Bear Warrior Prestige Class [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bear Warrior Prestige Class [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cuindless
11-29-07, 11:00 AM My apologies for the cross-posting.

I was just taking a look at the Complete Warrior supplement because one of my players wants to take the prestige class "Bear Warrior". At first level, it allows the character to assume the form of a Black Bear while raging, thus giving him a +8 to Str, a +2 to Dex and a +4 to Con. He will also get the claw and bite attacks of the bear, but lose the ability to use weapons. The PrC seems a little overpowered to me, possibly game breaking. The character is already pretty damn powerful as a Fighter4/Barbarian6. What is the general consensus, is this PrC acceptable?
Empirate
11-29-07, 11:27 AM Remember, its only while he's raging. So it's not even close to the league of Wild Shaping Druids running around as legendary apes or something all the time. OK, so he gets some Str and Con bonuses... that's what Rage does, anyway, so I don't see the problem. The downside to being a Black Bear is, of course, not being able to use weapons or anything else requiring opposable thumbs. So his Weapon Focus and Specialization are probably useless in bear form. Also, his armor will be subsumed into the new form and not provide any bonuses. Last I looked, bears had a pretty abysmal armor class. The same goes for all magic items. Finally, he can't communicate or do anything requiring speech (activating certain items, for example).
So as long as he doesn't retrain as a Druid and does this all the time while casting spells and running some high-HD wolf companion around, I don't see the problem. Bear Warrior is a flavorful class, far from overpowered. He'll be an eleventh-level character. Have you seen what a Wizard or Cleric can do at that level, even limited to core books???
Clawhound
11-29-07, 12:25 PM I've played a bear warrior. You get lots of power, but your AC goes into the toilet.

You lose the properties of magic weapons unless you invest in an item or so. You lose your armor unless you invest in armor that converts with form.

You lose the advantage of most of your equipment.

You lose your two-handed strength bonus and extra damage from power attack.

We house-ruled the bear warrior into wildshapes/day. That worked much easier, and being a bear most of the time was really very fun.

Let him enjoy the class. Being a non-spellcaster in animal form has enough downsides that this class works.
Cuindless
11-29-07, 03:22 PM Thanks both of you for the responses. 1 quick question about the rules of the class: Is the +8 strength and +4 con in addition to the +4/+4 for rage, or is that included?
Tedronai
11-29-07, 04:10 PM From the CW:

'The ability score bonuses granted by rage or frenzy are replaced by Strength Dexterity, and Constitution appropriate to the bear form taken.'
Cuindless
11-29-07, 04:18 PM Thanks Tedronai. I didn't notice that before. I must be blind.
Nephlite
11-29-07, 04:43 PM He keeps his magic items like rings,helm, etc at least.
Rember, based on polymorph not Wildshape.
Cuindless
11-29-07, 05:22 PM He keeps his magic items like rings,helm, etc at least.
Rember, based on polymorph not Wildshape.

Yeah, I figured that. He has an amulet of natural armor, which doesn't stack with the black bear's natural armor, but he does have a ring of protection +2. But his full plate, large shield and longsword would all go away. All in all, based on the statements I've seen here, I'm going to allow it. By the time he reaches 10th level (giving him the dire bear alternate shape), the party casters will be manipulating the very fabric of the cosmos...
Prime32
11-29-07, 05:39 PM Bear Warrior also qualifies you for warshaper, which grants you more reach, fast healing, and +4 to Str and Con. Worth it.
Cuindless
11-29-07, 05:55 PM Where can I find Warshaper?
Nephlite
11-29-07, 05:57 PM Yeah, I figured that. He has an amulet of natural armor, which doesn't stack with the black bear's natural armor, but he does have a ring of protection +2. But his full plate, large shield and longsword would all go away. All in all, based on the statements I've seen here, I'm going to allow it. By the time he reaches 10th level (giving him the dire bear alternate shape), the party casters will be manipulating the very fabric of the cosmos...

Actually, Amulet is a enhancement to his natural armor.

While in bear form his normal natural armor becomes the bears. Thus X+2 even when X changes is still X+2. So his amulet still works.
Prime32
11-29-07, 06:09 PM Where can I find Warshaper?

It's in Complete Warrior too.
Cuindless
11-29-07, 06:21 PM Ahh... I just got the book so I haven't had a chance to get all the way through it yet. Thanks.
Wih
11-29-07, 06:32 PM Yeah, I figured that. He has an amulet of natural armor, which doesn't stack with the black bear's natural armor, but he does have a ring of protection +2. But his full plate, large shield and longsword would all go away. All in all, based on the statements I've seen here, I'm going to allow it. By the time he reaches 10th level (giving him the dire bear alternate shape), the party casters will be manipulating the very fabric of the cosmos...

Amulets of Natural Armour provide an enhancement bonus to your NA, meaning that they will stack. It however, will not stack with a barkskin spell.

Bera Warrior may be good, but it means giving up magic weapons, two handed power attack, and being very, very squishy.
Think about it from an enemy's perspective. You get attacked by 4 people. One is wearing Full-plate, one is wearing no armour, one is wearing light armour, and the other....has turned into bear and is taller, bigger, meaner, nastier than you, and it heading right towards you. Who would you attack?
Prime32
11-30-07, 01:31 PM Couldn't he wear barding? Hasn't anyone read the His Dark Materials trilogy?
http://www.britfilms.tv/images/news/golden%20compass%20bear.jpg
Iceraven
11-30-07, 03:06 PM Two Words, Wild Armor. If your a bear warrior and your armor doesn't have the wild property then you don't really want the bonus. A Wildling Clasp can also be used for less price and it can be applied to your cloak and several other items instead if you needed them.
Cuindless
11-30-07, 04:08 PM Bear Warrior may be good, but it means giving up magic weapons, two handed power attack, and being very, very squishy.
Think about it from an enemy's perspective. You get attacked by 4 people. One is wearing Full-plate, one is wearing no armour, one is wearing light armour, and the other....has turned into bear and is taller, bigger, meaner, nastier than you, and it heading right towards you. Who would you attack?

I think this can be shortened to: You're being attack by four people. One is wearing no armor, one is wearing light armor, one is wearing full plate, and one is a friggin' bear!
FreAkOuTRG
11-30-07, 06:19 PM I generally prefer Werebear, myself. Hybrid form, less levels to take, and stacks with rage. Not to mention he can go forever in his hybrid form. There are downsides, of course, like the loss of BAB and HP.

But is Bear Warrior balanced? I think so. Despite the much greater strength and endurance granted by the bear form, you can't use weapons (read: magic weapons) or armor (same) which can hurt, especially if you devoted feats to the weapon focus feat tree. Add to that the limited amounts of times usable, and the lack of other abilities a barbarian of about the same character level would have...

Powerful, yes, but not broken, I think.
Prime32
11-30-07, 06:29 PM Limited number of times usable? The text is contradictory, but the errata clarifies that bear form can be used whenever you can rage.

Would you allow a goliath bear warrior to take the Powerful Build Wild Shape feat to retain Powerful Build in bear form (along with Improved Natural Attack for all weapons)?
Cuindless
11-30-07, 07:50 PM I generally prefer Werebear, myself. Hybrid form, less levels to take, and stacks with rage. Not to mention he can go forever in his hybrid form. There are downsides, of course, like the loss of BAB and HP.

But is Bear Warrior balanced? I think so. Despite the much greater strength and endurance granted by the bear form, you can't use weapons (read: magic weapons) or armor (same) which can hurt, especially if you devoted feats to the weapon focus feat tree. Add to that the limited amounts of times usable, and the lack of other abilities a barbarian of about the same character level would have...

Powerful, yes, but not broken, I think.

This particular character has Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization in longsword, which I pointed out to the player would be rendered useless by the bear form. Add in the fact that he's already taken Improved Critical: Longsword as well, and I think he might be shooting himself in the foot more than he realizes.
rironin
11-30-07, 08:08 PM This particular character has Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization in longsword, which I pointed out to the player would be rendered useless by the bear form. Add in the fact that he's already taken Improved Critical: Longsword as well, and I think he might be shooting himself in the foot more than he realizes.If that's the case, and he really wanted to be a bear warrior, I'd let him go for it and give him the opportunity to retrain his longsword-related feats if he wanted to. I've never played one myself, but above posts definitely make it sound like he won't be too powerful, and will likely be less powerful, than he'd otherwise be. So I'd be all for it if it's something that makes the player happy, and I'd let him exchange those feats for something he can use.

Warshaper would indeed make this route more viable, or at least cooler.
Cartigan
11-30-07, 08:21 PM Couldn't he wear barding? Hasn't anyone read the His Dark Materials trilogy?
http://www.britfilms.tv/images/news/golden%20compass%20bear.jpg
Beastskin armor will do that but doesn't really work well for anything but Druids, even with rule fudging.
rironin
11-30-07, 08:28 PM Beastskin armor will do that but doesn't really work well for anything but Druids, even with rule fudging.Isn't there some sort of armor enhancement - I think it's "Called" or somesuch - in the Magic Item Compendium that magically appears and replaces your currently worn suit of armor with a command word? You could get yourself a suit of magical barding with that enchantment, and then when you turn into a bear you call the barding and it appears on you with a poof. Just remember to make the command word "Rarrrrgh!" :P
Cartigan
11-30-07, 08:55 PM I don't think it works like that.
rironin
11-30-07, 09:19 PM I don't think it works like that.You're probably right - would likely require a little fudging. Let me take a look and see what it really gives you.

Ahh, I see. It is indeed "Called," but it doesn't swap your armor with other armor. One way only. Assuming that you could fulfill the requirements of a command word in bear form (technically you can't) then you could use it. In theory, a version of this armor with Standard (mental) activation as opposed to Standard (command) should be feasible for a higher price.

Assuming you got a version you could activate mentally, it would work, but basically only once - the armor would appear on you in bear form, but it wouldn't go away. It would have to be kept somewhere safe on the same plane, and then you'd pretty much be stuck with it, unless you could send it back to wherever it came from :P

But I thought there was something else in the Magic Item Compendium that might do the trick... I can't remember what it is or how it works, but isn't there something that lets you swap between two entire sets of equipment, basically? You say a word and it all gets swapped, weapons, armor, the whole thing? Anyone remember what that is?
Cartigan
11-30-07, 09:33 PM 1) That is still irrelevant unless your other armor is made for bears.
2) Beastskin is the stuff that makes your armor creature armor.
Ziggaraut
11-30-07, 09:52 PM The Wild enchantment in the... Complete Divine I believe, specifically says it works with wild shape. Although it is reasonable to have it apply to Bear Form, RAW (and my DM :weep:) says that it does not apply.

Weaknesses of the bear form mainly are the lack of a two handed weapon, shield, armor, whatever makes you effective off of rage. You don't gain the power attack advantage either. The biggest advantage of Bear Form would be the Improved Grab I believe. I outfitted MY Bear Warrior with a Vampire Fangs graft (Libris Mortis) and specialized in grappling.

The Bear Warrior is sometimes considered UNDERpowered due to it's lack of magic items, but it levels off at balanced due to the sheer enhancements it gives. I like it, although I would also like to see a class that allows you to rage into Gorilla form.
rironin
11-30-07, 10:02 PM 1) That is still irrelevant unless your other armor is made for bears.
2) Beastskin is the stuff that makes your armor creature armor.I'm not sure if this is a response to my post or not, but if it is, I'm assuming he'd have barding, made for a bear. I'm aware of the beastskin enchantment and how it only works if you've got wildshape, so that's definitely not what I was thinking of.

The item I'm thinking of may not be in the Magic Item Compendium, although that's the most likely place for it. I remember thinking it was a cool idea, seeing that it allowed a regular PC to have two whole sets of gear ready for two different situations and swap between them at will, keeping the other in some extradimensional space.

EDIT: It might be irrelevant - I might be thinking of a pair of gloves that only stores/switches what you have in your hands, which would be no help here. Still not sure though...
Cuindless
11-30-07, 11:27 PM Looking at the PrC more in depth, I'm thinking that it's actually pretty well balanced. Right about the time that the Black Bear form becomes obsolete, you get Brown Bear form (and the same with Dire Bear form). Earlier somebody said that you only get three attack where a standard Barbarian/Fighter would get 4 (or 5 at 21st level), but considering that all three attacks are natural attacks made with a fairly high attack bonus, I think that it compensates. Lack of two handed weapon damage and enhancements was mentioned as well, but considering the sheer strength bonuses given by the various forms, I think that it's an acceptable trade off there as well (i.e. guaranteed damage vs. potential damage).
Prime32
12-01-07, 07:51 AM The Bear Warrior is sometimes considered UNDERpowered due to it's lack of magic items, but it levels off at balanced due to the sheer enhancements it gives. I like it, although I would also like to see a class that allows you to rage into Gorilla form.

Three words: Vow of Poverty :D
Xiuhcoatl
12-01-07, 08:44 AM The Grasping enhancement, or the item Gloves of Man would allow one to wield his weapon in bear form.
Prime32
12-01-07, 10:49 AM I believe an issue of Dragon has "claw extenders" as weapons, as well as "barding of size alteration" in an article on animal companions. Worth a look.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cuindless 11-29-07, 11:00 AM	My apologies for the cross-posting. I was just taking a look at the Complete Warrior supplement because one of my players wants to take the prestige class "Bear Warrior". At first level, it allows the character to assume the form of a Black Bear while raging, thus giving him a +8 to Str, a +2 to Dex and a +4 to Con. He will also get the claw and bite attacks of the bear, but lose the ability to use weapons. The PrC seems a little overpowered to me, possibly game breaking. The character is already pretty damn powerful as a Fighter4/Barbarian6. What is the general consensus, is this PrC acceptable?
Empirate 11-29-07, 11:27 AM	Remember, its only while he's raging. So it's not even close to the league of Wild Shaping Druids running around as legendary apes or something all the time. OK, so he gets some Str and Con bonuses... that's what Rage does, anyway, so I don't see the problem. The downside to being a Black Bear is, of course, not being able to use weapons or anything else requiring opposable thumbs. So his Weapon Focus and Specialization are probably useless in bear form. Also, his armor will be subsumed into the new form and not provide any bonuses. Last I looked, bears had a pretty abysmal armor class. The same goes for all magic items. Finally, he can't communicate or do anything requiring speech (activating certain items, for example). So as long as he doesn't retrain as a Druid and does this all the time while casting spells and running some high-HD wolf companion around, I don't see the problem. Bear Warrior is a flavorful class, far from overpowered. He'll be an eleventh-level character. Have you seen what a Wizard or Cleric can do at that level, even limited to core books???
Clawhound 11-29-07, 12:25 PM	I've played a bear warrior. You get lots of power, but your AC goes into the toilet. You lose the properties of magic weapons unless you invest in an item or so. You lose your armor unless you invest in armor that converts with form. You lose the advantage of most of your equipment. You lose your two-handed strength bonus and extra damage from power attack. We house-ruled the bear warrior into wildshapes/day. That worked much easier, and being a bear most of the time was really very fun. Let him enjoy the class. Being a non-spellcaster in animal form has enough downsides that this class works.
Cuindless 11-29-07, 03:22 PM	Thanks both of you for the responses. 1 quick question about the rules of the class: Is the +8 strength and +4 con in addition to the +4/+4 for rage, or is that included?
Tedronai 11-29-07, 04:10 PM	From the CW: 'The ability score bonuses granted by rage or frenzy are replaced by Strength Dexterity, and Constitution appropriate to the bear form taken.'
Cuindless 11-29-07, 04:18 PM	Thanks Tedronai. I didn't notice that before. I must be blind.
Nephlite 11-29-07, 04:43 PM	He keeps his magic items like rings,helm, etc at least. Rember, based on polymorph not Wildshape.
Cuindless 11-29-07, 05:22 PM	He keeps his magic items like rings,helm, etc at least. Rember, based on polymorph not Wildshape. Yeah, I figured that. He has an amulet of natural armor, which doesn't stack with the black bear's natural armor, but he does have a ring of protection +2. But his full plate, large shield and longsword would all go away. All in all, based on the statements I've seen here, I'm going to allow it. By the time he reaches 10th level (giving him the dire bear alternate shape), the party casters will be manipulating the very fabric of the cosmos...
Prime32 11-29-07, 05:39 PM	Bear Warrior also qualifies you for warshaper, which grants you more reach, fast healing, and +4 to Str and Con. Worth it.
Cuindless 11-29-07, 05:55 PM	Where can I find Warshaper?
Nephlite 11-29-07, 05:57 PM	Yeah, I figured that. He has an amulet of natural armor, which doesn't stack with the black bear's natural armor, but he does have a ring of protection +2. But his full plate, large shield and longsword would all go away. All in all, based on the statements I've seen here, I'm going to allow it. By the time he reaches 10th level (giving him the dire bear alternate shape), the party casters will be manipulating the very fabric of the cosmos... Actually, Amulet is a enhancement to his natural armor. While in bear form his normal natural armor becomes the bears. Thus X+2 even when X changes is still X+2. So his amulet still works.
Prime32 11-29-07, 06:09 PM	Where can I find Warshaper? It's in Complete Warrior too.
Cuindless 11-29-07, 06:21 PM	Ahh... I just got the book so I haven't had a chance to get all the way through it yet. Thanks.
Wih 11-29-07, 06:32 PM	Yeah, I figured that. He has an amulet of natural armor, which doesn't stack with the black bear's natural armor, but he does have a ring of protection +2. But his full plate, large shield and longsword would all go away. All in all, based on the statements I've seen here, I'm going to allow it. By the time he reaches 10th level (giving him the dire bear alternate shape), the party casters will be manipulating the very fabric of the cosmos... Amulets of Natural Armour provide an enhancement bonus to your NA, meaning that they will stack. It however, will not stack with a barkskin spell. Bera Warrior may be good, but it means giving up magic weapons, two handed power attack, and being very, very squishy. Think about it from an enemy's perspective. You get attacked by 4 people. One is wearing Full-plate, one is wearing no armour, one is wearing light armour, and the other....has turned into bear and is taller, bigger, meaner, nastier than you, and it heading right towards you. Who would you attack?
Prime32 11-30-07, 01:31 PM	Couldn't he wear barding? Hasn't anyone read the His Dark Materials trilogy? http://www.britfilms.tv/images/news/golden%20compass%20bear.jpg
Iceraven 11-30-07, 03:06 PM	Two Words, Wild Armor. If your a bear warrior and your armor doesn't have the wild property then you don't really want the bonus. A Wildling Clasp can also be used for less price and it can be applied to your cloak and several other items instead if you needed them.
Cuindless 11-30-07, 04:08 PM	Bear Warrior may be good, but it means giving up magic weapons, two handed power attack, and being very, very squishy. Think about it from an enemy's perspective. You get attacked by 4 people. One is wearing Full-plate, one is wearing no armour, one is wearing light armour, and the other....has turned into bear and is taller, bigger, meaner, nastier than you, and it heading right towards you. Who would you attack? I think this can be shortened to: You're being attack by four people. One is wearing no armor, one is wearing light armor, one is wearing full plate, and one is a friggin' bear!
FreAkOuTRG 11-30-07, 06:19 PM	I generally prefer Werebear, myself. Hybrid form, less levels to take, and stacks with rage. Not to mention he can go forever in his hybrid form. There are downsides, of course, like the loss of BAB and HP. But is Bear Warrior balanced? I think so. Despite the much greater strength and endurance granted by the bear form, you can't use weapons (read: magic weapons) or armor (same) which can hurt, especially if you devoted feats to the weapon focus feat tree. Add to that the limited amounts of times usable, and the lack of other abilities a barbarian of about the same character level would have... Powerful, yes, but not broken, I think.
Prime32 11-30-07, 06:29 PM	Limited number of times usable? The text is contradictory, but the errata clarifies that bear form can be used whenever you can rage. Would you allow a goliath bear warrior to take the Powerful Build Wild Shape feat to retain Powerful Build in bear form (along with Improved Natural Attack for all weapons)?
Cuindless 11-30-07, 07:50 PM	I generally prefer Werebear, myself. Hybrid form, less levels to take, and stacks with rage. Not to mention he can go forever in his hybrid form. There are downsides, of course, like the loss of BAB and HP. But is Bear Warrior balanced? I think so. Despite the much greater strength and endurance granted by the bear form, you can't use weapons (read: magic weapons) or armor (same) which can hurt, especially if you devoted feats to the weapon focus feat tree. Add to that the limited amounts of times usable, and the lack of other abilities a barbarian of about the same character level would have... Powerful, yes, but not broken, I think. This particular character has Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization in longsword, which I pointed out to the player would be rendered useless by the bear form. Add in the fact that he's already taken Improved Critical: Longsword as well, and I think he might be shooting himself in the foot more than he realizes.
rironin 11-30-07, 08:08 PM	This particular character has Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization in longsword, which I pointed out to the player would be rendered useless by the bear form. Add in the fact that he's already taken Improved Critical: Longsword as well, and I think he might be shooting himself in the foot more than he realizes.If that's the case, and he really wanted to be a bear warrior, I'd let him go for it and give him the opportunity to retrain his longsword-related feats if he wanted to. I've never played one myself, but above posts definitely make it sound like he won't be too powerful, and will likely be less powerful, than he'd otherwise be. So I'd be all for it if it's something that makes the player happy, and I'd let him exchange those feats for something he can use. Warshaper would indeed make this route more viable, or at least cooler.
Cartigan 11-30-07, 08:21 PM	Couldn't he wear barding? Hasn't anyone read the His Dark Materials trilogy? http://www.britfilms.tv/images/news/golden%20compass%20bear.jpg Beastskin armor will do that but doesn't really work well for anything but Druids, even with rule fudging.
rironin 11-30-07, 08:28 PM	Beastskin armor will do that but doesn't really work well for anything but Druids, even with rule fudging.Isn't there some sort of armor enhancement - I think it's "Called" or somesuch - in the Magic Item Compendium that magically appears and replaces your currently worn suit of armor with a command word? You could get yourself a suit of magical barding with that enchantment, and then when you turn into a bear you call the barding and it appears on you with a poof. Just remember to make the command word "Rarrrrgh!" :P
Cartigan 11-30-07, 08:55 PM	I don't think it works like that.
rironin 11-30-07, 09:19 PM	I don't think it works like that.You're probably right - would likely require a little fudging. Let me take a look and see what it really gives you. Ahh, I see. It is indeed "Called," but it doesn't swap your armor with other armor. One way only. Assuming that you could fulfill the requirements of a command word in bear form (technically you can't) then you could use it. In theory, a version of this armor with Standard (mental) activation as opposed to Standard (command) should be feasible for a higher price. Assuming you got a version you could activate mentally, it would work, but basically only once - the armor would appear on you in bear form, but it wouldn't go away. It would have to be kept somewhere safe on the same plane, and then you'd pretty much be stuck with it, unless you could send it back to wherever it came from :P But I thought there was something else in the Magic Item Compendium that might do the trick... I can't remember what it is or how it works, but isn't there something that lets you swap between two entire sets of equipment, basically? You say a word and it all gets swapped, weapons, armor, the whole thing? Anyone remember what that is?
Cartigan 11-30-07, 09:33 PM	1) That is still irrelevant unless your other armor is made for bears. 2) Beastskin is the stuff that makes your armor creature armor.
Ziggaraut 11-30-07, 09:52 PM	The Wild enchantment in the... Complete Divine I believe, specifically says it works with wild shape. Although it is reasonable to have it apply to Bear Form, RAW (and my DM :weep:) says that it does not apply. Weaknesses of the bear form mainly are the lack of a two handed weapon, shield, armor, whatever makes you effective off of rage. You don't gain the power attack advantage either. The biggest advantage of Bear Form would be the Improved Grab I believe. I outfitted MY Bear Warrior with a Vampire Fangs graft (Libris Mortis) and specialized in grappling. The Bear Warrior is sometimes considered UNDERpowered due to it's lack of magic items, but it levels off at balanced due to the sheer enhancements it gives. I like it, although I would also like to see a class that allows you to rage into Gorilla form.
rironin 11-30-07, 10:02 PM	1) That is still irrelevant unless your other armor is made for bears. 2) Beastskin is the stuff that makes your armor creature armor.I'm not sure if this is a response to my post or not, but if it is, I'm assuming he'd have barding, made for a bear. I'm aware of the beastskin enchantment and how it only works if you've got wildshape, so that's definitely not what I was thinking of. The item I'm thinking of may not be in the Magic Item Compendium, although that's the most likely place for it. I remember thinking it was a cool idea, seeing that it allowed a regular PC to have two whole sets of gear ready for two different situations and swap between them at will, keeping the other in some extradimensional space. EDIT: It might be irrelevant - I might be thinking of a pair of gloves that only stores/switches what you have in your hands, which would be no help here. Still not sure though...
Cuindless 11-30-07, 11:27 PM	Looking at the PrC more in depth, I'm thinking that it's actually pretty well balanced. Right about the time that the Black Bear form becomes obsolete, you get Brown Bear form (and the same with Dire Bear form). Earlier somebody said that you only get three attack where a standard Barbarian/Fighter would get 4 (or 5 at 21st level), but considering that all three attacks are natural attacks made with a fairly high attack bonus, I think that it compensates. Lack of two handed weapon damage and enhancements was mentioned as well, but considering the sheer strength bonuses given by the various forms, I think that it's an acceptable trade off there as well (i.e. guaranteed damage vs. potential damage).
Prime32 12-01-07, 07:51 AM	The Bear Warrior is sometimes considered UNDERpowered due to it's lack of magic items, but it levels off at balanced due to the sheer enhancements it gives. I like it, although I would also like to see a class that allows you to rage into Gorilla form. Three words: Vow of Poverty :D
Xiuhcoatl 12-01-07, 08:44 AM	The Grasping enhancement, or the item Gloves of Man would allow one to wield his weapon in bear form.
Prime32 12-01-07, 10:49 AM	I believe an issue of Dragon has "claw extenders" as weapons, as well as "barding of size alteration" in an article on animal companions. Worth a look.