"RAAAAHRGH!!!"
CLASS TRAITS
Role: Striker
Power Source: Primal
Key Abilities: Strength, Constitution, Charisma
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Hide
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple Melee, Military Melee, Simple Ranged, Military Ranged
Bonus To Defenses: +1 to Fort, Ref, Will.
Hit Points: 12+Con
HP per Level: 5
Surges per Day: 6+Con Modifier
Trained Skills: Intimidation. Choose three more from the list below.
Acrobatics, Athletics, Endurance, Perception, Nature.
Build Options: Rage Barbarian, Retaliation Barbarian
Class Features: Quick to Anger, Gloat, Object of Ire, Restlessness
The two builds for Barbarians rely on a lust for violence and love of pain. One requires the Barbarian to be close to death before the full scope of his power is made known while the other seeks to repay each injury he suffers in kind.
RAGE BARBARIAN
Take powers that deal a lot of damage and maybe you can kill them before they kill you but the harder they try the more likely they'll die in the attempt. Primary attribute is Strength, then Constitution then Charisma. Some Barbarian Powers have secondary effects or attacks that rely on this stat and the Temp hit points that Gloat provides will come in handy since you‘ll spend most of your time bloodied.
Suggested Feat: Durability
Suggested Skills: Endurance, Acrobatics, Athletics
RETALIATION BARBARIAN
Choose powers that keep you going when you’re close to the enemy and let them be their own undoing. Primary Attribute is Constitution since your extra damage will rely both on your Con bonus and the enemies attacking you. Many powers that benefit from the Retaliation Class feature will add your Charisma modifier to your damage so a high strength is less important for damage. Second is Strength for a better chance at hitting with your attacks. Last is Charisma.
BARBARIAN CLASS FEATURES
Quick to Anger- At the start of an encounter a Barbarian adds his Charisma modifier to his initiative score.
Object of Ire- As a minor action a Barbarian can declare the nearest foe the Object of his Ire. The chosen foe will remain so until the end of the encounter, it is unconscious, dead or flees. A Barbarian deals an extra D8 of damage to the Object of his Ire.
BARBARIAN SAVAGERY
Choose one of the following options:
Rage- A Rage Barbarian attacks recklessly with wide swings that allow some enemies to make opportunity attacks on him or blows of such ferocity the Barbarian injures himself. The true threat he presents is revealed when he nears death. While Bloodied he adds +2 to his attack rolls (This increases to +4 at 11th and +6 at 21st) and deals an additional D8 of damage to his Object of Ire. Several Barbarian powers allow a Rage Barbarian to injure himself or allow adjacent enemies to make Opportunity Attacks that push him to this frenzied state.
Retaliation- The Retaliation Barbarian loves pain almost as much as his brother but rather than building to such a dangerous point his anger causes him to lash out at every threat his Object of Ire presents. Provided he is adjacent to it, whenever his Object of Ire attacks the Retaliation Barbarian deals his Constitution Modifier in damage. If the foe attacks the Barbarian this increases to Constitution Modifier + Charisma Modifier damage. Certain Barbarian powers can be expended by Retaliation Barbarians to increase this damage instead of their normal use.
GLOAT
Whenever a Barbarian’s Object of Ire is felled or flees the Barbarian can spend a minor action on his next turn gloating or hurling insults after it. Doing so gives the barbarian a healthy morale boost in the form of 5+Charisma Modifier Temporary hit points. This increases to 10+Charisma Modifier at 11th and 15+Charisma Modifier at 21st.
RESTLESSNESS
A Barbarians rest is ever fitful as he is often overcome by the rage that dwells within him, however this restlessness bolsters his spirit when he lay dying. A Barbarian adds his Charisma modifier to Death Saving Throws.
At will powers
Swipe Barbarian Attack 1
A wild swing might be more than you or your foes can handle.
At-Will * Primal
Standard Action Melee
Target: 1 or 2 adjacent creatures
Special: Rage Barbarians may choose to deal damage to themselves equal to their Charisma Modifier
Attack: Str vs. AC
Hit: 1[w]
Overhand Smash Barbarian Attack 1
Thus ugly blow will leaves them a little dizzy.
At-Will * Primal
Standard Action Melee
Target: One creature
Attack: Str vs. AC
Hit: 1[w]+Strength modifier damage and the target cannot Shift until the end of its next turn.
Groin Stomp Barbarian Attack 1
That’s just dirty…
Encounter * Primal
Standard Action Melee
Target: One creature
Attack: Str vs. Fortitude
Special: If the target is Prone increase damage to 2D12+Strength Modifier
Hit: 2d4+Str Damage
Object of Ire needs to state if the extra damage is done when the Barb successfully hits the Object, when he attacks it (miss or hit), or it just happens even if not attacking the Object. And can he redeclare the Object if the previous one drops or flees?
Rage gives +2 to hit, +2d8 damage against the Object when bloodied? Seems a little too powerful. I'd go with either a flat +2 atk bonus (increasing per tier) to all targets OR an addl die of dmg to Object, when bloodied. If you go with the +2, make a feat to allow for the addl die of dmg.
Retaliation should drop the Con+Cha addendum and just leave it at causing Con dmg to Object while he is adjacent, regardless of whether he atks Barb or not. If it were a Defender, I might suggest the Con+Cha dmg if adjacent but attacking a target other than the Barb.
If I understand right, you've given him 5 features. Should be dropped to 3, maybe 4. Personally, I'd drop Gloat, but possibly allowing a choice between Gloat and Restless might work too. Most classes only have 3 features and the ones that have more are usually because the features are on the weaker side or don't have a direct combat application.
I do like the fact that you are making the class Con dependent but also limiting that inherent benefit with (suggested in the text) powers that allow OA's and abilities that rely heavily on him being bloodied.
Swipe - is this an attack that allows the option of a secondary atk? It looks like it from the Target text, but doesn't include Secondary Attack in the block. Also, the "Special" section should be last, and I'd add to it that if the Barb hurts himself, he may add the same total amt of damage to his damage roll against the target(s)
Overhand Smash looks fine.
Groin Stomp looks ok (same note as above on the "Special" text), but I'd consider dropping the damage to 1d4 and adding a condition like dazed, and either (save ends) or until the start of your next turn. It might fit the fluff a little more, just as a suggestion.
I'd like to see the rest of the powers, particularly for lv1.
Bha-Whooosshhh!
Hear that, it's all that work down the toilet;>
the scout was never anything more than the Ranger light. It also filled a role I never want to see again of "the guy who goes off on his own all the time to sneak around".
You mean the rogue
I really appreciate that very insightful and concise critique. It makes me feel bad for both of us since DDinsider is apparently sitting on the playtest Barbarian.
Bha-Whooosshhh!
Hear that, it's all that work down the toilet;>
Yeah, it's a bummer. That being said, I like your version better. I think the way they are doing Rage is stupid, and there's not much info on the class features for the playtest version either.
I like mine better too
