Barbarians as a Race

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Does anyone else think that Barbarian's should be a race instead of a class? To me a Barbarian falls somewhere between a human and giant. They are massive and powerful men who have their own culture, society, and unique characteristics. I don't believe in elf or dwarven Barbarians, they do not seem plausible to me. I think they should be a race and the could make a berserker class instead. I could see a berserker of many different races. What do you guys think?

I think Berserker is a better name (most barbarians - even those with PC class levels - wouldn't be "barbarians").

However, I don't like to use the word "race" as that's defined for things like elves and dwarves. I'd rather say "society" or "nation". (Yes, you can have an uncivilized nation.)

 

[I'm A Banana]

Or maybe "Primal Rager". That's a 4e name, right there.

Not quite, Klaus. It's missing something....

Warzerker?

Primal War?

Warrager.

There we go!

 

[neceros]

... humans, barbarians, and some big headed smarty types.

Erudite.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Barbarians are a culture, not a race.

Exactly.

And as a side note 3e barbarian should be named berserker...but in 4e? who knows...

 

[Doug McCrae]

I think they should be a race and the could make a berserker class instead. I could see a berserker of many different races.

Agree with the second part. The current 'warp spasm' style 4e barbarian should be called berserker. The name barbarian is just a 3e (and 1e) legacy. You don't really need a separate class to represent Conan, he's a fighter/thief who sometimes chose to wear armour, though not when posing for portrait painters.

 

[DamnedChoir]

Just about everyone I've met that knows 'Barbarian' isn't a career, but a culture, thinks the class should be renamed. 'Berserker'.

Vikings are Barbarians, not all Vikings were berserkers, the wild, hide-wearing warriors with giant weapons. Some Vikings actually used armor and fought tactically, or...were blacksmiths.

Berserker would make me alot happier as a class name, but I can't see Wizards changing it.

 

[DamnedChoir]

Berserkers also moved swiftly, flew into rages, bit people in combat, the list of similarities goes on...

 

[Reynard]

Agree with the second part. The current 'warp spasm' style 4e barbarian should be called berserker. The name barbarian is just a 3e (and 1e) legacy. You don't really need a separate class to represent Conan, he's a fighter/thief who sometimes chose to wear armour, though not when posing for portrait painters.

Holy crap.

Doug McCrae wrote something I agree with.

In a 4E thread.

[looks out window at coming apocalypse]

 

[neceros]

I believe we should just call them Conans, and get rid of the pretenses and move right on to the action!

"Crush enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women!"

 

[pawsplay]

I believe we should just call them Conans, and get rid of the pretenses and move right on to the action!

"Crush enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women!"

That reminds me of an anecdote. I'm in a LARP called Amtgard, and the writer of our Barbarian class, Aron, begun to sign in as Aron for both his name and class after a while (he was way maxed out). A friend of mine who was in charge of records coded the sign in database such that signing Aron for your class gave you a barbarian credit. A few Aron admirers were surprised to discover that signing in as an Aron, as well, actually resulted in credits being given.