Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wolfie-kun 07-01-06, 11:59 AM	Alrighty, I'm making barbarians for this setting into...not barbarians. At any rate, I want to keep a number of the class features (specifically Rage and the first two of uncanny dodge) and I'm getting rid of Illiteracy. The idea is that there isn't really enough of a place for "savage" tribes, or wherever the whole "savage" thing for the barbarian normally comes from, so their name and flavor need a little bit of changing. I'm making them into the sort of quiet, calculating type combatant (as they do have pretty good skill points) that gets ****** off if his plans aren't working right (or something similar to that), but I can't decide on what to rename it, or what class skills or abilities might be more appropriate than the standard ones... Anyone got any helpful ideas?
Witch 07-01-06, 01:18 PM	Keep the name - noone in the world will know the name anyway. "Barbarian" is merely a metagame term. Getting rid of illiteracy won't screw anything up. It's a silly remnant from flavor. It has no balance purpose whatsoever. Keeping those things in mind, the barbarian can probably function as written in your campaign.
wolfie-kun 07-01-06, 06:06 PM	Keep the name - noone in the world will know the name anyway. "Barbarian" is merely a metagame term. Getting rid of illiteracy won't screw anything up. It's a silly remnant from flavor. It has no balance purpose whatsoever. Keeping those things in mind, the barbarian can probably function as written in your campaign. The metagame term part is something I forget about a good deal...sounds like I was worried over nothing, though. Thanks!
Millennium 07-01-06, 07:43 PM	You could also take out the Barbarian class completely, but break its rage progression out into a chain of feats. This could allow for some interesting combinations, and other classes have uncanny dodge already.
Vaalingrade Ashland 07-01-06, 08:05 PM	Remove illiteracy and Non-Lawful alignment. Rage becomes 'Battle trance'. Done and done.
Thanqol 07-01-06, 08:12 PM	From my campaign world: Barbarians: Barbarians are no longer wilderness-born savages, but they are clerics of the Moth - a divine emissary to the Twelve. The Moth Priests claim to be able to open divine links to the Twelve, gaining super-strength and heedless recklessness. Moth priests are fully in control of their gift, and they need not be chaotic. Many are lawful and multiclass with Monk. Moth Priests are generaly ignored as eccentrics. They are occasionaly praised as heros after awesome deeds, but they never give their name. They can be nicknamed by others, but will always try to crush this - Fame is a sin.
Reversefigure4 07-01-06, 08:56 PM	Trooper (or any other fighter-esqe term you want to use to describe them). Troopers commonly have martial training, but are less rank and file than many warriors. Troopers are trained to be quick, tough and hardy, capable of surviving where others could not. They have learned to that rage often provides them with the heedless drive to prevail, and will tap into that rage to see them through tough situations. Anything along that line, switch Rage for Battle Trance, and away you go.
wolfie-kun 07-01-06, 11:29 PM	I like the idea of renaming rage "battle trance." I do still want to change the name of the class itself though...leaving it barbarian (and trooper doesn't quite work either, no offense) just makes it feel strange...
Lanky Ogre Baggy Pants 07-01-06, 11:45 PM	what about berserker? To me thats what the class should have been called from the beginning. Remove the alignment restricition and illiteracy and change a few of the skill points. Depending on the flavor, you might want to get rid of survival or handle animal. Add things that fit whatever flavor.
wolfie-kun 07-01-06, 11:53 PM	what about berserker? To me thats what the class should have been called from the beginning. Remove the alignment restricition and illiteracy and change a few of the skill points. Depending on the flavor, you might want to get rid of survival or handle animal. Add things that fit whatever flavor. I'm trying to get rid of the "berserker" concept. I want rage to feel more emotion based, rather than have it be such a willing effect, so I'm pretty much changing the name of rage to Battle Trance. Good point on the skills, I'll be sure to remove the ones that no longer fit.
Vaalingrade Ashland 07-02-06, 12:16 AM	Combat Adept Zen Warrior Student of the [Campaign Place Name] [Weapon] School
TheKraken 07-02-06, 12:40 AM	A player I had thought of his barbarian as a warrior who actually had deep emotional problems and had managed to harness this as a method to fuel his battle. Sure, he made it a part of flavor and back story but it worked. I think these core character classes are adaptable if you think creatively. Even a barbarian in an uncivilized society could be made literate with the right back story and exposure to a different culture so I just out right got rid of illiteracy. I think you could even nix the non-lawful alignment with no problem, like others have previously said.