Barbarian (Playtest 7)

[Rocker26a]

I've always thought Reckless Attack was a little weird in a narrative sense? Like it's a pretty game-y way of rendering the intended idea, that you're dropping your guard entirely for a (hopefully) killing blow. But as is, you could make your Reckless Attack, and spend the rest of your turn doing decidedly non-reckless things, and still have advantage on incoming attacks even though the moment's passed.

I was thinking about an alternate way of doing Reckless Attack, maybe as like an OCF, and an idea I quite liked on paper was; when you make a Reckless Attack, the creature(s) you attack recklessly can spend their reaction to attack you with advantage. So it basically acts as another condition for an attack of opportunity, just with advantage. I don't know that I'm entirely sold on this part, but. I may like it being that, whichever roll is higher lands first, so if you and your opponent have 1HP each, it's a dramatic clash.

I think something like this might help move it closer to the intended drama of it. Something in the vein of this moment from Berserk 1997 (or this one, though slightly different).

 

[Horwath]

I've always thought Reckless Attack was a little weird in a narrative sense? Like it's a pretty game-y way of rendering the intended idea, that you're dropping your guard entirely for a (hopefully) killing blow. But as is, you could make your Reckless Attack, and spend the rest of your turn doing decidedly non-reckless things, and still have advantage on incoming attacks even though the moment's passed.

I have no problem with it in narrative.

you drop your guard for more powerful attacks, you aim while not losing time blocking incoming blows.

something like this, hahaha:

https://i.gifer.com/OtAr.gif

 

[Rocker26a]

I have no problem with it in narrative.

you drop your guard for more powerful attacks, you aim while not losing time blocking incoming blows.

something like this, hahaha:

https://i.gifer.com/OtAr.gif

I don't think it's awful or anything, I just think it could be a bit better personally. I think advantage on all incoming attacks for the round is a pretty heavy mechanical cost, and can also just let down the roleplay a bit.

(And also I will say, I feel like that GIF is more in line with what I was describing than Reckless Attack as it currently exists. Them both attacking simultaneously till whoever drops first. Like it's not a great match for either but I think it's closer to my thing.)

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I don't think it's awful or anything, I just think it could be a bit better personally. I think advantage on all incoming attacks for the round is a pretty heavy mechanical cost, and can also just let down the roleplay a bit.

(And also I will say, I feel like that GIF is more in line with what I was describing than Reckless Attack as it currently exists. Them both attacking simultaneously till whoever drops first. Like it's not a great match for either but I think it's closer to my thing.)

You could grant every adjacent creature while you attack recklessly an opportunity attack against you.

 

[Rocker26a]

You could grant every adjacent creature while you attack recklessly an opportunity attack against you.

Yeah! Like, I think even that is better than opening yourself up to being dogpiled by all the little buggers in a given encounter once your turn ends. But not so much better that it's a ridiculous proposition.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I like Reckless Attack the way it is. Barbarians don't have many choices to make in combat as it is, but Reckless Attack lets you decide if you want to be a tank or striker each round.

It's my go-to example of how I think all martial powers should be designed. Not "uses per time period" (which is really just Vancian casting) but risk:reward.

 

[mamba]

It's my go-to example of how I think all martial powers should be designed. Not "uses per time period" (which is really just Vancian casting) but risk:reward.

I am fine with moving casting closer to that too

 

[Bill Zebub]

I am fine with moving casting closer to that too

Yeah I'm pretty sick of slots per day.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

I think something like this might help move it closer to the intended drama of it.

That is not the drama of it. The drama (and gameplay) of it is being willing to take hits to attract them away from your allies.

 

[Rocker26a]

That is not the drama of it. The drama (and gameplay) of it is being willing to take hits to attract them away from your allies.

I think that can be a part of the Barbarian in general, sure. But I don't think that's necessarily the intent with Reckless Attack itself. I feel like it is more about hopefully killing the thing you're attacking than it is painting a nice convenient target on your back. "hey guys, i just dropped my guard, bet you'd like to attack me! pay no mind to the wizard that got knocked prone!"

 

[doctorbadwolf]

IMO, the solution to the Bear is to eliminate it and instead roll resistance to all damage except psychic into the base Barbarian class. With more and more creatures doing elemental damage, the Barbarian's shtick of being a damage sponge is under serious threat, particularly at higher levels.

Bear doesn’t need to go anywhere to do that. Rage should have been res all damage (yea even psychic, your mind is just bright red wrath, what is a psychic effect even doing to you?) from the beginning, and Bear should give either extra HP, or an ability to protect allies, because that is a strong association in fantasy for a lot of people. Or bear makes you even stronger, giving you powerful build and you treat enemies as one size smaller when attempting to grapple, shove, trip, or otherwise body them.

Also morph Reckless attack into rage as a non option.
When you rage, your attacks(based on STR) have advantage, all attacks vs. you have advantage.

No. Nope. No thanks.

That is not the drama of it. The drama (and gameplay) of it is being willing to take hits to attract them away from your allies.

Not really. The primary drama of RA is that you are attacking without regard to your basic defense, and that has a potential cost.

That it protects your allies sometimes is incidental. Hell most Barbarians I’ve seen in play are not trying to protect anyone, they’re playing murder-boys.

 

[Kinematics]

Question on Battering Roots:

In addition to increasing your reach, it says you can activate Push or Topple even if you're using another mastery with that weapon. Does that mean I can use Push even if my weapon is Cleave, or does that mean I can use Push even after I've used Cleave?

In other words, is this just another weapon mastery option I can pick from, or do I get to use two weapon masteries on each attack? If the latter, this is a much nicer feature than it first appears.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Question on Battering Roots:

In addition to increasing your reach, it says you can activate Push or Topple even if you're using another mastery with that weapon. Does that mean I can use Push even if my weapon is Cleave, or does that mean I can use Push even after I've used Cleave?

In other words, is this just another weapon mastery option I can pick from, or do I get to use two weapon masteries on each attack? If the latter, this is a much nicer feature than it first appears.

I read it as additive -- you get push/topple in addition to the other mastery you are using [in that same attack].

 

[Stalker0]

I read it as additive -- you get push/topple in addition to the other mastery you are using [in that same attack].

Same. They already have fighter language for “replacing one mastery with another”. So to me if they aren’t calling out a replacement specifically it’s an add on