Barbarian with Mobile and GWM Feats: as cool as it seems?

[Guest 6801328]

It seems like people on this thread don’t realize that there are other ideas and concepts for barbarians than a Bear Totem version.

There are at least 4 other totem options that allow for mobility and movement and pack tactics over just being a damage absorber. And that is just ONE subclass.

Don’t give someone a hard time for wanting to do a different barbarian and tell them how they’re not doing it right.

That is a meta game optimized POV, characters in the game should be free to be whatever the heck someone wants to make them without being told they are wrong.

I know, right?

All this high-and-mighty talk about roleplaying, and they can only imagine one single archetype for a barbarian. Booooooring.

 

[Les Moore]

Barbarian with 18 Con and 14 Dex and a shield has an AC of 18. Fighter or Paladin with plate armor and a two handed weapon has an AC of 18. Add a shield to the Fighter and their AC goes up two whole points, a 10% difference with respect to that d20 to hit. There is nothing inherent about a barbarian which dictates "meat shield" any more than there is anything about a Fighter or Paladin which dictates high AC. It's funny, I never see people call a Ranger a "meat shield' even though their ACs will likely be around the Barbarian's AC. Why isn't a Druid called a "meat shield" even though one form of them (the most popular form) has more hit points and a lower AC than the Barbarian?

Also, he specifically said all other roles are already filled so he is not "the front liner". Why are people crapping on this concept, it sounds fun and effective to me. Because it doesn't conform to what you expect?

The decision to be Meat Shield is a decision which is generally selected by a player, for his PC, before play begins. That's part of his role in the game.
Not a lot of point in getting cooked up about it. You have never had a Fighter, Barbarian or Paladin at the front of the marching order of your party?

 

[Guest 6801328]

The decision to be Meat Shield is a decision which is generally selected by a player, for his PC, before play begins. That's part of his role in the game.

Yeah, I'm not choosing to be a meat shield before play begins. If I were, I'd use a shield instead of a greatsword, and take Sentinel/Shield Master instead of GWM/Mobile.

Not a lot of point in getting cooked up about it. You have never had a Fighter, Barbarian or Paladin at the front of the marching order of your party?

I'll answer for him: of course he has. We all have. But that doesn't mean every Fighter, Barbarian, or Paladin has to be at the front. It's as simple as that.

On a related note, in another campaign I'm leveling a Kensai monk with Defensive Duelist. He is going to be front-line with really high AC. He's going to stand there and take it (well, not take it, is the plan).

OMG did I just buy another sports car and only use it for errands?

 

[jgsugden]

Elfcrusher: You're uninterested in understanding what I, and others that agree with me, are saying. Good luck.

Salthorae: I never referenced Bear Totem once - all of my arguments apply to all subclasses for barbarians. All of them are highly invested in endurance abilities that allow them to sustain being attacked - and hit - a lot. Good luck.

Those interested in hearing have heard what needs to be said. Those that are not interested in hearing will not. I'm done.

 

[Mistwell]

The decision to be Meat Shield is a decision which is generally selected by a player, for his PC, before play begins. That's part of his role in the game.
Not a lot of point in getting cooked up about it. You have never had a Fighter, Barbarian or Paladin at the front of the marching order of your party?

Of course I have. Did you even read the post that started this though?

 

[Salthorae]

I never referenced Bear Totem once - all of my arguments apply to all subclasses for barbarians. All of them are highly invested in endurance abilities that allow them to sustain being attacked - and hit - a lot. Good luck.

Those interested in hearing have heard what needs to be said. Those that are not interested in hearing will not. I'm done.

You're right, not explicitly you did not mention Bear Totem. But it is the Totem that is MOST wrapped up in the paragon barbarian trope that you and others keep hammering.

But then there is the other Totems, which are all about moving and other things, NOT soaking damage.

• Eagle: creatures get disadvantage on opportunity attacks and you can dash as a bonus action
• Wolf - your allies gain advantage on attacks against hostile creatures
• Elf - you gain +15' movement while raging
• Tiger - You add 10' to long jump and 3' to high jump

All of these are designed to make you a mobile, moving active participant in a battlefield. Bear totem is designed to make you stay in place and soak all the damages.

Yes all barbarian's have resistance on melee damages while raging, but the other Totem paths even are designed to get you moving around and giving you flexibility to do so... just like the OP and his Mobile feat tactic.

 

[77IM]

[MENTION=6801328]Elfcrusher[/MENTION] this sounds like a really fun build and now I'm considering playing it, too.

 

[77IM]

Advanced Tactics:

If you're in melee and don't want to get hit and don't feel like disengaging:

Use your first attack to Shove (advantage on Strength checks) knocking your foe prone. Your second attack gets advantage without you needing be reckless, helping you keep your defenses up. After you hit OR MISS, run away, your full 50 feet. If you hit, Mobility will protect you; if you miss, the enemy is on the floor so they have disadvantage on their opportunity attack. Then, you'll be 50 feet away from your foe, so most won't be able to close and melee with you in the same turn. It's chancy (you may fail to knock prone, and eat an OA) but the odds are you'll come out way ahead.

 

[Salthorae]

Advanced Tactics:

If you're in melee and don't want to get hit and don't feel like disengaging:

Use your first attack to Shove (advantage on Strength checks) knocking your foe prone. Your second attack gets advantage without you needing be reckless, helping you keep your defenses up. After you hit OR MISS, run away, your full 50 feet. If you hit, Mobility will protect you; if you miss, the enemy is on the floor so they have disadvantage on their opportunity attack. Then, you'll be 50 feet away from your foe, so most won't be able to close and melee with you in the same turn. It's chancy (you may fail to knock prone, and eat an OA) but the odds are you'll come out way ahead.

Mobility protects you regardless of hit or miss!

 

[77IM]

Mobility protects you regardless of hit or miss!

YOUR TACTICS ARE SUPERIOR TO MY OWN