Creating my first 4th ed character(goliath barbarian)

[dragonis111]

The title pretty much says it all, I am making my first character for 4th ed and he will be a goliath barbarian, first of all, he will be a rageblood barbarian, but my main question is about raging in 4th ed, it is mentioned player's handbook 2, but I can't seem to find the information on it, like its benefits, how to start or stop it, and so forth.

The house rules for character creation are:
Free set of the best armor your character can wear (I picked hide armor)
A level 1 item or 400 gold (I am going with a lvl 1 bloodclaw mordenkrad)
A melee weapon your character can use(see above)
A ranged weapon your character can use(A few throwing axes)

So can anyone help me with the information on raging and what would be good feats/powers to pick for my character?

Thanks very much in advance!

 

[bganon]

Raging is built into the barbarian's daily powers. You use the daily, your rage lasts to the end of the encounter, and any benefits will be listed in your attack powers.

Also, do you mean +1 bloodclaw mordenkrad? That's not a level 1 weapon. "Bloodclaw" also has had significant errata, so you should check the update if you're not aware of it.

 

[On Puget Sound]

A barbarian's daily powers are called Rages. When you use a Daily attack power, along with rolling to hit and applying whatever effects the power includes, you enter that rage. From that moment until the end of the encounter or until you use a different Daily to enter a different rage, you are "raging". The power describes what bonus you get for being in that particular rage; you also get any class features, feats and power add-ons that happen "while raging".

Unlike earlier editions, there are no restrictions on what you can do while raging; if you need to compose a love poem or pick a lock you can do so without dropping your rage.

Once you have two daily attacks available (i.e. 5th level), you have the "rage strike" ability. While raging, you can spend an unused rage power for a single powerful hit, without dropping the rage you are in. This lets you use several dailies in a tough encounter without being forced to drop a rage whose effects you want to keep.

A level 1 weapon would be a simple "+1 mordenkrad". A bloodclaw +1 mordenkrad would be around level 4 (guessing, too lazy to look it up)

 

[dragonis111]

Thanks for the info on raging guys, and when I looked up a +1 bloodclaw in adventure's vault, it is infact level 2, so I am going to just have a +1 mordenkrad for now, but other than that how good is my build so far? I really need suggestions on which feat and powers to take!

 

[The Human Target]

Bear in mind you'll have to spend your one and only first level feat to use the mordenkrad effectively.

But its a good feat/weapon to take.

 

[Aulirophile]

I'd reconsider a Mord as a Goliath. You wont' get any benefit from one of their better racial feats (Goliath Great Weapon Prowess) if you use a Superior weapon.

 

[Walking Dad]

If you have no Dex or Int bonus, consider taking the chainmail proficiency. If you have just a little, wait for it until paragon tier. Can you give us your ability scores?

 

[Samir]

I'd reconsider a Mord as a Goliath. You wont' get any benefit from one of their better racial feats (Goliath Great Weapon Prowess) if you use a Superior weapon.

A superior weapon + Weapon Focus is still better than a military weapon + Goliath Great Weapon Prowess.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Thanks for the info on raging guys, and when I looked up a +1 bloodclaw in adventure's vault, it is infact level 2, so I am going to just have a +1 mordenkrad for now, but other than that how good is my build so far? I really need suggestions on which feat and powers to take!

Could you post the character as is? I made an absolutely kick ass goliath barbarian (also rageblood) when PHB2 hit last year. I also used a mordenkard but was sorely tempted to go with a straight maul and get that goliath damage boosting feat (Greatweapon prowess? i can't recall right now). A straight +1 weapon is just fine and dandy for a 1st level character. Certainly more than I started with!

 

[Holy Bovine]

A superior weapon + Weapon Focus is still better than a military weapon + Goliath Great Weapon Prowess.

Does WF not stack with GGWP? That would even it out quite nicely.