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Appetite for Destruction: The Barbarian's Handbook (by lordduskblade)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nibelung" data-source="post: 6712004" data-attributes="member: 74499"><p><strong>Originally posted by lordduskblade:</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Ability Scores: Profile of Destruction</strong></p><p></p><p>While the particular ability scores depend on a build-by-build basis, these guidelines hold true for virtually every Barbarian.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff9900"><strong>Strength</strong></span> - This is your main stat. No exceptions. Boost it every chance you get.</p><p><strong>Recommended Starting Score:</strong> 16-18, before racial adjustments.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Constitution</strong></span> - More HP and healing surges are always nice, and the secondary effects for Ragebloods and Thunderborn key off of this attribute. To boot, any feats to improve Hide armor's AC value require this, so a solid score here is very common among Barbarians.</p><p><strong>Recommended Starting Score:</strong> 12-14, before racial adjustments.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Dexterity</strong></span> - And now we come to the Barbarian's secondary ability score, regardless of build. A good score here allows you to stay in Hide armor (which results in good AC and Reflex defenses and thus the ability to survive in combat longer), favors a lot of weapon groups Barbarians are partial to, and opens up feat slots for a Barbarian. To boot, Whirling Slayers use it for their secondary effects. While the starting score here doesn't have to be overwhelmingly high, this should be the recipient of the majority of your ability score boosts (along with Strength).</p><p><strong>Recommended Starting Score:</strong> 12-16, before racial adjustments.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong>Intelligence</strong></span> - Quite simply a dump stat. Redundant with your secondary ability (Dexterity) defensively, it boosts no skills you use, and is a prerequisite for no feats you want. Dump it and forget about it.</p><p><strong>Recommended Starting Score:</strong> 8-10, before racial adjustments.</p><p></p><p><strong>Wisdom</strong> - It has its place in your skill list, shows up in some feat pre-requisites and it helps boost your Will defense, so you shouldn't flat-out ignore it (unless you're a Thaneborn: in that case, <span style="color: #800080"><strong>dump away</strong></span>). That said, a moderate score here will do for most, though Polearm Barbarians likely want it to be a <span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>bit higher</strong></span>.</p><p><strong>Recommended Starting Score:</strong> 10-14, before racial adjustments.</p><p></p><p><strong>Charisma</strong> - It boosts your Will defense, has a role in your Intimidate skill and some feat pre-requisites, and it is the secondary ability for Thaneborns, who would like to have a <span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>good score</strong></span> early on. That said, it's <span style="color: #800080"><strong>not as good</strong></span> by default for other Barbarians, since Wisdom offers them more goodies.</p><p><strong>Recommended Starting Score:</strong> 8-14, before racial adjustments.</p><p></p><p><strong>Races: Scions of Destruction</strong></p><p></p><p>If I were building a Barbarian, I would likely be picking between these races:</p><p><strong>Charger Rageblood</strong> - Goliath, Half-Orc, Minotaur, or Warforged.</p><p><strong>Polearm Rageblood</strong> - Half-Orc, Longtooth Shifter, or Minotaur.</p><p><strong>Thaneborn</strong> - Dragonborn.</p><p><strong>Thunderborn</strong> - Human.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Whirler</strong> - Half-Orc.</p><p></p><p><strong>Races - Player's Handbook</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Dragonborn</strong></span> - This race offers bonuses to Strength and Charisma, an attack bonus when you're banged up, an incentive to have a good Constitution, and a neat racial power in the Dragon Breath, which is very well supported. A prime choice as a Thaneborn, and pretty good at most other builds too.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Dwarf</strong></span> - Strength and Constitution are some good ability scores for most Barbarians, and the ability to use your Second Wind as a minor action only sweetens the deal. The lower speed kind of stinks, but it's not a crippling flaw. An excellent race.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Eladrin</strong></span> - While the racial bonus are kind of hit-and-miss (Dexterity = good; Intelligence = bad), it does have some quality racial support, especially with regards to Spear wielding and shaking off charm effects. While it's not quite a top choice, it's not bad at all.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Elf</strong></span> - Extra movement is nice, Dexterity is always welcome, Wisdom can see use on some builds, and a racial power to salvage a bad attack roll is excellent on a Barbarian. A pretty good choice.</p><p></p><p><strong>Half-Elf</strong> - Bonuses to Constitution and Charisma (or Wisdom) are decent, and Dilettante can bring you a nice toy from another class to play with, but overall this race doesn't really have something that makes it a high-echelon Barbarian.</p><p></p><p><strong>Halfling </strong>- The good news is that Barbarians can use Dexterity and Charisma (or Constitution), and the racial power is pretty neat. The bad news is that you have no Strength bonus and you are Small, and the latter is a very bad thing as a Barbarian.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Human</strong></span> - While getting only one ability score bump sounds lame, you can likely get your ability scores where they need to go without it, and an extra feat, At-Will (or Heroic Effort), and skill all suit the Barbarian very well. Throw in the bonus to your NADs and the racial support, and this is one of the best Barbarian races out there.</p><p></p><p><strong>Tiefling</strong> - While the ability scores are kind of marginal (though Constitution can be of use to you), it has ways to compensate (such as Hellfire Blood and a Flaming weapon), and the racial support makes this choice pretty serviceable.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Races - Player's Handbook 2</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><span style="color: #800080"><strong>Deva</strong></span> - A rather marginal pair of ability scores to have as a Barbarian, and the only ability that is really appealing at all is the racial power, and the Elf does it better. Skip this.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #800080"><strong>Gnome</strong></span> - For the most part, a collection of traits that Barbarians don't want. The Dexterity bonus is cute, but you're still Small and have low speed even if you pick it.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Goliath</strong></span> - The racial support is there, the ability scores are good for you, it compensates for what will likely be your weakest defense, and the racial power helps you stay alive. One of the frontrunners.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Half-Orc</strong></span> - Bonuses to arguably your most important ability scores, a racial power for extra damage, and a nice feature that triggers when you get roughed up. Additionally, the racial support is superb. One of the top picks.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Shifter, Longtooth</strong></span> - A bonus to Strength combined with a racial power that provides extra damage and regeneration while bloodied are excellent, and the Wisdom can help make you a very effective Polearm Barbarian. An excellent choice.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Shifter, Razorclaw</strong></span> - Two good attribute bonuses, and extra defense and speed while bloodied are hardly bad. A pretty nice choice.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Races - Player's Handbook 3</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Githzerai</strong></span> - Good but not great ability score, but the defensive racial power and rock-solid feat support make some arguments in its favor.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Minotaur</strong></span> - The abilities are perfect for a number of Barbarian builds, it offers extra toughness, and the racial features are all about rushing in and mixing it up. A great Barbarian race.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #800080"><strong>Shardmind</strong></span> - Regardless of what combination of ability scores you pick, the fact of the matter is that they're not all that applicable to Barbarians, and the rest of the race is simply better suited to other classes.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Wilden</strong></span> - It can have some pretty nice ability score bonuses, and the racial powers certainly provide it with some options you could explore.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Races - Other Rulebooks</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><strong>Bladeling (MOTP)</strong> - Essentially a weaker version of some of the other races that share its attribute bonuses because of its lack of palatable racial support, this makes for a solid but not a special Barbarian.</p><p></p><p><strong>Changeling (EPG)</strong> - Dexterity and Charisma can both be useful, and the racial utility is serviceable. A surprisingly solid choice.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Drow</span> (FRPG)</strong> - Decent ability scores, but the emphasis of its racial support in bringing the pain to your opponents is what pushes it over the top and makes it a good racial choice.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Genasi</span> (FRPG)</strong> - The bonus to Strength is there, and the manifestations mesh well with what a Barbarian likes to do (which is deal lots and lots of damage). A great choice.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #800080">Kalashtar</span> (EPG)</strong> - There's simply not much synergy to be had here.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Mul</span> (DSCS)</strong> - Bonuses to Strength and Constitution AND the ability to partake in Dwarf support? Don't mind if I do.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Revenant</span> (HoS)</strong> - The ability scores can give you some nice mileage, and the ability to mooch stuff from other races and be very hard to kill is nice on a Barbarian.</p><p></p><p><strong>Shade (HoS)</strong> - The stats are decent but not amazing, and it has a free trained skill, but losing a surge for no good reason kind of hurts the stock.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Thri-Kreen</span> (DSCS)</strong> - Strength and Dexterity are excellent ability boosts for you, and the extra speed and minor action attack certainly don't hurt. A top choice.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Vryloka</span> (HoS)</strong> - The surge penalty while bloodied can be annoying, but you will have the hit points and surges to mitigate that flaw, and everything else about the race is excellent.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Warforged</span> (EPG)</strong> - The bonuses are where you usually want them to be, you patch up a weak defense, you have a nice racial power, and the racial support heads you in the right direction. One of the best Barbarian races.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Races - Dragon Magazine</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Gnoll</span> (D 367)</strong> - Dexterity and Constitution work well here, as do damage-oriented incentives for charging and being Bloodied. A very good race.</p><p></p><p><strong>Shadar-Kai (D 372)</strong> - The ability scores are so-so, but there are a few things you can take advantage of in the racial support department. Not quite a top choice, but you'll live</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Races - Monster Manuals</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Bugbear</span> (MM)</strong> - Oversized and your two most important attributes? Sold!</p><p></p><p><strong>Bullywug (MM 2)</strong> - Totally unsupported, but the ability scores are solid.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #800080">Doppelganger</span> (MM)</strong> - A pretty lame combination of racial abilities to have.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #800080">Duergar</span> (MM 2) </strong>- A lamer version of the Dwarf. Not really appealing.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #800080">Goblin</span> (MM)</strong> - The ability scores are only semi-applicable, and it's Small. Nah.</p><p></p><p><strong>Hobgoblin (MM)</strong> - I'm not a fan of the ability scores, but the racial power can serve you well, so it's at least decent.</p><p></p><p><strong>Kenku (MM 2)</strong> - While they seem to like flanking more than charging in, they can be of some use.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Kobold</span> (MM)</strong> - While he may be small, he has some pretty nice ability scores for this line of work, and the ability to shift as a minor action allows you to generate enough distance to charge every round. A surprisingly good choice.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Orc</span> (MM)</strong> - The ability scores are nice, as is a self-healing attack power, but it's not quite as good as the others who share the ability score combination.</p><p>[/sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nibelung, post: 6712004, member: 74499"] [b]Originally posted by lordduskblade:[/b] [b]Ability Scores: Profile of Destruction[/b] While the particular ability scores depend on a build-by-build basis, these guidelines hold true for virtually every Barbarian. [COLOR=#ff9900][b]Strength[/b][/COLOR] - This is your main stat. No exceptions. Boost it every chance you get. [b]Recommended Starting Score:[/b] 16-18, before racial adjustments. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Constitution[/b][/COLOR] - More HP and healing surges are always nice, and the secondary effects for Ragebloods and Thunderborn key off of this attribute. To boot, any feats to improve Hide armor's AC value require this, so a solid score here is very common among Barbarians. [b]Recommended Starting Score:[/b] 12-14, before racial adjustments. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Dexterity[/b][/COLOR] - And now we come to the Barbarian's secondary ability score, regardless of build. A good score here allows you to stay in Hide armor (which results in good AC and Reflex defenses and thus the ability to survive in combat longer), favors a lot of weapon groups Barbarians are partial to, and opens up feat slots for a Barbarian. To boot, Whirling Slayers use it for their secondary effects. While the starting score here doesn't have to be overwhelmingly high, this should be the recipient of the majority of your ability score boosts (along with Strength). [b]Recommended Starting Score:[/b] 12-16, before racial adjustments. [COLOR=#ff0000][b]Intelligence[/b][/COLOR] - Quite simply a dump stat. Redundant with your secondary ability (Dexterity) defensively, it boosts no skills you use, and is a prerequisite for no feats you want. Dump it and forget about it. [b]Recommended Starting Score:[/b] 8-10, before racial adjustments. [b]Wisdom[/b] - It has its place in your skill list, shows up in some feat pre-requisites and it helps boost your Will defense, so you shouldn't flat-out ignore it (unless you're a Thaneborn: in that case, [COLOR=#800080][b]dump away[/b][/COLOR]). That said, a moderate score here will do for most, though Polearm Barbarians likely want it to be a [COLOR=#0000ff][b]bit higher[/b][/COLOR]. [b]Recommended Starting Score:[/b] 10-14, before racial adjustments. [b]Charisma[/b] - It boosts your Will defense, has a role in your Intimidate skill and some feat pre-requisites, and it is the secondary ability for Thaneborns, who would like to have a [COLOR=#0000ff][b]good score[/b][/COLOR] early on. That said, it's [COLOR=#800080][b]not as good[/b][/COLOR] by default for other Barbarians, since Wisdom offers them more goodies. [b]Recommended Starting Score:[/b] 8-14, before racial adjustments. [b]Races: Scions of Destruction[/b] If I were building a Barbarian, I would likely be picking between these races: [b]Charger Rageblood[/b] - Goliath, Half-Orc, Minotaur, or Warforged. [b]Polearm Rageblood[/b] - Half-Orc, Longtooth Shifter, or Minotaur. [b]Thaneborn[/b] - Dragonborn. [b]Thunderborn[/b] - Human.[b] Whirler[/b] - Half-Orc. [b]Races - Player's Handbook[/b] [sblock] [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Dragonborn[/b][/COLOR] - This race offers bonuses to Strength and Charisma, an attack bonus when you're banged up, an incentive to have a good Constitution, and a neat racial power in the Dragon Breath, which is very well supported. A prime choice as a Thaneborn, and pretty good at most other builds too. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Dwarf[/b][/COLOR] - Strength and Constitution are some good ability scores for most Barbarians, and the ability to use your Second Wind as a minor action only sweetens the deal. The lower speed kind of stinks, but it's not a crippling flaw. An excellent race. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Eladrin[/b][/COLOR] - While the racial bonus are kind of hit-and-miss (Dexterity = good; Intelligence = bad), it does have some quality racial support, especially with regards to Spear wielding and shaking off charm effects. While it's not quite a top choice, it's not bad at all. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Elf[/b][/COLOR] - Extra movement is nice, Dexterity is always welcome, Wisdom can see use on some builds, and a racial power to salvage a bad attack roll is excellent on a Barbarian. A pretty good choice. [b]Half-Elf[/b] - Bonuses to Constitution and Charisma (or Wisdom) are decent, and Dilettante can bring you a nice toy from another class to play with, but overall this race doesn't really have something that makes it a high-echelon Barbarian. [COLOR=#800080][b][/b][/COLOR][b]Halfling [/b]- The good news is that Barbarians can use Dexterity and Charisma (or Constitution), and the racial power is pretty neat. The bad news is that you have no Strength bonus and you are Small, and the latter is a very bad thing as a Barbarian. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Human[/b][/COLOR] - While getting only one ability score bump sounds lame, you can likely get your ability scores where they need to go without it, and an extra feat, At-Will (or Heroic Effort), and skill all suit the Barbarian very well. Throw in the bonus to your NADs and the racial support, and this is one of the best Barbarian races out there. [b]Tiefling[/b] - While the ability scores are kind of marginal (though Constitution can be of use to you), it has ways to compensate (such as Hellfire Blood and a Flaming weapon), and the racial support makes this choice pretty serviceable. [/sblock] [b]Races - Player's Handbook 2[/b] [sblock] [COLOR=#800080][b]Deva[/b][/COLOR] - A rather marginal pair of ability scores to have as a Barbarian, and the only ability that is really appealing at all is the racial power, and the Elf does it better. Skip this. [COLOR=#800080][b]Gnome[/b][/COLOR] - For the most part, a collection of traits that Barbarians don't want. The Dexterity bonus is cute, but you're still Small and have low speed even if you pick it. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Goliath[/b][/COLOR] - The racial support is there, the ability scores are good for you, it compensates for what will likely be your weakest defense, and the racial power helps you stay alive. One of the frontrunners. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Half-Orc[/b][/COLOR] - Bonuses to arguably your most important ability scores, a racial power for extra damage, and a nice feature that triggers when you get roughed up. Additionally, the racial support is superb. One of the top picks. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Shifter, Longtooth[/b][/COLOR] - A bonus to Strength combined with a racial power that provides extra damage and regeneration while bloodied are excellent, and the Wisdom can help make you a very effective Polearm Barbarian. An excellent choice. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Shifter, Razorclaw[/b][/COLOR] - Two good attribute bonuses, and extra defense and speed while bloodied are hardly bad. A pretty nice choice. [/sblock] [b]Races - Player's Handbook 3[/b] [sblock] [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Githzerai[/b][/COLOR] - Good but not great ability score, but the defensive racial power and rock-solid feat support make some arguments in its favor. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Minotaur[/b][/COLOR] - The abilities are perfect for a number of Barbarian builds, it offers extra toughness, and the racial features are all about rushing in and mixing it up. A great Barbarian race. [COLOR=#800080][b]Shardmind[/b][/COLOR] - Regardless of what combination of ability scores you pick, the fact of the matter is that they're not all that applicable to Barbarians, and the rest of the race is simply better suited to other classes. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Wilden[/b][/COLOR] - It can have some pretty nice ability score bonuses, and the racial powers certainly provide it with some options you could explore. [/sblock] [b]Races - Other Rulebooks[/b] [sblock] [b]Bladeling (MOTP)[/b] - Essentially a weaker version of some of the other races that share its attribute bonuses because of its lack of palatable racial support, this makes for a solid but not a special Barbarian. [b]Changeling (EPG)[/b] - Dexterity and Charisma can both be useful, and the racial utility is serviceable. A surprisingly solid choice. [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Drow[/COLOR] (FRPG)[/b] - Decent ability scores, but the emphasis of its racial support in bringing the pain to your opponents is what pushes it over the top and makes it a good racial choice. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Genasi[/COLOR] (FRPG)[/b] - The bonus to Strength is there, and the manifestations mesh well with what a Barbarian likes to do (which is deal lots and lots of damage). A great choice. [b][COLOR=#800080]Kalashtar[/COLOR] (EPG)[/b] - There's simply not much synergy to be had here. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Mul[/COLOR] (DSCS)[/b] - Bonuses to Strength and Constitution AND the ability to partake in Dwarf support? Don't mind if I do. [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Revenant[/COLOR] (HoS)[/b] - The ability scores can give you some nice mileage, and the ability to mooch stuff from other races and be very hard to kill is nice on a Barbarian. [b]Shade (HoS)[/b] - The stats are decent but not amazing, and it has a free trained skill, but losing a surge for no good reason kind of hurts the stock. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Thri-Kreen[/COLOR] (DSCS)[/b] - Strength and Dexterity are excellent ability boosts for you, and the extra speed and minor action attack certainly don't hurt. A top choice. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Vryloka[/COLOR] (HoS)[/b] - The surge penalty while bloodied can be annoying, but you will have the hit points and surges to mitigate that flaw, and everything else about the race is excellent. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Warforged[/COLOR] (EPG)[/b] - The bonuses are where you usually want them to be, you patch up a weak defense, you have a nice racial power, and the racial support heads you in the right direction. One of the best Barbarian races. [/sblock] [b]Races - Dragon Magazine[/b] [sblock] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Gnoll[/COLOR] (D 367)[/b] - Dexterity and Constitution work well here, as do damage-oriented incentives for charging and being Bloodied. A very good race.[b][/b] [b]Shadar-Kai (D 372)[/b] - The ability scores are so-so, but there are a few things you can take advantage of in the racial support department. Not quite a top choice, but you'll live [/sblock] [b]Races - Monster Manuals[/b] [sblock] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Bugbear[/COLOR] (MM)[/b] - Oversized and your two most important attributes? Sold! [b]Bullywug (MM 2)[/b] - Totally unsupported, but the ability scores are solid. [b][COLOR=#800080]Doppelganger[/COLOR] (MM)[/b] - A pretty lame combination of racial abilities to have. [b][COLOR=#800080]Duergar[/COLOR] (MM 2) [/b]- A lamer version of the Dwarf. Not really appealing. [b][COLOR=#800080]Goblin[/COLOR] (MM)[/b] - The ability scores are only semi-applicable, and it's Small. Nah. [b]Hobgoblin (MM)[/b] - I'm not a fan of the ability scores, but the racial power can serve you well, so it's at least decent. [b]Kenku (MM 2)[/b] - While they seem to like flanking more than charging in, they can be of some use. [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Kobold[/COLOR] (MM)[/b] - While he may be small, he has some pretty nice ability scores for this line of work, and the ability to shift as a minor action allows you to generate enough distance to charge every round. A surprisingly good choice. [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Orc[/COLOR] (MM)[/b] - The ability scores are nice, as is a self-healing attack power, but it's not quite as good as the others who share the ability score combination. [/sblock] [/QUOTE]
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Appetite for Destruction: The Barbarian's Handbook (by lordduskblade)
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