Berserkers

[Sitara]

So we saw the statblocks for the human berserkers that will be in 4e MM. They have an ability called BattleFury. I like it. I think it represents berserker rage rather well, better than 3e's barbarian rage.

So any idea if this will be an ability Fighters get? Or paladin's? (Righteous Fury) We know barbarians wont be in the book, but surely a rage type ability should be their tolet us make berserkes of our own.

Anyhow if wotc messed up and did not include it for pc's, I will borrow the BattleFury ability and make it available as either a fighter power or as a general feat!

 

[Darkwolf71]

Battle Fury? I missed that one. Could you link or post a copy?

 

[Sitara]

Human Berserker, Level 3 Brute
Medium Natural Humanoid XP 150
Initiative +2; Senses Perception +1
HP 56; Bloodied 28, see also Battle Fury
AC 14; Fortitude 14, Reflex 13, Will 13
Speed 7
M Greataxe (standard, at-will) * Weapon
+6 vs. AC; 1d12+4 damage (crit 1d12+16)
M Battle Fury (immediate, when first bloodied; encounter)The human berserker makes a melee basic attack with a +4 attack bonus and that deals an extra 1d6 damage on a hit.R Handaxe (standard, at-will) * Weapon
Range 5/10; +4 vs. AC; damage 1d6+3 damage.
Alignment Any; Languages Common
Skills Athletics +9, Endurance +9
Str 17 (+4), Con 16 (+4), Dex 12 (+2), Int 10 (+1), Wis 11 (+1), Cha 12 (+2)
Equipment: leather armor, greataxe, 2 handaxes

 

[Darkwolf71]

Thanks.

That is nice. It gives me great hope for the future barbarian class.

 

[frankthedm]

Yeah, getting boosted when bloodied is what I'd expect out of the 4E barbarian.

Though there was an abilty a berserker dragonspawn had that could have also been nice. It got bonus damage on anyone who DARED to attack it. Strike it and next round it got +2d6 on damage rolls against you.

 

[Lizard]

Human Berserker, Level 3 Brute
Medium Natural Humanoid XP 150
Initiative +2; Senses Perception +1
HP 56; Bloodied 28, see also Battle Fury
AC 14; Fortitude 14, Reflex 13, Will 13
Speed 7
M Greataxe (standard, at-will) * Weapon
+6 vs. AC; 1d12+4 damage (crit 1d12+16)
M Battle Fury (immediate, when first bloodied; encounter)The human berserker makes a melee basic attack with a +4 attack bonus and that deals an extra 1d6 damage on a hit.R Handaxe (standard, at-will) * Weapon
Range 5/10; +4 vs. AC; damage 1d6+3 damage.
Alignment Any; Languages Common
Skills Athletics +9, Endurance +9
Str 17 (+4), Con 16 (+4), Dex 12 (+2), Int 10 (+1), Wis 11 (+1), Cha 12 (+2)
Equipment: leather armor, greataxe, 2 handaxes

Does "encounter" here mean he does this once PER encounter, or that it lasts for the DURATION of the encounter? The latter makes more sense.

Also -- given the idea that feats are 'built into' monsters, how do we figure out what happens if the barbarian loses his axe and has to grab a sword? It guess we can reverse engineer BAB (/12 level) +str bonus, and assume the difference is a 'built in' pseudo feat. Lessee, it's level 3, so that's a +1 BAB, Str is +4, so total attack bonus should be +5, his actual bonus is +6, which would be the equivalent of WF(Greataxe). Unless his BAB is +2 -- where does the rounding occur? -- which makes the handaxe make sense, unless he also has WF with THAT, which is not impossible.

 

[Saitou]

Woah woah woah woah woah.


Woah.



Greataxes quadruple your STR bonus on crits? Holy sheeeeit.

Lizard: Being proficient in a weapon carries a bonus to hit that varies from +1 to +3 that we've seen so far.

 

[frankthedm]

Woah woah woah woah woah.


Woah.



Greataxes quadruple your STR bonus on crits? Holy sheeeeit.

Looks more like a typo to me.

(crit 1d12+16) should have been (crit 16).

 

[Aust Diamondew]

More likey the crit damage is derived as follows:
12 (max damage on d12) plus 4 strength/level plus 1d12 because its great axe and they are extra dangerous on crits.

But thats just my guess.

 

[AZRogue]

Well, that particular attack says Immediate, so that means the Berserker can act out of turn when he's Bloodied and make a melee basic attack at +4 attack bonus and +1d6 damage. He can do it once per encounter.

So, it's just a reaction ability in this case. Having that as an ability with a duration of "While Bloodied" would be cool. And powerful.