Depends on how far he can fling a Hunny Jug.
(Don’t make him hangry. You wouldn’t like him when he’s hangry.)
(Don’t make him hangry. You wouldn’t like him when he’s hangry.)
Just for fun - A Bard-Bear-ian
- Thread starter Greenfield
- Start date
Grogg of the North
Adventurer
Basket of the Pic-a-nic:
This ordinary wicker basket is lined with a blanket. Reaching into the basket provides the user a complete meal. The exact contents of the meal are up to the individual when they draw forth their meal. The food is rich, hearty, and is enough to feed an adventurer for an entire day. Each individual may draw from the basket once per day. Any bear, bear-like creature, or wild shaped druid also gains an additional benefit.
33% - Summon a bear companion ( roll for black, brown, polar, or dire) that serves for 24 hours. Answers to the name Boo-Boo.
33% - Gain the benefit of Fox's Cunning for 24 hours (Smarter than the average bear)
33% - Gain the ability to speak with animals and humanoids for 24 hours. (Hello, Mr. Ranger, sir!)
Pooh's Pot:
This clay pot has the word honey (HUNNY; one n is backwards) misspelled on it and the rim is caked in dried honey. Opening the pot typically reveals a filled pot of honey which is delicious and sustaining. Anyone eating a handful is sustained for one day. Spoons may be used for more "civilized" eaters. There is, however, a 5% chance that when the pot is opened it is empty. The individual opening the pot must then immediately make a DC 20 will save or be compelled to find a source of wild honey. Closing and reopening the pot will not release the cursed individual from this compulsion. To free themselves, a cursed individual must eat wild honey, typically by breaking into a hive (treat the bees defending the hive as a swarm), defeating giant bees or by bargaining with Abeils (See MM2). This effect lasts until the cursed individual has either obtained honey out in the wilds or been freed by other magics.
This ordinary wicker basket is lined with a blanket. Reaching into the basket provides the user a complete meal. The exact contents of the meal are up to the individual when they draw forth their meal. The food is rich, hearty, and is enough to feed an adventurer for an entire day. Each individual may draw from the basket once per day. Any bear, bear-like creature, or wild shaped druid also gains an additional benefit.
33% - Summon a bear companion ( roll for black, brown, polar, or dire) that serves for 24 hours. Answers to the name Boo-Boo.
33% - Gain the benefit of Fox's Cunning for 24 hours (Smarter than the average bear)
33% - Gain the ability to speak with animals and humanoids for 24 hours. (Hello, Mr. Ranger, sir!)
Pooh's Pot:
This clay pot has the word honey (HUNNY; one n is backwards) misspelled on it and the rim is caked in dried honey. Opening the pot typically reveals a filled pot of honey which is delicious and sustaining. Anyone eating a handful is sustained for one day. Spoons may be used for more "civilized" eaters. There is, however, a 5% chance that when the pot is opened it is empty. The individual opening the pot must then immediately make a DC 20 will save or be compelled to find a source of wild honey. Closing and reopening the pot will not release the cursed individual from this compulsion. To free themselves, a cursed individual must eat wild honey, typically by breaking into a hive (treat the bees defending the hive as a swarm), defeating giant bees or by bargaining with Abeils (See MM2). This effect lasts until the cursed individual has either obtained honey out in the wilds or been freed by other magics.
It seems as if the thread has fallen into an untimely hibernation...
LuisCarlos17f
Legend
The ursines are a canon humanoid race from Dragonlance.
The question is how mix magic music and barbarian's frenzy. (Don't remember the pathfinder skald class)
Why not allowing any powers about neutralizing enemies' magic defenses? It would be something Gaia's true faith merit against unholy creatures, the neopagan version of holy water and crucifixes against vampires. Or magic music to counterspell enemy powers and rituals, breaking concentration checks and things like those.
Other option is the musical instruments are "amulets" (single-use magic item, like potions, runes, tatoos or scrolls), if the instrument is broken in the fight the skald is angry and a free extra rage power is activated.
Why not use bard's spell for illusories? For example a smoke cloud where warriors get out from and the enemies are shooting the wrong targets, wasting ammunition and time while the true fighters are invisibles until the first attack.
The question is how mix magic music and barbarian's frenzy. (Don't remember the pathfinder skald class)
Why not allowing any powers about neutralizing enemies' magic defenses? It would be something Gaia's true faith merit against unholy creatures, the neopagan version of holy water and crucifixes against vampires. Or magic music to counterspell enemy powers and rituals, breaking concentration checks and things like those.
Other option is the musical instruments are "amulets" (single-use magic item, like potions, runes, tatoos or scrolls), if the instrument is broken in the fight the skald is angry and a free extra rage power is activated.
Why not use bard's spell for illusories? For example a smoke cloud where warriors get out from and the enemies are shooting the wrong targets, wasting ammunition and time while the true fighters are invisibles until the first attack.
Greenfield
Adventurer
After some discussion with my group we appear to have come to a consensus. The Bard-Bear-ian will be an Awakened Brown Bear.
I'd originally misunderstood the Awaken spell. I thought it added two to the creature's CR. It doesn't. It adds two full hit dice, with all that entails.
Our version won't get those. He'll have to earn those levels.
We are working on a compromise where his claws will do less damage, but he'll be able to handle things.
We already rolled his Int and CHA. Awaken grants the target an INT score of 3D6, and a D3 bonus to Charisma. He rolled (in front of the group) an Intelligence of 14 and a Charisma bonus of 3, meaning that he starts with the maximum foir a bear: 9.
When he hits 8th level he'll add one to the Charisma, giving him a 10. At that point he'll be able to use Cantrips, and odds are that's as far as his magical abilities will ever go.
Gear for him, as a Large creature who isn't humanoid in form will be a problem. Armor and clothes will all have to be custom made.
Odd thing: The bear, as listed, has Tracking and Scent as feat and natural ability. It has no ranks in Survival, which makes it a very poor tracker.
Bears get a +8 racial modifier on Swim checks. Swim is a Strength based skill and he has strength to spare already, so he ends up with a +16 to Swim. That's better than some aquatic character's I've seen. Most aquatic races or templates get a substantial bonus to Swim, but only for special maneuvers and the like. When it comes to routine movement they come with nothing.
Another odd thing: Bears don't get any form of Rage. They are literally the inspiration for berserkers, but they themselves can't go berserk. (The word "Berserk" is a Scandinavian term for an article of clothing. To "put on the bear shirt", or "bear serken" was to try and invoke the rage of the bear by wearing a shirt made from woven bear fur.)
Anyway, the bear's name will be Ed'vard, and his first class level will be as a Barbarian. Then a level of Bard, when his Charisma gets to a break-even level, then probably Barbarian from there on up.
He'll join out 11th through 14th party as a cohort, so at 6th level he'll be severely underpowered. His melee offense will be okay, damage wise, but with a total of +11 to hit he'll be way behind the power curve.
Once we get him some armor he'll be more survivable. Get him a magic weapon and a few levels and he'll be a ripper-tearer once again.
I'd originally misunderstood the Awaken spell. I thought it added two to the creature's CR. It doesn't. It adds two full hit dice, with all that entails.
Our version won't get those. He'll have to earn those levels.
We are working on a compromise where his claws will do less damage, but he'll be able to handle things.
We already rolled his Int and CHA. Awaken grants the target an INT score of 3D6, and a D3 bonus to Charisma. He rolled (in front of the group) an Intelligence of 14 and a Charisma bonus of 3, meaning that he starts with the maximum foir a bear: 9.
When he hits 8th level he'll add one to the Charisma, giving him a 10. At that point he'll be able to use Cantrips, and odds are that's as far as his magical abilities will ever go.
Gear for him, as a Large creature who isn't humanoid in form will be a problem. Armor and clothes will all have to be custom made.
Odd thing: The bear, as listed, has Tracking and Scent as feat and natural ability. It has no ranks in Survival, which makes it a very poor tracker.
Bears get a +8 racial modifier on Swim checks. Swim is a Strength based skill and he has strength to spare already, so he ends up with a +16 to Swim. That's better than some aquatic character's I've seen. Most aquatic races or templates get a substantial bonus to Swim, but only for special maneuvers and the like. When it comes to routine movement they come with nothing.
Another odd thing: Bears don't get any form of Rage. They are literally the inspiration for berserkers, but they themselves can't go berserk. (The word "Berserk" is a Scandinavian term for an article of clothing. To "put on the bear shirt", or "bear serken" was to try and invoke the rage of the bear by wearing a shirt made from woven bear fur.)
Anyway, the bear's name will be Ed'vard, and his first class level will be as a Barbarian. Then a level of Bard, when his Charisma gets to a break-even level, then probably Barbarian from there on up.
He'll join out 11th through 14th party as a cohort, so at 6th level he'll be severely underpowered. His melee offense will be okay, damage wise, but with a total of +11 to hit he'll be way behind the power curve.
Once we get him some armor he'll be more survivable. Get him a magic weapon and a few levels and he'll be a ripper-tearer once again.
Awwww yeah!
Greenfield
Adventurer
High five right back at you!
There will no doubt be some discussion of magical armor adjusting itself to fit. One of those odd details that may overlook is that, by the book, only magical plate adjusts itself. Non magical plate found in the field has to adjusted to fit its new owner.
Chain maille or chain shirt? In the real world chain actually adjusts itself within a wide range. I make chain armor and teach a class in it at the local Renaissance Faire. I have a shirt I let people try on. I'm 5'10" and 200 lbs. The shirt was made doe me when I weighed about 250. It fits 9 year old kids, slender ladies, and men taller and broader than I am. As chain maille pulls longer, it pulls narrower. As it sets on a larger person it expands but gets shorter.
By the book, however, that doesn't happen. Of course the book also says that it takes a minute to put on a chain shirt, and it can be done in six seconds. I have fun with that when D&D players come to my classes and try the thing on.
Still, I'm a rules guy. I play the book rules whether they "make sense" or not. So, while it might be argued that a bear on his hind legs is bipedal enough to wear a chain shirt made for an ogre or troll (i.e. large size), I'm still thinking more in terms of barding for a horse. If/when he moves on all fours that shirt is going to sag nearly to the ground and ride up his back, leaving his lower back exposed. He'll need to have it belted in snugly, at a minimum.
Custom armor for a large, non-humanoid costs four times as much and weighs twice as much. He can deal with that.
Now, neither the bear, the barbarian nor the bard are proficient in heavier armors, so it's either light armor or mithral made medium armor for him.
As for weapons: It's tempting to go big-bang style and get him a large greataxe, and let him go to town. I think that's something like 2 D8 +12 before adding any magic or power attack. Power attack will probably have to wait until 9th level, but he won't have the BAB to make it worth while before that in any case.
A halberd might be good. Give him 15 foot reach with a large one and still have good damage. Same as the great axe, in fact. Add some spikes to his armor and make his grapple a really scary thing.
Anyway, those are my disjointed thoughts.
There will no doubt be some discussion of magical armor adjusting itself to fit. One of those odd details that may overlook is that, by the book, only magical plate adjusts itself. Non magical plate found in the field has to adjusted to fit its new owner.
Chain maille or chain shirt? In the real world chain actually adjusts itself within a wide range. I make chain armor and teach a class in it at the local Renaissance Faire. I have a shirt I let people try on. I'm 5'10" and 200 lbs. The shirt was made doe me when I weighed about 250. It fits 9 year old kids, slender ladies, and men taller and broader than I am. As chain maille pulls longer, it pulls narrower. As it sets on a larger person it expands but gets shorter.
By the book, however, that doesn't happen. Of course the book also says that it takes a minute to put on a chain shirt, and it can be done in six seconds. I have fun with that when D&D players come to my classes and try the thing on.
Still, I'm a rules guy. I play the book rules whether they "make sense" or not. So, while it might be argued that a bear on his hind legs is bipedal enough to wear a chain shirt made for an ogre or troll (i.e. large size), I'm still thinking more in terms of barding for a horse. If/when he moves on all fours that shirt is going to sag nearly to the ground and ride up his back, leaving his lower back exposed. He'll need to have it belted in snugly, at a minimum.
Custom armor for a large, non-humanoid costs four times as much and weighs twice as much. He can deal with that.
Now, neither the bear, the barbarian nor the bard are proficient in heavier armors, so it's either light armor or mithral made medium armor for him.
As for weapons: It's tempting to go big-bang style and get him a large greataxe, and let him go to town. I think that's something like 2 D8 +12 before adding any magic or power attack. Power attack will probably have to wait until 9th level, but he won't have the BAB to make it worth while before that in any case.
A halberd might be good. Give him 15 foot reach with a large one and still have good damage. Same as the great axe, in fact. Add some spikes to his armor and make his grapple a really scary thing.
Anyway, those are my disjointed thoughts.
Polearm builds- good ones- can be feat intensive. So can good unarmed striker builds, because otherwise a grappling bard-bear-ian in spiked armor could be scary.
Size L ranged attackers can be nasty. Even if his Dex isn’t great, an appropriate scale crossbow does 2d8x2, 19-20...nothing to sneeze at if he hits.
Or consider the Exotic weapon, the Greatspear (Complete Warrior, pg. 154): 2d6x3 (3d6 for size L), RI 10. I don’t recall if it has reach or not, but regardless...it’s still a biiiig freaking spear that can be thrown short distances. Then take the feat Brutal Throw from Complete Adventuter to sub Str for Dex with thrown weapons.
+8Att/Dam? RAWRRRR!!!
Get him a Quiver of Ehlonna and pack a few of them...you’re playing a big furry howitzer! Especially if he loads up on L javelins (1d8x2, RI 30), too. Heck, L Spears are 2d6x3 RI 20 if you don’t want to burn a feat on XWP Greatspear.
And L shortspears are 1d8x3, RI 20 and can be wielded one handed...opening up the possibility of a classic spear & (spiked?) shield build.
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You know, as that picture reminds us, barbarians aren’t just wild warriors, they’re outsiders. They dress in aggressive, provocative attire. Now, yours is a Walkimg, talking BEAR, so that’s mostly covered. But why not jazz it up?
Celts fought in woad. Others tribes used other pigments to adorn their skin. Some tribes favored tattoos or ritualistic scarring. And of course, using beads, feathers, shells and colorful stones woven into the hair or as jewelry has been done all around the world. As an awakened animal, Ed’vard may or may not have a tribe to emulate, but he may still have an impulse to adorn himself.
Dyeing his fur with symbols he finds important could work. (OK, perhaps something more aggressive than a care bear, but you get it.)
Celts fought in woad. Others tribes used other pigments to adorn their skin. Some tribes favored tattoos or ritualistic scarring. And of course, using beads, feathers, shells and colorful stones woven into the hair or as jewelry has been done all around the world. As an awakened animal, Ed’vard may or may not have a tribe to emulate, but he may still have an impulse to adorn himself.
Dyeing his fur with symbols he finds important could work. (OK, perhaps something more aggressive than a care bear, but you get it.)
Attachments
Greenfield
Adventurer
Woad, the real thing not the Hollywood version, is mildly psychoactive. Applied to the skin it works its way in through the pores and into the blood. Its stimulant qualities make the user/wearer feel more energetic, and thus would affect Endurance checks. When circumstances cause greater absorbtion, it puts the "Psyco" in psychoactive.
Used primarily by the Pict, whose name means "Painted People" (same root as the word "Picture"), the Romans called them "Diabla Azure", or "Blue Devils". (Same as a certain college football team).
In short, the more worked up someone in Woad is, the more of it works into their blood, and the more crazed they become.
The D&D version of Woad is an Alchemical substance called Red Rager.
Odd note: Bears, in D&D, don't get Rage.
Used primarily by the Pict, whose name means "Painted People" (same root as the word "Picture"), the Romans called them "Diabla Azure", or "Blue Devils". (Same as a certain college football team).
In short, the more worked up someone in Woad is, the more of it works into their blood, and the more crazed they become.
The D&D version of Woad is an Alchemical substance called Red Rager.
Odd note: Bears, in D&D, don't get Rage.
