Barbarian Rage Question

[Melkor]

Hi Folks,

Playing my first Pathfinder Barbarian, and I had a question regarding the Rage power. Particularly, one portion of the power description on P. 32.

It states: "While in rage, a barbarian gains a +4 morale bonus to her Strength and Constitution, as well as a +2 morale bonus on Will saves...The increase to Constitution grants the barbarian 2 hit points per Hit Dice, but these disappear when the rage ends and are not lost first like temporary hit points."

So if I had a 2nd level Barbarian (2 Hit Dice), with a Constitution of 16 (+3 hit points) who raged, bringing his Con up to 20 (+5 hit points), would I also get 4 extra hit points for having two hit dice?

That part is confusing to me.

Thanks.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Yep - that's correct.

You essentially get Level*2 hit points when you rage.

These are not temporary hit points, so be careful - if, for instance, you were a 3rd-level Barbarian (+6 Hit Points) and took a lot of damage in a fight, and had only 5 HP left, you'd drop to -1 as soon as you stopped raging (and be, obviously, unconscious and dying).

Also, unlike in 3.5, and in one of the silliest rules changes PF made, you immediately stop raging if you fall unconscious. This makes going unconscious an almost-guaranteed-death-sentence for 4th-level and higher Barbarians. See if your DM might let you houserule that back to 3.5.

 

[Dingo333]

Also, unlike in 3.5, and in one of the silliest rules changes PF made, you immediately stop raging if you fall unconscious. This makes going unconscious an almost-guaranteed-death-sentence for 4th-level and higher Barbarians. See if your DM might let you houserule that back to 3.5.

You could always pick up Endurance and Diehard (you go negative, you have time to heal, or at least get away to the cleric) They also added a healing rage power

I build glass cannons anyway, they are fun when I am playing a melee character, adds a bit of tension, "Am I gonna survive this fight? Do I care?" kinda thoughts as I charge in

 

[Shisumo]

Or you can grab the Raging Vitality feat, which gives you an extra hit point per level while raging and lets you keep raging after you fall unconscious.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I don't think you should need to take feats to fix design issues.

I mean, of all the changes that PF made, this is one of my very few beefs. Just about everything else is pretty golden.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Agreed with Patryn, except for it being only one of a few beefs.

Also...are they actually morale bonuses now, not untyped? That sucks if true...

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Well, they're morale bonuses to an ability score; I can't think of [m]any others.

 

[Dingo333]

Personally, I do not see it as a design flaw.

Annoying when the tide of battle turns and not in your favor? yeah, but think of it like this, if you are knocked out, you can not do anything, if you are knocked out with the amount of HP a barbarian get, anyone else would be long past dead

The point is especially mitigated by how many ways a barbarian can withstand going unconscious and use quick healing to get positive again

 

[wolfshogun88]

hmm

Yep - that's correct.

Also, unlike in 3.5, and in one of the silliest rules changes PF made, you immediately stop raging if you fall unconscious. .

Why is this silly? While it can be inconvenient, it makes complete sense. If you are unconscious, you are without thought, including emotions such as
anger, wrath, or rage. So i think its a fitting rule myself.

 

[Systole]

Because -10 (or is it -Con?) is dead. Comparatively, a fighter fights until unconsciousness at -1 HP then drops. A barbarian fights until unconsciousness at -1 HP, then automatically drops rage, then immediately loses 10 or 20 HP on top of that, shooting him straight over the cliff to insta-death. Game over.