Compensation for non-raging barbarians?

[neg]

Tossing around the idea of a non-raging barbarian recently. It seems that barbarians can be kind of type cast into the raging, frothing, hp shield with an great axe, or a great sword, or other heavy damage weapon.

I am sure I am not the only one to have thought of this. So what skill, feat, or other mechanic compensation do you or your DM offer barbarians who forgo the rage option of the class? Do you feel it is balanced and fair? Does it work well with the other characters and fit in your campaign?

Thanks for the feedback.

-neg

 

[Voadam]

Unearthed Arcana offers an alternate that gets favored enemy and the ranger bow weapon mastery.

 

[neg]

Unearthed Arcana offers an alternate that gets favored enemy and the ranger bow weapon mastery.

I dig the favored enemy aspect, and I can see that being fair and useful...and logical.

The ranger bow mastery also sounds very balanced mechanically, but not necessarily my personal cup of tea. I suppose that can be swapped out for more melee appropriate feats or bonuses though.

Any other house rules variants for non-raging barabarians out there?

 

[Piratecat]

Off to House Rules!

One alternative is the UA variant barbarian that is a dervish. I don't remember the specific variant rule, but I seem to recall he gets an AC bonus and extra attacks when "raging." I thought it was a nice variant when I read it.

 

[Starwind]

Non-Raging Barbarian... pleh, that's like asking for a Non-Spellcasting Wizard variant.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I have extensive house rules for non-raging barbarians:

Non-raging Barbarian class:
Hit Dice: d10
No alignment restriction.
Weapon and armor proficiencies: all simple and martial weapons, all shields including tower shields, all armor types
Skill/level: 2 on a somewhat reduced list.
BAB: 1/1
Saves: Fort good, Ref and will poor
One bonus feat at first level and every even numbered level
Access to Weapon Specialization at level 4, greater weapon focus at level 8, and greater weapon specialization at level 12

For a more serious and less snarky version of that, I'd be perfectly happy to call the class barbarian and lose all the excess proficiencies for 4 skill points/level and the barbarian skill list.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Wow. If he still gets the Uncanny Dodge and the Fast Movement, this is the barbarian to use!

 

[jaker2003]

Isn't that basically a Fighter?

 

[Geoff Watson]

Are you confusing barbarian-culture with barbarian-class?

Just because someone is barbaric doesn't mean they have to be a Barbarian, any more than a murderer has to be an Assassin.

Geoff.

 

[UltimaGabe]

Isn't that basically a Fighter?

It IS a Fighter. Unless I'm mistaken, I believe his post was meant to be a joke.

And I agree with him. Why play a non-raging Barbarian? That's what Barbarians do. If I wanted a non-spellcasting Wizard, or a Paladin that doesn't have anything to do with faith or alignment that gets bonus feats instead of spells, or a Bard that gets Sneak Attack instead of Spells, then I'd consider being a non-raging Barbarian as well- but all of those ideas are ridiculous.