D&D 5E Barbarian preview!

[Melkor]

Barbarian thread = "All barbarians are supposed to look exactly like Conan! This is an outrage! Barbarian Smash!"

In my opinion, there is actually a disappointing lack of both outrage and Barbarian Smash in this thread so far.

 

[Vanye]

He looks like a Viking who has had too much of a taste of the city, maybe even multi-classed into bard (skald). Too effete to be a real babarian, like Conan.

Yeah. He does look more like the thief Conan was, doesn't he?

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

I love the picture.

I now want to play Grizzly Adams, Barbarian.

 

[erf_beto]

well, even Wolverine opened a school, so...

 

[Melkor]

I now want to play Grizzly Adams, Barbarian.

Or maybe the Dr. Pepper dude.

 

[Wolfskin]

I love the picture.

I now want to play Grizzly Adams, Barbarian.

My thoughts exactly!

I like the fact that this barbarian doesn't look like Conan, but a guy living in the woods or countryside who will hack you apart with his axe if you give a funny look at him.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I know, I'm just kidding around. Are you actually offended by this horse-play?

Offended? Of course not. But surprised that so many people think apparently barbarian = Conan, when Fafhrd's been around for what? 70 years now? And fits the barbarian mold pretty much perfectly. Anyone who's read those stories knows he was just as much of a badass as Conan. So that's why here, with this illustration that looks just like Fafhrd, people are saying it's not a "real" barbarian.

The problem here is the definition of the word "barbarian" in D&D as it relates to the accompanying art, which had always been essentially Conan or even more savage and animalistic figures. Whether Vikings would even qualify as barbarians in D&D is an open question, given they were a highly advanced culture -- warlike, yes, but not wild or backward.

In the end, I blame the Greeks.

I would caution using D&D as a reference to what Fafhrd was like. I'd suggest reading the books, because his background is pretty much the stereotype "giant wild animalistic warrior from the great north who loves the ladies and killing things"

 

[Agamon]

In my opinion, there is actually a disappointing lack of both outrage and Barbarian Smash in this thread so far.

Um, okay.

"HOW DARE PEOPLE THINK THAT ALL BARBARIANS ARE SHIRTLESS HUNKS OF MEAT WITH GIANT WEAPONS?"

How's that?

 

[Mercurius]

End thread.

 

[Agamon]

Don't get me wrong, I loves me some Conan. Great books. But why stereotype?

And yes, sexist crap like that pic should indeed end the thread, lol.