone of contention comes in.

1 level of barbarian? In years and years and years of fighting to survive?

I've seen on these forums numerous examples of "That was 5 years ago, I'd add another 6 or 7 levels." Just saying...
Nickoleye
07-13-07, 10:49 AM This is where a bone of contention comes in.

1 level of barbarian? In years and years and years of fighting to survive?

I've seen on these forums numerous examples of "That was 5 years ago, I'd add another 6 or 7 levels." Just saying...

I agree. 10 years passed between Homland and Exile where Drizzt experience hunting in the underdark would have accumulated more than 1 level of barbarian. Even considering the multi class experience penalty Drizzt should have 6-7 levels.
dragonheart
07-13-07, 12:42 PM that or he did the smart thing and managed to stay out of arm's way for most of that time. SInce you basically only gain experience "adventuring" if he is just doing basic survival and not crossing major (for his level) monsters then he won't be gaining much experience. The story picks up again when he he can nolonger slide "beneath the radar" and his adventuring begins again.

This is really why folks like Larloch and even Elminster don't gain experience rapidly - anything less than 8 CR below them they get no experience for - siilarly he would get little or no experience for most low level encounters in the underdark and its those he would be trying to have not real "adventures".
Zsych
07-13-07, 07:03 PM I think that with his confidence in himself, he didn't care about not picking fights.

I'd probably have gone with a feat too though... Rage of Drizzt :P

.. though I don't think he should have ranger levels. For the most part he had no god, no access to that kind of magic, and was basically a fighter.

He should have like 1-2 ranger levels for his negligible empathy with animals and stuff.
BrennonGoldeye
07-13-07, 08:28 PM This is where a bone of contention comes in.

1 level of barbarian? In years and years and years of fighting to survive?

I've seen on these forums numerous examples of "That was 5 years ago, I'd add another 6 or 7 levels." Just saying...

Yeppers. 1 level. :rofl:
Welcome to the Glass Ceiling of game product.:D
Nisstyrethegreat
07-14-07, 05:52 PM what if he had a level of frenzied berserker?
The_Shaman
07-17-07, 07:52 AM I agree. 10 years passed between Homland and Exile where Drizzt experience hunting in the underdark would have accumulated more than 1 level of barbarian. Even considering the multi class experience penalty Drizzt should have 6-7 levels.

He could have hit a level or two of ranger in that period. It's kinda weird, or at least part of the diminishing returns theory as it applies to D&D.
Swiftblade
07-17-07, 10:15 PM The ranger levels come after his time with Montilio in Sojourn, very good book by the way, but they make complete sense for his character if you read the book. He has fighter prior to the input of his Barbarian level in Exile.
The_Shaman
07-18-07, 04:22 AM I think he might have had a ranger level or two before that. He showed something like WE before he met Montolio (in the bear cave), and iirc the old ranger noted Drizzt was picking up his teachings very fast.
Eli_the_Tanner
07-18-07, 09:36 AM Originally Drizzt was a full ranger in 2nd edition (no barbarian or Ranger levels) The retraining he does with montolio is presumably a mere changeover of skills to survive on the surface and aquiring a new god.

I think in the 3rd edition write up he was considered to have taken cross-class skills in the ranger due to his hunting with the drow, also his close relationship with Guen.

The Barbarian level seems to be mostly flavour, arguebly alot of his combat prowess comes from his time surviving in the Underdark (something Dinin notes, and refuses to fight him because of this). It seems the designers wanted to demonstrate this beyond mere experience points especially as he rarely enters 'Hunter' mode outside of the underdark, he only seems to rage/hunter about 3-4 times since then.
Dragoon8888
07-18-07, 10:44 AM I agree. 10 years passed between Homland and Exile where Drizzt experience hunting in the underdark would have accumulated more than 1 level of barbarian. Even considering the multi class experience penalty Drizzt should have 6-7 levels.

He could have hit a level or two of ranger in that period. It's kinda weird, or at least part of the diminishing returns theory as it applies to D&D.

I think Drizzt had scout levels from his time on patrol at Melee Magthere which he might have continued to progress in while he was on his own in the underdark. This would account for only one level of barbarian as well as learning the ways of the ranger so fast (swift hunter).
Drew1369r
07-19-07, 05:54 PM Drizzt would have no scout levels... he was just a fighter on patrol with the rest of the school and wizards...

Drizzt has cast a spell so to speak when fighting Errtu when he called that seal to help him find Gwuen when he threw her figurine into the ocean.
Eli_the_Tanner
07-20-07, 06:07 AM Has there been any consensus on how he was able to cast a spell (1st or 2nd explanation poss.) It seems it was due to the time he spent time in Sorcere, where presumably most drow pick up the rudiments of magic.
Drew1369r
07-20-07, 08:37 PM He prayed to Meilikki for help and she answerd... it wasn't arcane!
Eli_the_Tanner
07-20-07, 11:29 PM Ahhh thanks for that drew1369r, I new there was a simple explanation, is that the only instance of him casting a spell?
Zevox
07-21-07, 01:08 AM Ahhh thanks for that drew1369r, I new there was a simple explanation, is that the only instance of him casting a spell?
Actually, thats not an instance of him casting a spell at all. Its true he prayed for guidance before doing it, but he didn't cast a spell afterwards. He simply found a seal - not exactly a difficult thing to do, considering where he was - and tossed a statue Regis carved to look like Guen's into the water repeatedly, asking it to go retrieve it. Eventually, it brought up the real statue instead of the fake one. Sounds to me like Wild Empathy, not a spell.

Also, its outright stated in one novel (just before he re-enters the Underdark in Starless Night, IIRC) that he rarely prays at all, which would mean he never even gets spells to cast. Can't get spells from your deity without praying for them, and if he rarely prays for anything, its unlikely he ever prays with the intention of getting spells.

Zevox
Drew1369r
07-21-07, 08:56 PM this will start something... I think it was a spell, some will disagree... take it how you want it
Axo9e
07-24-07, 07:27 AM I think that the class Elven Forester(ranger variant) fits drizzt the best. Then you can add the 1 level for barbarian.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nickoleye 07-12-07, 06:49 PM	In the FR campaign setting book Drizzt is listed as having 1 level of barbarian. Is this one level of barbarian gained from Drizzts barbarian like existence in Exile or from his time training with wulfgar in the Crystal Shard?
milotinous 07-12-07, 06:59 PM	During "Exile" he had to fight to control and eventually master a "primal" rage-like effect that matched the rage used in the version of D&D at that time for Barbarians. The ability was not as controlled as it is in later versions. My guess is that they kept the class because it is the closest thing to what he went through. Personally, I would have used a new feat to represent this aspect of the character in 3.0/3.5 and added another level of ranger.
Shar_the_Black 07-12-07, 07:00 PM	The level of barbarian and his rage ability is used to depict "The Hunter" phase he went into during Exile and for those short and infrequent times when he relapses back into that phase over the course of the series.
Shedeo 07-12-07, 07:44 PM	Yes indeed, represented in Exile. It also made a comeback in the Hunter's Blades trilogy. I would still go ahead and give him the level of Barbarian, but I would actually contemplate the Whirling Frenzy alternate out of Unearthed Arcana, though that loses out on the Constitution bonus.
Walls 07-12-07, 08:40 PM	This is where a bone of contention comes in. 1 level of barbarian? In years and years and years of fighting to survive? I've seen on these forums numerous examples of "That was 5 years ago, I'd add another 6 or 7 levels." Just saying...
Nickoleye 07-13-07, 10:49 AM	This is where a bone of contention comes in. 1 level of barbarian? In years and years and years of fighting to survive? I've seen on these forums numerous examples of "That was 5 years ago, I'd add another 6 or 7 levels." Just saying... I agree. 10 years passed between Homland and Exile where Drizzt experience hunting in the underdark would have accumulated more than 1 level of barbarian. Even considering the multi class experience penalty Drizzt should have 6-7 levels.
dragonheart 07-13-07, 12:42 PM	that or he did the smart thing and managed to stay out of arm's way for most of that time. SInce you basically only gain experience "adventuring" if he is just doing basic survival and not crossing major (for his level) monsters then he won't be gaining much experience. The story picks up again when he he can nolonger slide "beneath the radar" and his adventuring begins again. This is really why folks like Larloch and even Elminster don't gain experience rapidly - anything less than 8 CR below them they get no experience for - siilarly he would get little or no experience for most low level encounters in the underdark and its those he would be trying to have not real "adventures".
Zsych 07-13-07, 07:03 PM	I think that with his confidence in himself, he didn't care about not picking fights. I'd probably have gone with a feat too though... Rage of Drizzt :P .. though I don't think he should have ranger levels. For the most part he had no god, no access to that kind of magic, and was basically a fighter. He should have like 1-2 ranger levels for his negligible empathy with animals and stuff.
BrennonGoldeye 07-13-07, 08:28 PM	This is where a bone of contention comes in. 1 level of barbarian? In years and years and years of fighting to survive? I've seen on these forums numerous examples of "That was 5 years ago, I'd add another 6 or 7 levels." Just saying... Yeppers. 1 level. :rofl: Welcome to the Glass Ceiling of game product.:D
Nisstyrethegreat 07-14-07, 05:52 PM	what if he had a level of frenzied berserker?
The_Shaman 07-17-07, 07:52 AM	I agree. 10 years passed between Homland and Exile where Drizzt experience hunting in the underdark would have accumulated more than 1 level of barbarian. Even considering the multi class experience penalty Drizzt should have 6-7 levels. He could have hit a level or two of ranger in that period. It's kinda weird, or at least part of the diminishing returns theory as it applies to D&D.
Swiftblade 07-17-07, 10:15 PM	The ranger levels come after his time with Montilio in Sojourn, very good book by the way, but they make complete sense for his character if you read the book. He has fighter prior to the input of his Barbarian level in Exile.
The_Shaman 07-18-07, 04:22 AM	I think he might have had a ranger level or two before that. He showed something like WE before he met Montolio (in the bear cave), and iirc the old ranger noted Drizzt was picking up his teachings very fast.
Eli_the_Tanner 07-18-07, 09:36 AM	Originally Drizzt was a full ranger in 2nd edition (no barbarian or Ranger levels) The retraining he does with montolio is presumably a mere changeover of skills to survive on the surface and aquiring a new god. I think in the 3rd edition write up he was considered to have taken cross-class skills in the ranger due to his hunting with the drow, also his close relationship with Guen. The Barbarian level seems to be mostly flavour, arguebly alot of his combat prowess comes from his time surviving in the Underdark (something Dinin notes, and refuses to fight him because of this). It seems the designers wanted to demonstrate this beyond mere experience points especially as he rarely enters 'Hunter' mode outside of the underdark, he only seems to rage/hunter about 3-4 times since then.
Dragoon8888 07-18-07, 10:44 AM	I agree. 10 years passed between Homland and Exile where Drizzt experience hunting in the underdark would have accumulated more than 1 level of barbarian. Even considering the multi class experience penalty Drizzt should have 6-7 levels. He could have hit a level or two of ranger in that period. It's kinda weird, or at least part of the diminishing returns theory as it applies to D&D. I think Drizzt had scout levels from his time on patrol at Melee Magthere which he might have continued to progress in while he was on his own in the underdark. This would account for only one level of barbarian as well as learning the ways of the ranger so fast (swift hunter).
Drew1369r 07-19-07, 05:54 PM	Drizzt would have no scout levels... he was just a fighter on patrol with the rest of the school and wizards... Drizzt has cast a spell so to speak when fighting Errtu when he called that seal to help him find Gwuen when he threw her figurine into the ocean.
Eli_the_Tanner 07-20-07, 06:07 AM	Has there been any consensus on how he was able to cast a spell (1st or 2nd explanation poss.) It seems it was due to the time he spent time in Sorcere, where presumably most drow pick up the rudiments of magic.
Drew1369r 07-20-07, 08:37 PM	He prayed to Meilikki for help and she answerd... it wasn't arcane!
Eli_the_Tanner 07-20-07, 11:29 PM	Ahhh thanks for that drew1369r, I new there was a simple explanation, is that the only instance of him casting a spell?
Zevox 07-21-07, 01:08 AM	Ahhh thanks for that drew1369r, I new there was a simple explanation, is that the only instance of him casting a spell? Actually, thats not an instance of him casting a spell at all. Its true he prayed for guidance before doing it, but he didn't cast a spell afterwards. He simply found a seal - not exactly a difficult thing to do, considering where he was - and tossed a statue Regis carved to look like Guen's into the water repeatedly, asking it to go retrieve it. Eventually, it brought up the real statue instead of the fake one. Sounds to me like Wild Empathy, not a spell. Also, its outright stated in one novel (just before he re-enters the Underdark in Starless Night, IIRC) that he rarely prays at all, which would mean he never even gets spells to cast. Can't get spells from your deity without praying for them, and if he rarely prays for anything, its unlikely he ever prays with the intention of getting spells. Zevox
Drew1369r 07-21-07, 08:56 PM	this will start something... I think it was a spell, some will disagree... take it how you want it
Axo9e 07-24-07, 07:27 AM	I think that the class Elven Forester(ranger variant) fits drizzt the best. Then you can add the 1 level for barbarian.