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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercule" data-source="post: 6756986" data-attributes="member: 5100">I just looked at my 2E Viking Handbook, which has a Berserker class modeled after the Norse guys who like to fight naked in sub-zero weather -- or maybe wear a bear sark (shirt).The balance (such as was considered in 2E) came from a couple places:1) The Berserker had to spend a round working himself into a fit. After that, he could roll to see if it worked. If not, spend next round and try again.2) Must engage in melee, pretty much continuously. If you don't, you have to check to see whether you fall out of berserk.3) Cannot run away without automatically ending the berserk.4) Chance to be exhausted after the berserk ends. That kinda sucks in the middle of combat.5) Maximum duration of 10 rounds, which isn't new, but worth calling out with #4.Comparing the relative strength of the rages, I could see it being balanced if you took away the damage resistance and just made the Barbarian spend an action to enter Rage. No limit per day. Or, change the balance a bit by limiting rages based on short rests, rather than long -- "Hang on. I have to catch my breath after dismembering the ogre with my bare hands." Either way, I think it could have been balanced better -- I like per short rest, myself.If you just want a rationale for the existing mechanic, I'd go with "it's a game". For a better way of handling it, in game, say that the character can always try to rage, but the player has control over whether the attempt succeeds or not. The player is then constrained by the per day mechanic.</blockquote>

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