Is the barbarian too front loaded?

[frankthedm]

Is the barbarian too front loaded? I am starting to think Fast movement, Rage, all martial weapons and light & medium armor makes Barbarian just a little too tempting to “One Dip” into.

 

[Vegepygmy]

It's an attractive one-level dip, but the penalties for multi-classing are sufficient to prevent major abuse, IMO.

 

[Jhulae]

Meh.

Fast movement is nice, but it limits your armor selection, which prevents a fighter or cleric (classes who normally benefit from heavy armor) from using it. It also pretty much precludes spellcasting when raging, so again, any light HP classes (like wizard, bard, and sorcerer) or casting classes (cleric/druid) can't be casting if they're using the rage.

However, it makes a light armor fighter (normally a weaker concept) better, so that's not a bad thing.

And, if someone's already dual classing (not counting prestige), taking a 1 level dip into anything throws in the penalty, as only a very few races (and only one core) have Barbarian as a favored class.

Honestly, I don't see a problem with it, but if you wanted to move something like FM to 2nd or so, I don't think it would hurt the class much.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I think it probably is a little. Whenever I play a halfling rogue I think a 1 level dip into Barbarian is attractive just for the increased movement. The rage and extra hit points is just an added bonus. You could move increased movement to 2nd level but I don't think it is a huge balance issue to bother with.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Aus_Snow]

I think it is. Of course, my own Berserker class is far superior.

 

[Endur]

HULK SMASH!

Barbarian is slightly front-loaded, but not enough to worry about.

 

[Stalker0]

1 level barb isn't bad, but 1 level barb + extra rage means I have everything I need to be a powerhouse.

 

[Perun]

I also went with "slightly, but not a big deal" option. One-level dips don't worry me (especially, as others have mentioned) they usually introduce the XP penalty. Plus, IMO, people will only do it if it fits the character concept, as multiclassing (even if it's just one level) usually waters down the primary class advancement.

Regards.

 

[Sejs]

Is the barbarian too front loaded? I am starting to think Fast movement, Rage, all martial weapons and light & medium armor makes Barbarian just a little too tempting to “One Dip” into.

Compare it against the other core full BAB classes on the merit of a single level dip.

Really it's not that bad.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

It seems just fine to me.