D&D (2024) Barbarian (Playtest 7)

[deganawida]

Did the flavor text for barbarians in 5e always define rage as not necessarily anger but drawing on some primal force or instinct? Because, if not, then I dig the change. He-Man intensifies.

Hate quoting myself; seems like the height of arrogance. However, wanted to mention that I did confirm that the descriptive text for the barbarian and the rage mechanic were both changed to minimize anger, and instead focus on drawing from primal power as a whole.

This is, in my opinion, a great change, as it moves the barbarian away from only being Wolverine or a berserker by default, and into, as was mentioned by others, including fictional characters such as Tarzan or even He-Man (hey, Grayskull is a source of primal power; that’s one reason that everyone wants to control it).

I’m very pleased by this change, and it has made it more likely that I will purchase the revised books*. Hopefully, this will continue through the playtests. We’ll see If it sticks, but that really is my hope.

* I’m a pretty simple guy. I’ve bought and played RPGs before for just a class or concept that I really liked. Nothing has to be 100% for me.

 

[Horwath]

Hate quoting myself; seems like the height of arrogance. However, wanted to mention that I did confirm that the descriptive text for the barbarian and the rage mechanic were both changed to minimize anger, and instead focus on drawing from primal power as a whole.

This is, in my opinion, a great change, as it moves the barbarian away from only being Wolverine or a berserker by default, and into, as was mentioned by others, including fictional characters such as Tarzan or even He-Man (hey, Grayskull is a source of primal power; that’s one reason that everyone wants to control it).

I’m very pleased by this change, and it has made it more likely that I will purchase the revised books*. Hopefully, this will continue through the playtests. We’ll see If it sticks, but that really is my hope.

* I’m a pretty simple guy. I’ve bought and played RPGs before for just a class or concept that I really liked. Nothing has to be 100% for me.

Then primal forces "rage"

Advantage on all STR, CON and WIS saves, attacks and checks.
All attacks on you have disadvantage.
Resistance to all damage.
Cannot cast spells or concentrate on spells
Add some bonus to damage, might start at +0 at 1st level, +1 at 3rd level, +2 at 6th level, later as normal.

Delete reckless attack feature.

 

[mamba]

At least, they are usually meek, and only if they are raging, they get some inner strength they would not have otherwise. Does not sound that bad.

If a Hexblade can use CHA for weapon attacks, the Barbarian can use STR for intimidation. Makes much more sense to me than the former

 

[Kinematics]

A couple other changes that I missed:

The Eagle Dash+Disengage feature can be used when you use Rage, not just as a bonus action. You're no longer unable to use it on your first turn of Rage.

Indomitable Might now applies to Str saving throws as well as Str checks. I had actually suggested that in the UA 5 feedback, but had missed that it was implemented when it got moved back to level 18.

Of course, while Str saving throws aren't rare, they're not terribly common outside of combat, and during combat you'll have Rage giving you advantage on what's probably a +11 save by level 18, so having a minimum result of 20 mostly just saves you from dealing with rolling a 1-3 or so. I certainly won't complain about that, but I'd still feel it doesn't need to wait til level 18.

 

[Kinematics]

In theory a high str, low cha barb should be the tough guy that's meek and a bit quiet (its a common motiff and one you see in real life, the "gentle giants" that wouldn't hurt a fly even though it looks like they could bench press a truck).

"Should be" is a bit strong there. I'd say "that's one of many possible ways to portray that." But way too narrow of an interpretation of low Cha. I know lots of loud, arrogant people with low Cha.

Another interpretation is the big guy who's terrible at words, and has the little guy do all the talking while he stands in the back looking intimidating. He's not shy, just awful at talking smoothly in a dynamic situation. Having lots of "uh"s and pauses as he tries to form a threat really loses its impact. But he can stand there and loom threateningly quite well.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

If a Hexblade can use CHA for weapon attacks, the Barbarian can use STR for intimidation. Makes much more sense to me than the former

Yes. Especially when they are raging, which is the prerequisite for the barb to use str.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Another interpretation is the big guy who's terrible at words, and has the little guy do all the talking while he stands in the back looking intimidating. He's not shy, just awful at talking smoothly in a dynamic situation. Having lots of "uh"s and pauses as he tries to form a threat really loses its impact. But he can stand there and loom threateningly quite well.

Or the one who just bends a bar of iron effortlessly when the talker gives them the sign.

 

[Clint_L]

I'm a little unclear about the mechanics of primal knowledge. Rage normally happens in combat, so for doing out of combat checks you...what? Enter a rage and continuously extend it with your bonus action, for up to 10 minutes? This seems both clunky and a super poor use of rage. I feel like I must be misunderstanding how it works - what am I missing?

Why not take rage out of it and just say that barbarians can use strength for those checks all the time, because primal power yada yada?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I'm a little unclear about the mechanics of primal knowledge. Rage normally happens in combat, so for doing out of combat checks you...what? Enter a rage and continuously extend it with your bonus action, for up to 10 minutes? This seems both clunky and a super poor use of rage. I feel like I must be misunderstanding how it works - what am I missing?

Why not take rage out of it and just say that barbarians can use strength for those checks all the time, because primal power yada yada?

No. It is a great use of rage. If the barbarian had those bonuses all of the time, you could as well just say: everyone just uses their highest modifier all of the time for everything, because yada yada.

Edit: of course, rage could just say: for 10 minutes you have following benefits. Just take all the ifs out.

 

[Parmandur]

I'm a little unclear about the mechanics of primal knowledge. Rage normally happens in combat, so for doing out of combat checks you...what? Enter a rage and continuously extend it with your bonus action, for up to 10 minutes? This seems both clunky and a super poor use of rage. I feel like I must be misunderstanding how it works - what am I missing?

Why not take rage out of it and just say that barbarians can use strength for those checks all the time, because primal power yada yada?

You got the Gist, and I can think of a few scenarios: such as finishing a combat and the party wanting to sneak forwards, it would help the group.

However, for the real why, I will refer to Crawford's explanation of the Second Wind Skill bonus feature in the big explanation video: on a day where combat doesn't really happen in the 2014 rules, Second Wind (and Rage) do nothing. These new features allow Barbarians and Fighters to get out of combat utility from their resources.