Barbarian Fast Movement

[Talcoram Cyndar]

How does the Barbarian's fast movement work? As written in the 3.5 PHB, the rule says that his speed is increased when wearing no armor, light armor or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load. The examples given however say otherwise. Is there errata on this that I don't know about? any help would be appreciated. Here is the text from the PHB:

Fast Movement (Ex):
A barbarian’s land
speed is faster than the norm for his race by
+10 feet. This benefit applies only when he is
wearing no armor, light armor, or medium
armor and not carrying a heavy load. Apply
this bonus before modifying the barbarian’s
speed because of any load carried or
armor worn. For example, a human
barbarian has a speed of 40 feet,
rather than 30 feet, when wearing
light or no armor. When wearing
medium armor or carrying a
medium load, his speed drops to
30 feet. A halfling barbarian has a
speed of 30 feet, rather than 20
feet, in light or no armor. When
wearing medium armor or
carrying a medium

Thanks-
-Talcoram Cyndar

 

[Greenfield]

The examples seem consistent to me.

A Barbarian gets his bonus so long as he's not wearing heavy armor or heavily loaded.

That means a Barbarian can wear medium Armor. Normally medium armor drops your movement by 10 feet.

The example says that the Human Barbarian will have a base move of 40, instead of the Human norm of 30. Adding medium armor means that the Human Barbarian will move at 30, instead of the Human norm of 20.

Same applies for encumbrance. He can carry up to a Medium load and still enjoy fast movement. Medium encumbrance normally drops base movement by 10 feet. Does that for the Barbarian as well, but since his base is 10 feet farther than normal... Well, you get the picture.

So what are you seeing that I'm not?

 

[gamerprinter]

It looks plainly stated to me. If you need errata, my guess is you cannot read. How is not a heavy load, and light or medium armor on a small or medium sized barbarian a point for causing confusion. It works exactly as it is written, and makes perfect sense.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

I think the confusion is that a medium or heavy load will also reduce the movement speed of anyone who isn't a Dwarf, regardless of class features. The examples given are only for a medium load, where the class bonus is still in effect.

It could have been made more clear if there was another sentence, explaining that a Human Barbarian under the effects of a heavy load would be reduced to a movement speed of 20, since the encumbrance penalty applies and the class bonus does not apply.

 

[gamerprinter]

Dwarves are medium in size (though on the short end of medium), not small.

 

[Talcoram Cyndar]

Saelorn/ Greenfield- thanks for clearing that up. I can't believe that I forgot that med. or heavy armor also slows movement. you answered my question quite well. Thank you.

Gamerprinter- thanks for making a new poster to these forums feel right at home. If this is typical of your response to a question, don't answer any more. Your rudeness is not appreciated.


-Talcoram Cyndar

 

[gamerprinter]

No, most posters get treated well by me. There are certainly many rules in D&D, PF, and other game systems that could use clarification. However, you picked a rule that is extremely clearly written, and questioned a need for errata(?!) It could almost seem likely trolling, since there's no question on how to read that rule (so I took it for trolling). If you weren't being a troll, sorry, but I found it difficult to understand how such a straight forward written rule could be seen as confusing.

In D&D 1e there were encumbrance rules that account for every item worn or carried by any character (every pound was counted), even your clothing weighed something. By 3x (maybe 2e) encumbrance was removed from the game, however the spirit of the concern of weight remains in the form of light, medium and heavy loads. I hadn't realized that the mention of light and medium loads didn't have a clear meaning for you (I thought that it was obvious to anyone reading that rule). Apparently not.

And I will respond to any post, if I think its worth giving an answer, whether it's pleasing or not.