Olorin
Into the West
I was just playing with some numbers to get a sense of how 3.5 is going to change the Barbarian in my game when we switch over. Just thought I'd share and see what people thought...
This uses the actual Barb from the party, assuming his party-mate the Bard 8/Arc 4 will use Inspire Courage to buff. This is concerned mainly with the change to Power Attack, and getting Greater Rage earlier. This character already kicks much butt; I'm a little concerned that he'll be even more overpowering than he already is. And if he ever gets Dominated, the rest of the party (the aforementioned Bard, Rogue 12 and Druid 10) will be in serious trouble (not that they wouldn't have been before).
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11th level 1/2 Orc Barbarian
3.0
BAB:+11/+6/+1
Base Str: 22 (+6)
Rage: Str 26 (+8)
Gauntlets of Ogre Power: Str 28 (+9)
Greatsword +3 (+12)
Inspire Courage from 8th level Bard +1 (+13)
Attack bonus: +13
+24/+19/+14
Damage: 2D6+17 ((9*1.5)+3+1)
Power Attack -6
+18/+13/+8
Damage: 2D6+23 ((9*1.5)+3+1+6)
Power Attack -11
+13/+8/+3
Damage: 2D6+28 ((9*1.5)+3+1+11)
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3.5
BAB: +11/+6/+1
Base Str: 22 (+6)
Greater Rage: Str 28 (+9)
Gauntlets of Ogre Power: Str 30 (+10)
Greatsword +3 (+13)
Inspire Courage from 8th level Bard +2 (+15)
Attack Bonus: +15
+26/+21/+16
Damage: 2D6+20 ((10*1.5)+3+2)
Power Attack -6
+20/+15/+10
Damage: 2D6+32 ((10*1.5)+3+2+(2*6))
Power Attack -11
+15/+10/+5 Attack
Damage: 2D6+42 ((10*1.5)+3+2+(2*11))
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So the net change is +2 to attack and +3 to damage normally, and then the 2x damage bonus from Power Attack. Using the PA -6 numbers that's 39 points of damage per hit on average. That's 9 points higher than the 3.0 version, and at +2 higher attack. Not huge changes, but significant. Even without using PA, he does 27 points per hit on average and he doesn't often miss.
I haven't looked through the 3.5 MM carefully yet, but I really hope they pumped up monster ACs and/or hps around CR10 and up, or else this character is going to be mowing them down even faster than he does already. I have no problem with characters getting buffed up and being powerful; I just hope the designers took into account the characters these changes would produce.
This uses the actual Barb from the party, assuming his party-mate the Bard 8/Arc 4 will use Inspire Courage to buff. This is concerned mainly with the change to Power Attack, and getting Greater Rage earlier. This character already kicks much butt; I'm a little concerned that he'll be even more overpowering than he already is. And if he ever gets Dominated, the rest of the party (the aforementioned Bard, Rogue 12 and Druid 10) will be in serious trouble (not that they wouldn't have been before).
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11th level 1/2 Orc Barbarian
3.0
BAB:+11/+6/+1
Base Str: 22 (+6)
Rage: Str 26 (+8)
Gauntlets of Ogre Power: Str 28 (+9)
Greatsword +3 (+12)
Inspire Courage from 8th level Bard +1 (+13)
Attack bonus: +13
+24/+19/+14
Damage: 2D6+17 ((9*1.5)+3+1)
Power Attack -6
+18/+13/+8
Damage: 2D6+23 ((9*1.5)+3+1+6)
Power Attack -11
+13/+8/+3
Damage: 2D6+28 ((9*1.5)+3+1+11)
---------------------------------------------
3.5
BAB: +11/+6/+1
Base Str: 22 (+6)
Greater Rage: Str 28 (+9)
Gauntlets of Ogre Power: Str 30 (+10)
Greatsword +3 (+13)
Inspire Courage from 8th level Bard +2 (+15)
Attack Bonus: +15
+26/+21/+16
Damage: 2D6+20 ((10*1.5)+3+2)
Power Attack -6
+20/+15/+10
Damage: 2D6+32 ((10*1.5)+3+2+(2*6))
Power Attack -11
+15/+10/+5 Attack
Damage: 2D6+42 ((10*1.5)+3+2+(2*11))
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So the net change is +2 to attack and +3 to damage normally, and then the 2x damage bonus from Power Attack. Using the PA -6 numbers that's 39 points of damage per hit on average. That's 9 points higher than the 3.0 version, and at +2 higher attack. Not huge changes, but significant. Even without using PA, he does 27 points per hit on average and he doesn't often miss.
I haven't looked through the 3.5 MM carefully yet, but I really hope they pumped up monster ACs and/or hps around CR10 and up, or else this character is going to be mowing them down even faster than he does already. I have no problem with characters getting buffed up and being powerful; I just hope the designers took into account the characters these changes would produce.
