D&D (2024) Barbarian brainstorm

[mellored]

So what changes does anyone want to see in the barbarian?

 

[James Gasik]

I hate rage as a daily resource. It's the Barbarian's big move, and they can't even use it for most of your encounters! It makes playing one a bit boring, especially when subclass abilities are tied to it.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I hate rage as a daily resource. It's the Barbarian's big move, and they can't even use it for most of your encounters! It makes playing one a bit boring, especially when subclass abilities are tied to it.

Agreed. (Then again, I hate all martial abilities as per day resources.). It just needs some serious downside to its use and the problem is solved.

Two ideas:
1) Just fold Reckless Attacks into rage.
2) Have to make some kind of saving throw to end the rage; if you fail you will attack friends.

 

[James Gasik]

Agreed. (Then again, I hate all martial abilities as per day resources.). It just needs some serious downside to its use and the problem is solved.

Two ideas:
1) Just fold Reckless Attacks into rage.
2) Have to make some kind of saving throw to end the rage; if you fail you will attack friends.

I'm not sure about 2, since nobody really wants to travel with a loose cannon who might turn on them; the one time I played in a group with a Frenzied Berserker in 3.5, I had to kill them myself since he consistently rolled bad on his Will save.

That and I really hate PvP in my teamwork RPG.

 

[Stalker0]

Honestly the only thing the barbarian really needs is some better high level stuff (though their 18+ abilities are actually pretty solid).

The barbarian quite frankly is one of the best designed classes in 5e. Now it might not appear that way on paper, but I have never had a class that players just took too liek the barbarian. I'll take the most passive player I have, give them a barbarian, and suddenly they are a screaming, rushing into melee headlong like a crazy person, machine of death. And the mechanics perfectly highlight this.

Now saying there can't be some changes, but honestly at the low levels it doesnt' need much.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I would love for Barbarians to be able to access a wider range of emotions

Somewhere I heard of a barbarian who was a contentment bard (iirc?)

 

[Minigiant]

I hate rage as a daily resource. It's the Barbarian's big move, and they can't even use it for most of your encounters! It makes playing one a bit boring, especially when subclass abilities are tied to it.

I actually like Rage as a daily resource. But to me a barbarian should be able to go over their cap.

If you lack Rages, you can still go into Rage but take 2 exhaustion after. 3 for Fury.
With exhaustion rules changed, I think the Barbarian should be allowed to tap into exhaustion more.

I also think the Barbarian should be the simple warrior and Champion be shifted to it instead of Fighter.

Big Dumb Easy PC for New Players and Drunks is Barbarian.

 

[mellored]

I actually like Rage as a daily resource. But to me a barbarian should be able to go over their cap.

If you lack Rages, you can still go into Rage but take 2 exhaustion after. 3 for Fury.
With exhaustion rules changed, I think the Barbarian should be allowed to tap into exhaustion more.

You could also add some kind of "reduce exhaustion on short rest".
Playtest rangers got it at 11.

 

[Minigiant]

You could also add some kind of "reduce exhaustion on short rest".
Playtest rangers got it at 11.

Good for a 9th level feature. When you get Brutal Critical 1.
But I would start Brutal Critical at level earlier.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I'm not sure about 2, since nobody really wants to travel with a loose cannon who might turn on them; the one time I played in a group with a Frenzied Berserker in 3.5, I had to kill them myself since he consistently rolled bad on his Will save.

That and I really hate PvP in my teamwork RPG.

Yeah, valid points.

Still, some kind of risk mechanic with a flavorful downside.