Bill Zebub
“It’s probably Matt Mercer’s fault.”
I just haven’t found the exhaustion to be that punitive. The bonus attack is so potent that I don’t see it as something meant to be used every time you rage: it’s a powerful ability saved for when you really need it. Which, let’s face it, by design often (maybe even usually) comes right before a long rest. Which is something all but the most novice of players become pretty good at judging. And for the times that a long rest isn’t imminent, well, it’s a powerful ability with risk.
The only changes I would make are:
1) You get the bonus attack as part of entering the rage, rather than waiting until the next turn.
2) You can decide to enter the frenzy in a later round.
3) There is a Con saving throw for the exhaustion. Maybe even increasing by 5 each time.
EDIT: Another way of thinking about it is that it could have been written so that you can use frenzy without penalty but only once per long rest, and it still would have been a solid ability. Personally I'd rather have the published version, because I can choose to use it more than that. I wish more abilities were designed with that kind of risk:reward choice, instead of a strict X times/rest.
The only changes I would make are:
1) You get the bonus attack as part of entering the rage, rather than waiting until the next turn.
2) You can decide to enter the frenzy in a later round.
3) There is a Con saving throw for the exhaustion. Maybe even increasing by 5 each time.
EDIT: Another way of thinking about it is that it could have been written so that you can use frenzy without penalty but only once per long rest, and it still would have been a solid ability. Personally I'd rather have the published version, because I can choose to use it more than that. I wish more abilities were designed with that kind of risk:reward choice, instead of a strict X times/rest.
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