How to RP a Dwarf Barbarian [Archive] - Wizards Community

How to RP a Dwarf Barbarian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Leibel
01-21-04, 06:42 PM As a PC I am joining a campaign - For my PC I chose a Dwarf Barbarian and I need advice for RPing him. I'm thinking a rugged frontier and/or survivalist type with disdain for authority, suspicious of Sorcerers/Wizards and friendlier towards Druids/Rangers/Clerics. Skills would be nature oriented - lumber jack, wood cutter, fisher, guide, farmer, knowledge(nature), smithing, weapon making, possible knowledge of frontier languages.
Flu]{e B0y
01-21-04, 07:18 PM well since drawves r more mountainous i think u should rp him as the barbaric mountain climber type or mayb a miner with buffy muscles:ayyyy!:
Edymnion
01-21-04, 08:06 PM Don't play him as a drooling wild dwarf, there is a better way!
Play a "Dwarven Battlerager". You are not a wildman that flies into a rage, you are perfectly literate (spend the skillpoints, you'll need it), well manored, and quite cultured. However, you have trained to unleash your berserker fury in combat. You are well trained in weapons, and have no problems wearing armor, as long as it doesn't restrict your movement. You train yourself long and hard, becoming faster, stronger, and heartier than normal combatants. Your very presence on the field of battle is uplifting to your comrads as you cleave though the orcish hordes, while the enemy flee in terror of your might wrath.

Get away from the uncivilized barbarian stereotype, and you should have a lot more fun with him. :)
Thorak
01-21-04, 08:45 PM Are Battleragers in 3rd edition? I played a couple, and their Vindicator fighter/cleric brethren, waaay back in 2nd edition. Unfortunately, my 2nd edition Complete Book of Dwarves completely disagrees with you when you say Battleragers are 'cultured'. Certain key lines:

Madness and irrational behaviour are commonly associated with Battleragers.

and

They are given to drinking, rowdy and boisterous singing, and drunken dancing. Others prefer not to socialize with Battleragers if possible. They are quick to anger and will avenge any imagined insult with a battle axe.

and

They are argumentative, coarse, and definetly not diplomats! "If it moves, kill it!" is the likely response of a Battlerager.

and

They usually carry wineskins containing a vile concoction of fermented goat's milk and herbs - "Gutshaker". they are the only creatures known to drink gutshaker without becoming violently ill.

They also tend to dye their hair odd colors, shave in strange patterns, stiffen their hair and bears with lime or grease, and have tattoos all over. And their penalty was a negative reaction from everyone, but an even bigger one from fellow dwarves, who know full well what psychotic arses these guys are.

Battleragers, at least in 2nd edition, were like a berserker magnified in every single way you can imagine. Combat, yes, but also in the psychotic and unwholesome side of things. If anything, Barbarians as described in 3rd edition are MORE cultured and nice than Battleragers. Battleragers might have been able to read, but that just meant they could write their bawdy songs down for future use.
tarkin
01-21-04, 10:42 PM Do the old Head banging routine.

Your dwarven barbarina never goes for the hand shake. Everytime he sees a friend he likes he goes up to them,. grabs their shoulders and pulls their head down to bang into his.

That's what his tribe uses instead of handshakes. :D
Edymnion
01-21-04, 11:35 PM Originally posted by Thorak
Are Battleragers in 3rd edition? I played a couple, and their Vindicator fighter/cleric brethren, waaay back in 2nd edition. Unfortunately, my 2nd edition Complete Book of Dwarves completely disagrees with you when you say Battleragers are 'cultured'. Nope, they're not in 3e, so you can interpret them however you like, and I like the idea of a cultured "barbarian" that has nothing to do with the wilderness. :D
Aucturos
01-21-04, 11:54 PM To agree with Edymnion and maybe give you some ideas:

At several points in time Vikings were considered barbarians, depending on who you asked.

Yet they had a deeply religious and complex society whose complexity is yet still not fully known. They integrated extremely quickly with others within only a few generations once they had inhabited a land, and were adventurers extrodinaire.

They were master weaponsmiths and their burial helms are still regarded as some of the most elaborate in the world.

Now, if you ask the French, they were a bunch of murdering slobs from across the sea...
CaoSlayer
01-22-04, 05:44 AM yes, they are.

You can find the prc in Races of Faerun
DrakeRunner
01-22-04, 11:50 AM *drug in by the urge to correct bad alignments*

Your character may genuinely have a disrespect for authority, but in all honesty, Chaotic means you live your life by whim and fancy, not with plans and order. It has nothing to do with outside societies, nothing at freaking all.

Thank you. *digustingly happy smile*

That aside, Edyminion's got my vote.
Thorak
01-22-04, 03:41 PM Originally posted by Edymnion
Nope, they're not in 3e, so you can interpret them however you like, and I like the idea of a cultured "barbarian" that has nothing to do with the wilderness. :D

Ahhh, but if they haven't been revamped in 3rd edition, then we must assume they remain unchanged from their 2nd edition forms, at least so far as flavor goes. Nothing has been said to show otherwise. Feel free to have a 'cultured' barbarian dwarf, it's a neat idea. But Battleragers are hideous psychotic nutbags who think an axe is a solution to every problem.
Mikes_Notions
01-22-04, 04:03 PM I'm currently playing a dwarven barbarian named Jude. I find myself very much in love with the concept of a dwarven barabarian. I hope you have as much fun with your character as I have with mine. (You also have a lot of great Dwarven Min-maxing opurtunities, but thats for another topic.)

The way I saw a dwarven barbarian was like like so:

From a frontier dwarven tribe/clan/colony. I used a semi-nomadic mountain tribe of masons, who practiced "selective masonry". Because of the constant need to survive in new and unbroken territory, the tribe had to be strong and hardy. Thus, barbarians from this tribe are common.

My character started out adventuring as an adulthood ritual. He was trying to collect the gold required by his tribes king to marry the kings daughter. It was a type of wedding dowery.

Hes your typical dwarf, loves gold and ale, hates orcs and wizards. But I gave him a very survivalistic, independent streak.

http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/m/nmros/hrothulf_color_full2.jpg.html

This may give you an idea of how a dwarven barbarian MAY look. Thats how I imagined mine, but maybe you had another idea for yours.
Vyvyan Basterd
01-22-04, 04:40 PM I created a Barbarian character for LKoK that came from a 'backwards' tribe that had been subjucated by more 'civilized' people. His family was torn apart as each member was sold to different slave owners. He prayed to the Kalamaran god of freedom (not overly familiar with the setting) every day for a chance to escape his bonds. Finally, one day, he saw his opportunity and escaped, vowing to find and rescue his family and others that have been sold into slavery. He was raised by a proper civilzed slave owner and his family, thus he knew his manners and happened to be a likable boy (built him with a high CHA over the typical Barbarian stats).

He calls upon the strength of his god (rages) to help him fight various injustices. His devotion to freedom and the cause of his patron deity make him a good candidate for the Holy Liberator class later in his career.

Another variation on the above is that he finally escapes when powers from within (his ability to channel his rage) show themselves. I was also going to multiclass this variation into Sorcerer and choose less flashy spells to simulate other "powers from within."
CaoSlayer
01-23-04, 04:04 AM nobody bothers to read me?

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/rof_gallery/49767.jpg

BRagers are in 3e
SnowbearK
01-23-04, 04:54 AM Watch the Dungeons & Dragons movie.

(ducks the flying dice and dodges the hitmen)

Seriously, if that doesn't put your civilized mind into a state of absolute rage, nothing will. :D

(what, did you think I meant watch it for that god-awful dwarf barbarina...er...barbarian?)
Thorak
01-23-04, 08:43 AM Originally posted by CaoSlayer
nobody bothers to read me?

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/rof_gallery/49767.jpg

BRagers are in 3e

Given the picture, they may have taken out the dyed hair and tattoos, but they still look like psychotic axe-wielding maniacs. So it's all good. :ayyyy!:
Iry
01-24-04, 01:06 PM Norse Vikings, Native American Indians, Eskimos and rugged Mountain Climbers are all interesting ways to portray a Barbarian besides the basic berzerker. Battleragers are all well and nice, and a major breath of fresh air if you haven't played something like that in a while, but ultimately they are just your stereotypical Dwarf Personality x100.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Leibel 01-21-04, 06:42 PM	As a PC I am joining a campaign - For my PC I chose a Dwarf Barbarian and I need advice for RPing him. I'm thinking a rugged frontier and/or survivalist type with disdain for authority, suspicious of Sorcerers/Wizards and friendlier towards Druids/Rangers/Clerics. Skills would be nature oriented - lumber jack, wood cutter, fisher, guide, farmer, knowledge(nature), smithing, weapon making, possible knowledge of frontier languages.
Flu]{e B0y 01-21-04, 07:18 PM	well since drawves r more mountainous i think u should rp him as the barbaric mountain climber type or mayb a miner with buffy muscles:ayyyy!:
Edymnion 01-21-04, 08:06 PM	Don't play him as a drooling wild dwarf, there is a better way! Play a "Dwarven Battlerager". You are not a wildman that flies into a rage, you are perfectly literate (spend the skillpoints, you'll need it), well manored, and quite cultured. However, you have trained to unleash your berserker fury in combat. You are well trained in weapons, and have no problems wearing armor, as long as it doesn't restrict your movement. You train yourself long and hard, becoming faster, stronger, and heartier than normal combatants. Your very presence on the field of battle is uplifting to your comrads as you cleave though the orcish hordes, while the enemy flee in terror of your might wrath. Get away from the uncivilized barbarian stereotype, and you should have a lot more fun with him. :)
Thorak 01-21-04, 08:45 PM	Are Battleragers in 3rd edition? I played a couple, and their Vindicator fighter/cleric brethren, waaay back in 2nd edition. Unfortunately, my 2nd edition Complete Book of Dwarves completely disagrees with you when you say Battleragers are 'cultured'. Certain key lines: Madness and irrational behaviour are commonly associated with Battleragers. and They are given to drinking, rowdy and boisterous singing, and drunken dancing. Others prefer not to socialize with Battleragers if possible. They are quick to anger and will avenge any imagined insult with a battle axe. and They are argumentative, coarse, and definetly not diplomats! "If it moves, kill it!" is the likely response of a Battlerager. and They usually carry wineskins containing a vile concoction of fermented goat's milk and herbs - "Gutshaker". they are the only creatures known to drink gutshaker without becoming violently ill. They also tend to dye their hair odd colors, shave in strange patterns, stiffen their hair and bears with lime or grease, and have tattoos all over. And their penalty was a negative reaction from everyone, but an even bigger one from fellow dwarves, who know full well what psychotic arses these guys are. Battleragers, at least in 2nd edition, were like a berserker magnified in every single way you can imagine. Combat, yes, but also in the psychotic and unwholesome side of things. If anything, Barbarians as described in 3rd edition are MORE cultured and nice than Battleragers. Battleragers might have been able to read, but that just meant they could write their bawdy songs down for future use.
tarkin 01-21-04, 10:42 PM	Do the old Head banging routine. Your dwarven barbarina never goes for the hand shake. Everytime he sees a friend he likes he goes up to them,. grabs their shoulders and pulls their head down to bang into his. That's what his tribe uses instead of handshakes. :D
Edymnion 01-21-04, 11:35 PM	Originally posted by Thorak Are Battleragers in 3rd edition? I played a couple, and their Vindicator fighter/cleric brethren, waaay back in 2nd edition. Unfortunately, my 2nd edition Complete Book of Dwarves completely disagrees with you when you say Battleragers are 'cultured'. Nope, they're not in 3e, so you can interpret them however you like, and I like the idea of a cultured "barbarian" that has nothing to do with the wilderness. :D
Aucturos 01-21-04, 11:54 PM	To agree with Edymnion and maybe give you some ideas: At several points in time Vikings were considered barbarians, depending on who you asked. Yet they had a deeply religious and complex society whose complexity is yet still not fully known. They integrated extremely quickly with others within only a few generations once they had inhabited a land, and were adventurers extrodinaire. They were master weaponsmiths and their burial helms are still regarded as some of the most elaborate in the world. Now, if you ask the French, they were a bunch of murdering slobs from across the sea...
CaoSlayer 01-22-04, 05:44 AM	yes, they are. You can find the prc in Races of Faerun
DrakeRunner 01-22-04, 11:50 AM	drug in by the urge to correct bad alignments Your character may genuinely have a disrespect for authority, but in all honesty, Chaotic means you live your life by whim and fancy, not with plans and order. It has nothing to do with outside societies, nothing at freaking all. Thank you. digustingly happy smile That aside, Edyminion's got my vote.
Thorak 01-22-04, 03:41 PM	Originally posted by Edymnion Nope, they're not in 3e, so you can interpret them however you like, and I like the idea of a cultured "barbarian" that has nothing to do with the wilderness. :D Ahhh, but if they haven't been revamped in 3rd edition, then we must assume they remain unchanged from their 2nd edition forms, at least so far as flavor goes. Nothing has been said to show otherwise. Feel free to have a 'cultured' barbarian dwarf, it's a neat idea. But Battleragers are hideous psychotic nutbags who think an axe is a solution to every problem.
Mikes_Notions 01-22-04, 04:03 PM	I'm currently playing a dwarven barbarian named Jude. I find myself very much in love with the concept of a dwarven barabarian. I hope you have as much fun with your character as I have with mine. (You also have a lot of great Dwarven Min-maxing opurtunities, but thats for another topic.) The way I saw a dwarven barbarian was like like so: From a frontier dwarven tribe/clan/colony. I used a semi-nomadic mountain tribe of masons, who practiced "selective masonry". Because of the constant need to survive in new and unbroken territory, the tribe had to be strong and hardy. Thus, barbarians from this tribe are common. My character started out adventuring as an adulthood ritual. He was trying to collect the gold required by his tribes king to marry the kings daughter. It was a type of wedding dowery. Hes your typical dwarf, loves gold and ale, hates orcs and wizards. But I gave him a very survivalistic, independent streak. http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/m/nmros/hrothulf_color_full2.jpg.html This may give you an idea of how a dwarven barbarian MAY look. Thats how I imagined mine, but maybe you had another idea for yours.
Vyvyan Basterd 01-22-04, 04:40 PM	I created a Barbarian character for LKoK that came from a 'backwards' tribe that had been subjucated by more 'civilized' people. His family was torn apart as each member was sold to different slave owners. He prayed to the Kalamaran god of freedom (not overly familiar with the setting) every day for a chance to escape his bonds. Finally, one day, he saw his opportunity and escaped, vowing to find and rescue his family and others that have been sold into slavery. He was raised by a proper civilzed slave owner and his family, thus he knew his manners and happened to be a likable boy (built him with a high CHA over the typical Barbarian stats). He calls upon the strength of his god (rages) to help him fight various injustices. His devotion to freedom and the cause of his patron deity make him a good candidate for the Holy Liberator class later in his career. Another variation on the above is that he finally escapes when powers from within (his ability to channel his rage) show themselves. I was also going to multiclass this variation into Sorcerer and choose less flashy spells to simulate other "powers from within."
CaoSlayer 01-23-04, 04:04 AM	nobody bothers to read me? http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/rof_gallery/49767.jpg BRagers are in 3e
SnowbearK 01-23-04, 04:54 AM	Watch the Dungeons & Dragons movie. (ducks the flying dice and dodges the hitmen) Seriously, if that doesn't put your civilized mind into a state of absolute rage, nothing will. :D (what, did you think I meant watch it for that god-awful dwarf barbarina...er...barbarian?)
Thorak 01-23-04, 08:43 AM	Originally posted by CaoSlayer nobody bothers to read me? http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/rof_gallery/49767.jpg BRagers are in 3e Given the picture, they may have taken out the dyed hair and tattoos, but they still look like psychotic axe-wielding maniacs. So it's all good. :ayyyy!:
Iry 01-24-04, 01:06 PM	Norse Vikings, Native American Indians, Eskimos and rugged Mountain Climbers are all interesting ways to portray a Barbarian besides the basic berzerker. Battleragers are all well and nice, and a major breath of fresh air if you haven't played something like that in a while, but ultimately they are just your stereotypical Dwarf Personality x100.