Berserker

[Kharrne]

Hello all! This is my first thread here... I've been wanting to make a 3.5e class for a few days, but i never really made any so i would like to have some insights on how to start ^^

My basic idea is to make either a barbarian variant focused on berserker rage, or a prestige class for it. The ability seems pretty unpopular, and i can understand why considering you don't control when you trigger it, and if you don't have healing you're in trouble afterwards xD...

But i like the idea of a fighter going berserk after being wounded, feeling the thrill of combat and the desire for blood much more then just some out of control psycho who rages when he's unhappy. Or in the case of a frenzied berserker, who just starts bashing anything when he gets hurt and killing himself at the same time.

What i had thought of would be a mix of barbarian and maybe monk in a way... Who would use a high wisdom along with good str and con. The berserker would be more than just a brute, his wisdom would allow for good spot and listen checks, making him aware of his surroundings. He could also use sense motive to assess the enemies, and could refuse to fight if the fight isn't challenging enough.

This is basically my rough idea of what i'd want the class to be like... Feel free to pitch in any ideas you might have, once i get a good idea of what the stats should be like i'll edit this post if the place is appropriate, if it's not just tell me where i should post it.

Thanks ^^

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Blood for the Blood God!

For what you seem to want, you should go with a Barbarian and either use the PHB2 variant for rage, which has unlimited usage, but only activates and remains in effect while your current hp is equal to or less than (5 x Barbarian level) or the Frenzied Berserker prestige class in Complete Warrior. FB gives a more potent rage called "frenzy" at the expense of not being able to fully control when you enter it, and attacking anything in sight, even if it is allies. FB also eventually gives you tremendous bonus damage with power attack and the ability to not die from hit point damage while in a Frenzy.

Whatever you do, don't mix the two. FB levels, without DM houserule, would not count as Barbarian levels, making your "rage threshold" for the PHB2 variant very low.

If you do not have access to either book, also look at the Berserking Sword cursed item from the DMG.

EDIT: Somehow I completely missed you calling out the FB as what you didn't want to make... Have you looked into the Ki Rage ability of the Sohei from Oriental Adventures? I think in some book there's also a raging monk variant.

 

[Dandu]

Make sure your allies can either cast Calm Emotions or Grease.

 

[Kharrne]

....Or grease. That totally made me lol xD

But i think i should've been a bit more precise. Yes i already know the variant, it's called Berserker rage and it's what i was refering to xD I want to make a class (basic or prestige) that really focuses on that kind of ability. However i didn't know about the sohei or the berserker sword... I'll be sure to look into it, thanks ^^

 

[Kharrne]

Okay i moved the new class to homebrew... Give any further advice there please ^^

 

[slwoyach]

I'm confused, a barbarian variant focused on rage? Isn't that like a wizard focused on spellcasting?

 

[Kharrne]

BERSERKER's rage, it's a barbarian variant in PHB2

 

[Dandu]

The Berserker variant is rated poorly in the Consolidated Barbarian Handbook, fyi,

 

[Kharrne]

Yeah, it's pretty bad.. Which is why i made a class for it, pumping it up quite a bit. I personally put 60% of your hit points as trigger, which i believe is reasonable. I don't have any gaming sessions planned anytime soon though, so i can't really test it out xD But yeah, the base variant sucks.

 

[Jhaelen]

Well, there's always the Frenzied Berserker ... not that I'd recommend using the prestige class.