Barbarian is up!!!

[Rechan]

You know. The Barbarian being all about channeling primal spirits and all that stuff, it really, really makes me want to play a very prim and proper scholar of nature spirits, or maybe a hippy-dippy sort of fellow, who when the fight starts, takes off his glasses, puts them in his pocket, and grows six inches taller and starts wailing away.

A very Bruce Banner/Hulk situation.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Yes, but then you're using all your dailies.

That's what I don't like. I think rage strike should be reliable. I'd be really annoyed if I burned two dailies and I missed even if I get the half damage.

I must say though, the barbarian is awesome. I wish they had the same flavor in all of the classes powers. Plus, the fact that he's a striker is just doubly awesome. Aside from a few minor bits, I REALLY dig this class. Very cool.

For those who have the Advanced Player's Guide, are they similar at all?

 

[Rechan]

So why are their at-wills just plain better than almost ever other classes at-wills? You've got howling strike, which does the most damage of any at-will. Then you've got Pressing Strike, which is the best mobility at-will so far and you get to push things, and do extra damage while raging. And then there's Recuperating Strike, which is one of the best temporary HP granting at-wills.

Other classes have the "best" in other regards.

Righteous Brand is the best buff.
Sacred Flame grants a saving throw (not too shabby, since saving throws end conditions).
Piercing Strike is one of the few melee attacks that target a defense.
Rangers have an at-will for TWO ATTACKS. No one else has that.

The only way that Recuperating Strike is at all better than Bolstering strike is that it grants more temp HP if the barb used a daily. Which is a bit of an investment to beef up your at will.

With regards to Howling Strike: look at the other striker classes. Warlock, Ranger AND Rogue all get extra damage die. Barbs don't.

 

[Almacov]

If there's one thing that worries me here it's that Rogues and Rangers multiclassing into Barbarian will be doing inappropriate damage.
In this iteration of the Barbarian they've factored the "striker bonus" that one would normally get from Sneak Attack or Hunter's Quarry into the damage the powers deal themselves from the looks of it, rather than relegating it to a secondary ability. This may mean that a rogue or ranger having multiclassed into barbarian is effectively dealing an extra die of damage above the norm most of the time.

Either that, or I've misinterpreted the mechanics by skimming too quickly.

EDIT: On second glance, that was just my gut feeling looking at the At-Will Powers, which are largely irrelevant in regards to multiclassing. Only half-elves to worry about there, and it's not a worry worth having by my reckoning.
Thunder Hawk Rage definitely does need a nerf though.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I want to know because I'm usually the DM.

But to answer the question, smarter opponents (or less desperate opponents) might choose not to.

maybe..if you are a gambler...and the barbarian has been bloodied for more then a round...then it come down to 'CAN I DROP HIM????'

 

[mach1.9pants]

For those who have the Advanced Player's Guide, are they similar at all?

nope, they are defenders for a start.

 

[That One Guy]

Hey Guys. Wasn't there supposed to be a feat in this playtest for "Non-martial mutli-classers"?

Also, I'm sad there's no MC feat.

Nope. That sort of feat is supposed to be in the martial power book. Although, a barb MC feat would've been sweet.

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

Initial thoughts:

Maybe I've missed something, but I can't see anything stopping the Barbarian from taking the heavy armour and shield feats. Maybe it's my inner minimaxer, but they'd be the first feats I'd take. I think this is against the theme of the lightly armoured/high hit point striker, but when theme and optimization meet, theme is often the loser.

Doesn't even start with simple ranged proficiency. Against ranged flying enemies, that's gonna hurt!

Interesting to see that Defender-level hit points comes with Defender-level trained skills.

 

[Mad Mac]

Looks like a very fun class. High HPs and surges for a striker, with tons of self healing, but not especially mobile, and AC/Reflex will likely be the worst of the party. Light Armor, Dex or Int as a tertiary stat at best, no sheild, and powers that drop defense or encourage enemies to hit them...heh.

Doesn't have a Quarry/Curse type mechanic like other strikers, but can still do high damage with the strong at-will powers, Rage Strike, and stances. It seems like a fair trade-off for pure barbarians, but it makes me wonder if it makes nabbing Barbarian powers through multiclassing too useful. Considering multiclassing already lets you nab stuff like Wizard dalies though, it's probably not out of line.

Bottom line though, the class just looks insanely fun to play. Very different from the Fighter or a melee ranger, but in a good way. Now I'm just really looking forward to seeing the leaderish build...we haven't seen a Striker/Leader yet in any of the existing classes.

Maybe I've missed something, but I can't see anything stopping the Barbarian from taking the heavy armour and shield feats.

That does worry a bit as well. Not so much the shield thing, but armor feats do seem like a no brainer for the class.

 

[That One Guy]

The article mentioned Charisma as a tertiary ability, especially for some other powers. My guess is it's basically an Intimidating Barbarian, versus a Meat-Shield Barbarian. That also jives with the Dragonborn comment about making good thaneborns barbs.

It also suggests that Half-Orc's do not get Charisma (as well as Con) as a bonus stat, since they don't favor a type.

Well, going w/ the thaneborn thing and the leader aspects... I could see that. A buffing/debuffing rallying cry thing. I think the [displayed] Barb's crazy aoe-tastic close-range damage makes him kind of defenderlike (which is what he should be) but still a striker. He's sticky in a way that if one doesn't go after him - he will rip his enemies apart, and eat them.