Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Spikes01k 09-26-07, 07:04 AM	Hey everyone, I am playing a whirling frenzy, city dweller, spirit guide lion barbarian. My GM has recently banned the Frenzy Berserker so suggestions otherwise would be helpful. Thank You, Spikes01k P.S. Runescare Berserker is suggested, I am hopping on this concept like white on polish. Can anyone give me some more information on the Runescare Berserker'a abilities? Do the have a selection of runes? How do they enhance you character? Is there a permanent Hit point lose? Please give me some more information.
The_Shaman 09-26-07, 08:00 AM	Well, if you were a normal barb I could imagine you taking Runescarred Berserker (UEast), Primeval (Frostburn) or something like that. However, for an urban character, these won't fit very well thematically - not that they won't make you a powerhouse, mind you. How about the CWar dervish? Whirling frenzy + dervish dance + greatsword/axe/falchion + Power attack = a whole lotta hurt. Also, with a little tweaking (as it requires lawful alignment) the OA Singh Rager would imo be a great choice as well. Could you give us more? Race, some backstory, feats etc would all be very helpful.
Spikes01k 09-26-07, 08:12 AM	Well, if you were a normal barb I could imagine you taking Runescarred Berserker (UEast), Primeval (Frostburn) or something like that. However, for an urban character, these won't fit very well thematically - not that they won't make you a powerhouse, mind you. How about the CWar dervish? Whirling frenzy + dervish dance + greatsword/axe/falchion + Power attack = a whole lotta hurt. Also, with a little tweaking (as it requires lawful alignment) the OA Singh Rager would imo be a great choice as well. Could you give us more? Race, some backstory, feats etc would all be very helpful. I'm human, and my GM allows retraining, so I can change my feats. I am taking a sort of Gun kungfu, or a city/military spiritualist, thus why I am both a city dweller and lion totem barbarian. P.S. I plan on wearing a mithral full plate of speed with nimbleness on it. What can you tell me about the "Runescarred Berserker"
The_Shaman 09-26-07, 08:45 AM	It's a setting-specific PrC, the elite of the Rashemi Berserkers (Unapproachable East, FR). Have you played Baldur's Gate? Minsc and Dynaheir are from there, and Minsc is a Rashemi berserker. Basically, it represents barbarians from a culture with some magic and spiritual veins, who are also inured to cold and have something like a magic system of their own. Prerequisites are iron will, endurance, and 1 lodge feat (specific feats typical for the barbarian lodges of Rashemen, improving resilience or combat techniques). This system consists of ritual scars (the coolest part is, inscribing them costs a good deal of HP - no pain, no gain) that they can have a couple of. Between a form of rage progression - they get greater rage at lvl 10 - the magic scars, and other stuff they are imo a well-balanced and powerful PrC. They have a strong regional flavor, but mechanically it's not impossible to adapt them - the biggest rp problem is giving a group of barbarians some magical savvy. Most of the other abilities are okay, except maybe the cold resistance they eventually get. BTW, I can't help but think that your RP concept seems more fitting for a fighter, urban ranger, rogue or warblade than a barbarian, but maybe it's just me.
Spikes01k 09-26-07, 09:17 AM	It's a setting-specific PrC, the elite of the Rashemi Berserkers (Unapproachable East, FR). Have you played Baldur's Gate? Minsc and Dynaheir are from there, and Minsc is a Rashemi berserker. Basically, it represents barbarians from a culture with some magic and spiritual veins, who are also inured to cold and have something like a magic system of their own. Prerequisites are iron will, endurance, and 1 lodge feat (specific feats typical for the barbarian lodges of Rashemen, improving resilience or combat techniques). This system consists of ritual scars (the coolest part is, inscribing them costs a good deal of HP - no pain, no gain) that they can have a couple of. Between a form of rage progression - they get greater rage at lvl 10 - the magic scars, and other stuff they are imo a well-balanced and powerful PrC. They have a strong regional flavor, but mechanically it's not impossible to adapt them - the biggest rp problem is giving a group of barbarians some magical savvy. Most of the other abilities are okay, except maybe the cold resistance they eventually get. BTW, I can't help but think that your RP concept seems more fitting for a fighter, urban ranger, rogue or warblade than a barbarian, but maybe it's just me. Whirling frenzy is not so much a blind rage. It is more of a meditative state of mind. I treat it like a kungfu like ability; I mean, my god they get dodge bonus to AC and reflex saves, and even eventually get evasion! I think sense you can have urban rangers with divine casting, why not urban barbarians with totem abilities. Thanks for the info, I will probably ask my GM if I can have this PrC.
The_Shaman 09-26-07, 11:24 AM	Meditation may mean different things. If you can get the PrC approved, good luck. Aside from that, as I said, consider the dervish PrC.
Spikes01k 09-26-07, 11:51 AM	Meditation may mean different things. If you can get the PrC approved, good luck. Aside from that, as I said, consider the dervish PrC. Why, I already have pounce?
The_Shaman 09-26-07, 12:08 PM	Pounce is good for charge attacks. Dervish dance is good for attacks not in a straight line (dervish dance), tumbling and acrobatic maneuvers, etc - the whole "Prince of Persia" routine. Not to mention that the dance gives you attack bonus that you can use for power attack, and a little more damage anyway. Besides, the bonus to other skills, free feat(s), fast movement, bonus defense etc - these can be very useful for a barbarian as well.
j3st3r 09-26-07, 12:18 PM	Bear Warrior (CWar) is a good PrC for Barbarians. Streetfighter (CAdv) would fit well with the urban theme.
dman11235 09-26-07, 12:32 PM	BTW, I can't help but think that your RP concept seems more fitting for a fighter, urban ranger, rogue or warblade than a barbarian, but maybe it's just me. That's probably because the barbarian is a nature class, not an urban class. I agree. Fighter, urban ranger, or warblade would be my pick for that character concept.
Spikes01k 09-26-07, 12:57 PM	Just a question does the Runescare Berserker have any problems with medium armor? P.S. Can anyone give me some more information on the Runescare Berserker'a abilities? Do the have a selection of runes? How do they enhance you character? Is there a permanent Hit point lose? Please give me some more information.
The_Shaman 09-26-07, 02:28 PM	Mechanically, no more than the average barbarian: it would decrease his movement speed, just like medium armor does for everyone but dwarves, and it might penalize some skills due to the armor check penalty. Afaik the scars contain divine spells, so there's no ASF. However, it says that the berserker must touch the rune to utilize the scar, so full plate might cause a problem there. Also, my bad: the PrC requires Survivor (bleh) not endurance, as well as Iron Will and a lodge feat. An urban version might have different prerequisites, mind you. The runes work thus: you can know a number of spells from a custom divine list, depending on your level. Out of these spells, you can create a number of scars (up to 7), each of which contains a spell. Scars are like scrolls only the berserker may use. making them, just like ordinary scrolls, it takes some time (1 hour/scar), some special ingredients (money), and XP. The berserker can not use wands etc even if he knows the spell - he can only make scars with it. Scars basically last until you expend them. Apart from that, yes, when scribing a scar you take damage depending on the spell's level. However, that damage can later be healed, so your HP total does not change. It may be disappointing if you were expecting real spellcasting, but it's still a useful ability, especially as most of the spells on the list are at lower levels than they normally appear. Being able to activate an antimagic field effect or a heal as a standard action - and on your own - is something most barbarians can't even dream of.
PhaedrusXY 09-26-07, 02:36 PM	Do the have a selection of runes? How do they enhance you character? Is there a permanent Hit point lose?Yes. They are equivalent to spells (more like scrolls or potions, really), and some are equal to 6th level spells, including Heal and Antimagic Field. No. It is a great barbarian PrC. It advances rage, and has great class abilities. The RP background doesn't mesh very well with your backstory though, unless the DM is willing to modify it.
Spikes01k 09-26-07, 03:08 PM	Yes. They are equivalent to spells (more like scrolls or potions, really), and some are equal to 6th level spells, including Heal and Antimagic Field. No. It is a great barbarian PrC. It advances rage, and has great class abilities. The RP background doesn't mesh very well with your backstory though, unless the DM is willing to modify it. I haven't said anything about my back history really. All I have said is my concept. Background, I am a member of a voluntary guard troop to a barbarian of our trip who has become a noble. He did this to give us a voice with the "ruler" of the land we live on. While I spend a lot of time in the city, I do spend almost as much back at the tribe. As part of the tradition is the wearing of Mithral full plate of speed and normally the practice of the whirling frenzy rage instead of the norm. I really like the idea of carving runes into your body so that would be a tradition of the actual tribe, not the guard role. In retrospect, I guess it would be sort of like the the spartan's with a presence in the government but still ruthless barbarians dedicated to battle.
Spikes01k 09-26-07, 03:23 PM	Mechanically, no more than the average barbarian: it would decrease his movement speed, just like medium armor does for everyone but dwarves, and it might penalize some skills due to the armor check penalty. Afaik the scars contain divine spells, so there's no ASF. However, it says that the berserker must touch the rune to utilize the scar, so full plate might cause a problem there. Also, my bad: the PrC requires Survivor (bleh) not endurance, as well as Iron Will and a lodge feat. An urban version might have different prerequisites, mind you. The runes work thus: you can know a number of spells from a custom divine list, depending on your level. Out of these spells, you can create a number of scars (up to 7), each of which contains a spell. Scars are like scrolls only the berserker may use. making them, just like ordinary scrolls, it takes some time (1 hour/scar), some special ingredients (money), and XP. The berserker can not use wands etc even if he knows the spell - he can only make scars with it. Scars basically last until you expend them. Apart from that, yes, when scribing a scar you take damage depending on the spell's level. However, that damage can later be healed, so your HP total does not change. It may be disappointing if you were expecting real spellcasting, but it's still a useful ability, especially as most of the spells on the list are at lower levels than they normally appear. Being able to activate an antimagic field effect or a heal as a standard action - and on your own - is something most barbarians can't even dream of. ##%# that sucks, having to give up exp as well as touch the scars. That might not work at all... arg! exp is just valuable to me to put into items.
The_Shaman 09-26-07, 06:05 PM	Well, XP cost is 1/25 of the gold cost. It won't be much, but you may have to mind it.
Spikes01k 09-26-07, 11:11 PM	Well, XP cost is 1/25 of the gold cost. It won't be much, but you may have to mind it. So all their class abilities cost exp?
The_Shaman 09-27-07, 06:07 AM	No, of course, only the scars. I meant that saying that they actually have a casting progression is somewhat misleading: they can make those scars and it follows mechanics similar to that of making scrolls. As you know, scribing scrolls takes money and XP. Depending on their level, they know a cerrain number of spells of different levels that they can put into scars.