Is the Barbarian overpowered?

[Blue]

So a magical weapon ignores the damage resistance?

Again, I'm not entirely familiar with all 5e rules, so specific wording like that might imply more than I've realized.

That's kind of a trend since the days of 3e in how they write the rules. I personally wish they'd write slightly longer and more descriptive paragraphs, sort of like they did in 2e. Sure it made the reading longer and somewhat harder to pinpoint a quick rule, but generally speaking you were left with less confusion or misunderstandings of how things worked. I remember some cases from 3e, for example, where people thought a certain rule or ability worked a certain way, and after much debate and realizing that X term was used specifically instead of Y term, made for a very different interpretation of how it actually worked.

I had screwed up. Shouldn't have posted from memory. I've corrected that in my original post.

 

[5ekyu]

From the text in the book I had the impression that you could end the rage voluntarily as long as you stopped attacking for 1 round. Might have misread it. Does it end automatically if you don't attack?

Yes it will end if you dont meet the criteria, willing or not.

But another aspect to keep in mind on synergies... it might seem that the lvl 16 high AC, high HP, and resistance combine to massive effect (and they will in some cases common against limited foes) but in practice against foes that matter, it simply drives the capable adversaries to use other approaches to "deal with" the triple-stack defense guy.

So what this boils down to is it gives the GM magnificent opportunities to have this shine in spotlight in quite a few of the undercard combats against foes that hit hard but have limited options - this triple-stack can showcase their durability - especially if the party can funnel the attackers/damage to them tactically.

But once they hit foes with save-based effects, fears, charms, traps, control, obscures or even just sufficient range and AoE to go after targets of choice, the cracks start to show.

 

[Gladius Legis]

Maybe not if we mix in a little cavalier.

The number of bonus action attacks the Cavalier gets per day is also determined only by STR, so that doesn't really help DEX-Barbarians any, either.

 

[ad_hoc]

Barbarians have very few rages.

They won't be raging in most combats. The ones they do get to rage they're quite good.

Seems balanced to me.

 

[cbwjm]

The barbarian's resistance from rage applies to all bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. It is not overcome by magical weapons, if it was, it would state in the description that they have resistance to nonmagical BPS damage.

 

[Yunru]

The number of bonus action attacks the Cavalier gets per day is also determined only by STR, so that doesn't really help DEX-Barbarians any, either.

I meant more for the Marking in general.

 

[Coroc]

Bear totem barbarians are hefty to take out, if the DM does not focus fire a bit the rest of the group will go down before them. They halve all damage and got high hitpoints unarmoured defense which can be topped by a shield, I still would use strength for an attack stat, and rage gives them some immunities as well. Otoh if you charm or hold one of these before he rages .... or got some hard hitting ranged attackers which are spread out... for everything there is some countertactic.

 

[BookBarbarian]

But another aspect to keep in mind on synergies... it might seem that the lvl 16 high AC, high HP, and resistance combine to massive effect (and they will in some cases common against limited foes) but in practice against foes that matter, it simply drives the capable adversaries to use other approaches to "deal with" the triple-stack defense guy.

So what this boils down to is it gives the GM magnificent opportunities to have this shine in spotlight in quite a few of the undercard combats against foes that hit hard but have limited options - this triple-stack can showcase their durability - especially if the party can funnel the attackers/damage to them tactically.

But once they hit foes with save-based effects, fears, charms, traps, control, obscures or even just sufficient range and AoE to go after targets of choice, the cracks start to show.

This is very true. My current Zealot took Resilient Wisdom at level 1 for just this reason.

It sucks to be incapacitated. High AC, High HP, and Damage Reduction would keep me alive longer as I stand there unable to take actions or reactions, but I'd rather be helping my party.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

Umm, yes. That and every other class, stat, option, spell, skill, feat, and race if you believe every other thread that shows up in this forum. Next!

 

[Lord Twig]

The bear totem barbarian is super tanky, but I think the eagle totem barbarian is better for keeping rage going. A free dash action every round allows the barbarian to close 80' every round. Combine with some thrown weapons and there is basically no enemy you can't get to.

Late game, stick with eagle to get a fly speed equal to your movement. Now you can "jump" 80' in the air and smack that flying dragon twice just because you are super mad that it won't land. You take 8d6 for falling 80' back to the ground, but you only take half damage on that. And the dragon doesn't get an opportunity attack as you fall away since gravity "moves you without using your Movement".