Whats up all? I have for your consideration a variant barbarian. It focuses on the rage aspects of the barbarian and not on the whole wilderness thing. The barabian is one of the few core classes that I actually like out of the box. I only made this to get around the whole cultural aspect. I wanted something that could be found in a "civilizied" region without to much hassle. This is designed for my ongoing homebrew setting so if the fluff bits are confusing at all I apologize in advance. Well tell me what you think.
Berserker
Some men are drawn to war be it for sport or profit. Others fight to protect people or a certain way of life. Yet there is a rare person who is born to battle. One with a darkness, a passion that lurks inside their soul yearning to escape, yearning to do voilence. These men and women come from all places and walks of life. They are immplacable opponents and their anger fuels their prowess. Stories are told of how a single Berserker can rend a man in two or shrug off blows that would fell a troll. Even when not in the throws of a violent tantrum there is palbable aura of anger that surrounds such individuals.
Adventures: The life of an adventurer calls to the heart of the berserker. For adventuring is a life full of challange and always offers a chance for battle. A berserker may wander to seek fame, fortune or some other mundane reason. Most however adventure to quell the darkness that haunts them and to slate their lust for blood.
Characteristics: Berserkers are truly devastating warriors. Their ability in battle does not stem from the martial skills and discipline of a fighter, but rather from their inate fury. This fury allows them to peform amazing feats of endurance and strength. They can also fly into a rage which enhances their strength and hardiness for a limited period allowing them to maximize their destructive capacity. Such Rages however take a lot out of the berserker and such things can only be done a few times in a day.
Alignment: Chaotic at heart and filled with a horrific passion berserkers may never follow the strict doctrines of law. They may try to use their darkness to help those they care about and seek some solace from their altrusim or they may revel in their destructive abilities and slaughter all they see. But it matters not if they use their gift of rage for good or ill, such a gift does not allow one to much time to seek discipline for if one truely conquers the passions and demons then the rage is lost forever.
Religion: In the lands of Isankur there is no true religion to speak of so berserkers follow their own hearts. In other worlds religion and gods are a touchy subject for berserkers. Some feel that the gods have abandonded them and left them to the fire inside themselves and so these turn their backs upon those who cursed them. Others seek solace trying to turn seek a spirirtual balm for their trouble spirit. Some even turn to the gods to revel in their "gift" that has been granted to them. Most berserkers when they do find faith seek out goods of strength and battle.
Background: Berserkers come from all walks of life. Most often driven by demons few others would care to know. They embrace battle and are fearless warriors. Such angered hearts can be found among the high born and the pesantry. Where ever men and women are consumed by their own feelings so to will berserkers be found. Sometimes when two such indviduals meet they feel kinship at having found someone who understands their own soul. Mostly though such meetings end in blood and death.
Races: Humans, beings born of chaos and into slavery are the most common race for berserkers to be found in. Oghrim, whose race has been plagued and hounded by demonic forces for ages are also likely to take up the mantle of berserker. Dwarves and Exiles sense of duty and honor as well as their strictly regimented societies don't allow for such self centered anger to come to the fore often.
Among the chaosborn races that plague Isankur berserkers are a rarity because the rage that fuels a berserker is more often found in the form of barabarism.
Other Classes: Berserkers are often most comfortable around others that make fighting and death their occupation. Fighters get along especially well. Monks and berserkers rarely mix well due to such idealogical gulfs between them. Berserkers appreciate the destructive capabilities of magic but the dedication needed to wield it is often beyond the comprehension of most Berserkers. Rogues and others who use guile and stealth to their advantage are seen as week by most berserkers who favor violence and a head on approach to almost all of lifes problems.
Role: Berserkers are first and foremost concerned with destruction. As such they are first and foremost front line warriors. Few can deal as much damage in such a short amount of time with out the aid of magic.
Game Rule Information
Berserkes have the following game statistics.
Abilities: Constitution is the most important ability a berserker can posses. As it is a determining factor in many of their special abilities. It grants more hit points allowing a berserker to stay where they are most at home, on the front lines. Strength is also an extremely important ability because it allows a berserker to deal more punishment to those foolish enough to stand before a berserker in their fit of anger.
Alignment: Any non-lawful.
Hit Dice: d12
Class Skills
The berserker's class skills (and the key ability for each) are Climb (Str.), Craft (Int.), Intimidate (Cha.), Jump (Str.), Listen (Wis.), Ride (Dex.), Spot (Wis.), and Swim (Str.)
Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int. modifier) x4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int. modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the brawler.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A berserker is proficient with all simple and martial weapons as well as all shields and armors.
Rage (Ex): This ability functions exactly as the barbarian ability of the same name as found in the PHB.
Dark Scowl (Ex): By taking a standard action a berserker directs their fury towards a single opponent within 30 feet. The berserker must make an intimidation check versus their target. That target then must roll a modified will save (will + 1/2 base attack bonus) vs. bersekers roll or be shaken for 1 round +1 for every 3 levels of the berserker. A target unaffected by the dark scowl may not be affected by the same berserker for 24 hours.
Strong Presence(Ex): A berserker may use their strength modifier instead of their charisma modifier when making intimidate checks if their strength modifier is higher.
Black Mood (Ex): A berserker's anger is such that it becomes a palpable force surrounding the berserker. They gain a bonus to all intimidate checks equaling half their berserker class levels.
Fury Focus: At 3rd level a berserker is able to channel their rage into performing super human acts of strength. By giving up one of their rages for the day a berserker may add their class level to any strength based check or skill check for a single check.
Cry of Anguish (Su): As a full round action a berserker lets out a shout of pure hate and suffering. All creatures within a 30 foot radius of the berserker must make a check as if they had been attack by with the berserker's dark scowl ability. A berserker must use up one of their rage attempts to use this ability.
Berserker Strike (Ex): By 9th level a berserker's rage is such that they can channel their anger into a single strike. As a standard action a berserker forfeits one of their daily rages and makes a single attack at their highest base attack bonus +4 and adds their class level to the damage. They must declare this before the attack roll is made. Thus a missed strike is a wasted attempt.
Greater Rage (Ex): This ability works as describe in the PHB.
Fearful Eye (Ex): At 15th level any opponent targeted by either the Dark Scowl or Cry of Anguish abilities becomes frightened instead of shaken.
Tireless Rage (Ex): This ability works as describe in the PHB.
Muderous Fury (Ex): When raging a berserker, at 20th level, gains a +1 to hit and to damage for every enemy that they kill or drop (0 hit points) while they are raging, up to a maximum number of enemies equal to their base attack bonus. This effect only works if the enemy killed is no less than 5 challange ratings lower than the berserker. Effects gained in such a manner only last for the duration of the rage in which they were gained.
Ex-Berserkers
A berserker who becomes lawful loses the ability to rage and cannot gain more levels in berserker, though they retain all other class abilities.
Multiclass
A berserker counts as a barbarian for all issues of multiclassing. A berserker cannot gain any levels of barbarian and vice versa.
Berserker
Some men are drawn to war be it for sport or profit. Others fight to protect people or a certain way of life. Yet there is a rare person who is born to battle. One with a darkness, a passion that lurks inside their soul yearning to escape, yearning to do voilence. These men and women come from all places and walks of life. They are immplacable opponents and their anger fuels their prowess. Stories are told of how a single Berserker can rend a man in two or shrug off blows that would fell a troll. Even when not in the throws of a violent tantrum there is palbable aura of anger that surrounds such individuals.
Adventures: The life of an adventurer calls to the heart of the berserker. For adventuring is a life full of challange and always offers a chance for battle. A berserker may wander to seek fame, fortune or some other mundane reason. Most however adventure to quell the darkness that haunts them and to slate their lust for blood.
Characteristics: Berserkers are truly devastating warriors. Their ability in battle does not stem from the martial skills and discipline of a fighter, but rather from their inate fury. This fury allows them to peform amazing feats of endurance and strength. They can also fly into a rage which enhances their strength and hardiness for a limited period allowing them to maximize their destructive capacity. Such Rages however take a lot out of the berserker and such things can only be done a few times in a day.
Alignment: Chaotic at heart and filled with a horrific passion berserkers may never follow the strict doctrines of law. They may try to use their darkness to help those they care about and seek some solace from their altrusim or they may revel in their destructive abilities and slaughter all they see. But it matters not if they use their gift of rage for good or ill, such a gift does not allow one to much time to seek discipline for if one truely conquers the passions and demons then the rage is lost forever.
Religion: In the lands of Isankur there is no true religion to speak of so berserkers follow their own hearts. In other worlds religion and gods are a touchy subject for berserkers. Some feel that the gods have abandonded them and left them to the fire inside themselves and so these turn their backs upon those who cursed them. Others seek solace trying to turn seek a spirirtual balm for their trouble spirit. Some even turn to the gods to revel in their "gift" that has been granted to them. Most berserkers when they do find faith seek out goods of strength and battle.
Background: Berserkers come from all walks of life. Most often driven by demons few others would care to know. They embrace battle and are fearless warriors. Such angered hearts can be found among the high born and the pesantry. Where ever men and women are consumed by their own feelings so to will berserkers be found. Sometimes when two such indviduals meet they feel kinship at having found someone who understands their own soul. Mostly though such meetings end in blood and death.
Races: Humans, beings born of chaos and into slavery are the most common race for berserkers to be found in. Oghrim, whose race has been plagued and hounded by demonic forces for ages are also likely to take up the mantle of berserker. Dwarves and Exiles sense of duty and honor as well as their strictly regimented societies don't allow for such self centered anger to come to the fore often.
Among the chaosborn races that plague Isankur berserkers are a rarity because the rage that fuels a berserker is more often found in the form of barabarism.
Other Classes: Berserkers are often most comfortable around others that make fighting and death their occupation. Fighters get along especially well. Monks and berserkers rarely mix well due to such idealogical gulfs between them. Berserkers appreciate the destructive capabilities of magic but the dedication needed to wield it is often beyond the comprehension of most Berserkers. Rogues and others who use guile and stealth to their advantage are seen as week by most berserkers who favor violence and a head on approach to almost all of lifes problems.
Role: Berserkers are first and foremost concerned with destruction. As such they are first and foremost front line warriors. Few can deal as much damage in such a short amount of time with out the aid of magic.
Code:
[B]
The Berserker
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special[/B]
1 +1 2 0 0 Rage 1/day, Dark Scowl, Strong Presence
2 +2 3 0 0 Black Mood
3 +3 3 1 1 Fury Focus
4 +4 4 1 1 Rage 2/day
5 +5 4 1 1 ---
6 +6 5 2 2 Cry of Anguish
7 +7 5 2 2 Rage 3/day
8 +8 6 2 2 ---
9 +9 6 3 3 Berserk Strike
10 +10 7 3 3 Rage 4/day
11 +11 7 3 3 ---
12 +12 8 4 4 Greater rage
13 +13 8 4 4 Rage 5/day
14 +14 9 4 4 ---
15 +15 9 5 5 Fearful Eye
16 +16 10 5 5 Rage 6/day
17 +17 10 5 5 ---
18 +18 11 6 6 Tireless Rage
19 +19 11 6 6 Rage 7/day
20 +20 12 6 6 Murderous FuryGame Rule Information
Berserkes have the following game statistics.
Abilities: Constitution is the most important ability a berserker can posses. As it is a determining factor in many of their special abilities. It grants more hit points allowing a berserker to stay where they are most at home, on the front lines. Strength is also an extremely important ability because it allows a berserker to deal more punishment to those foolish enough to stand before a berserker in their fit of anger.
Alignment: Any non-lawful.
Hit Dice: d12
Class Skills
The berserker's class skills (and the key ability for each) are Climb (Str.), Craft (Int.), Intimidate (Cha.), Jump (Str.), Listen (Wis.), Ride (Dex.), Spot (Wis.), and Swim (Str.)
Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int. modifier) x4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int. modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the brawler.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A berserker is proficient with all simple and martial weapons as well as all shields and armors.
Rage (Ex): This ability functions exactly as the barbarian ability of the same name as found in the PHB.
Dark Scowl (Ex): By taking a standard action a berserker directs their fury towards a single opponent within 30 feet. The berserker must make an intimidation check versus their target. That target then must roll a modified will save (will + 1/2 base attack bonus) vs. bersekers roll or be shaken for 1 round +1 for every 3 levels of the berserker. A target unaffected by the dark scowl may not be affected by the same berserker for 24 hours.
Strong Presence(Ex): A berserker may use their strength modifier instead of their charisma modifier when making intimidate checks if their strength modifier is higher.
Black Mood (Ex): A berserker's anger is such that it becomes a palpable force surrounding the berserker. They gain a bonus to all intimidate checks equaling half their berserker class levels.
Fury Focus: At 3rd level a berserker is able to channel their rage into performing super human acts of strength. By giving up one of their rages for the day a berserker may add their class level to any strength based check or skill check for a single check.
Cry of Anguish (Su): As a full round action a berserker lets out a shout of pure hate and suffering. All creatures within a 30 foot radius of the berserker must make a check as if they had been attack by with the berserker's dark scowl ability. A berserker must use up one of their rage attempts to use this ability.
Berserker Strike (Ex): By 9th level a berserker's rage is such that they can channel their anger into a single strike. As a standard action a berserker forfeits one of their daily rages and makes a single attack at their highest base attack bonus +4 and adds their class level to the damage. They must declare this before the attack roll is made. Thus a missed strike is a wasted attempt.
Greater Rage (Ex): This ability works as describe in the PHB.
Fearful Eye (Ex): At 15th level any opponent targeted by either the Dark Scowl or Cry of Anguish abilities becomes frightened instead of shaken.
Tireless Rage (Ex): This ability works as describe in the PHB.
Muderous Fury (Ex): When raging a berserker, at 20th level, gains a +1 to hit and to damage for every enemy that they kill or drop (0 hit points) while they are raging, up to a maximum number of enemies equal to their base attack bonus. This effect only works if the enemy killed is no less than 5 challange ratings lower than the berserker. Effects gained in such a manner only last for the duration of the rage in which they were gained.
Ex-Berserkers
A berserker who becomes lawful loses the ability to rage and cannot gain more levels in berserker, though they retain all other class abilities.
Multiclass
A berserker counts as a barbarian for all issues of multiclassing. A berserker cannot gain any levels of barbarian and vice versa.
