Battlerager....Overpowered?

[Bond James Bond]

@ Walter Kovacs, Nail:

I am seeing your points. But, on the other hand, if you really go along that way, wizards/warlocks should be always attacked first by dumb monsters, as they are (usually) not encased in metal and might look easier to hit then the rest (at first glance)...

Well, apart from those (debatable) role playing issues - I strongly disagree with the notion that the Battlerager is balanced because he can be ignored.

Sure, a Battlerager in a group won`t prevent a TPK and can´t help the others with his temporary hp. But a lot of enemies which are challenging to the rest of the group are trivial for the Battlerager, because they, even in large numbers, can`t do significant damage to him.

In other words: I think he is unbalanced because he is stealing the spotlight too often. And all he has to give up for his "mellee-awesomeness" is one point of attack bonus. If he at least would be required to wear chain or light armor...

 

[Dr_Sage]

With all due respect, the "treat" comments are not exactly accurate.

Lets do an experiment:

Lets enter a Hungry Lion´s cage with this party configuration:

- A heavy armored guy going on front and challenging the lion.
- A light armored sneaky guy walking behind the cage´s corners approaching the lion step by step.
- A guy (probably me) with an assaut rifle (I can´t imagine a bigger treat than that) ready to shoot, but from a safe distance.

Wanna bet the "plate guy" will die first?

This would work the same with aligators, Big snakes... Certaly would work for a bull... same for a Shark...

So lets be a bit "realistic", for low-inteligent AND for low experienced creatures: the primary target will be aways the guy in the front.

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Back to the topic: so far my DM have approved my Dwarf Fighter BR. I took some notes last session and I realised that I would have fallen if I was not for BRV, but noone considered that unbalancing.

The key point so far is: although BRV is the best "tank option", we have to remmember that every fighter can use some invigorating powers too.

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EDIT: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

[chaotix42]

Who to eat first?

Whoever is closest! Or, whoever just stabbed me. I hate being stabbed.

- Hydra

As an aside, a friend of mine is playing a dwarf fighter and he switched to Battlerager w/Dwarven Stoneblood. The only fights he's been in since the change have largely been melee battles - one vs. displacer beasts and harpys and another vs. a gang of various gnolls. He was bloodied a few times but never really in danger of dropping. In a brawl or facing down a breath weapon he's one tough mother, but when fireballs and other evil ranged attacks start raining down on his Ref he'll feel the same pain as before. He's kind of pondering switching up from the axe & shield to go with a two-hander, just to provoke more attacks from opponents who might assume him to be softer than he really is.

It's a powerful option to be sure, but so far I haven't found it disruptive. Strictly better than +1 to hit? Perhaps. If you don't get hit that much then you might want the +1 to hit though. I'll be sure to report back after a few more encounters, and I'll specifically try to "test" the fighter while still challenging the rest of the party.

Rest assured that he will be suffering plenty of ongoing damage.

 

[Victim]

Someone in my group replaced his old fighter with a shiny, new Battlerager. The battlerager seems to require far less healing and seems to use significantly fewer surges overall. Average damage actually seems higher thanks to a Brutal 2 weapon and extra damage bonuses both from powers and the battlerager bonus even with the lower to hit bonus.