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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ECMO3" data-source="post: 9074964" data-attributes="member: 7030563">Barbarian is one of the two classes I have never played personally, even on a multiclass (the other is Druid).There are multiple problems with Barbarians.  Some of these can be solved by multiclassing or "off" builds.  In general a Barbarian is ok in combat but has a higher rest/healing cost than any other class.  They are generally poor in the non-combat pillars.  Here is the reason why:1. They are only really acceptable in combat if you really push Constitution to 16+ because of the limits on heavy armor and no fighting style.  While you can have a good AC in half-plate with a 14 Dex, it is a full 2 points behind plate and defensive fighting style.  The focus on damage and synergy with reckless attacks strongly favors Great Weapon Master, but you are going to get beat up in melee doing that, even while raging.  This means Barbarians need a crap ton of hit points to stay alive in battles and lots of healing between battles to really play to their strengths.If you go the other way and sword and board you can be a very effective tank as a Barbarian, but a fighter in plate and shield will be just about as good (and an EK will be a lot better) while doing just about as much damage with dueling.In either case Constitution is the least useful ability outside of combat.  When I play generally I am usually looking for a 10 or 12 Constitution and putting higher abilities in the social/exploration stats to be better at those pillars while still being good at combat.  That does not work well for a Barbarian.  If you play with an average constitution you end up with a character that is below average in combat and still below average in the social/exploration pillars.  Meanwhile with a Ranger, Paladin or to a lessor extent Fighter you can be good at both.2.  In addition to needing a high Constitution you really need a 14+ Dexterity and maximum strength to make this work too.  This makes the build very MAD and limits Wisdom, Charisma and Intelligence, which are your 3 primary non-combat stats.  As a result a Barbarian is generally not real great out of combat.  The 14 Dex can help with some things like sneaking, but they are generally not going to be great out of combat.3. Their Wisdom saves typically are awful and against a caster they spend a lot of time under some kind of condition that either incapacitates them .... or worse has them attack the party.  Lucky for the party a Dominated Barbarian is easy to shut down with Hold Person or Fear.</blockquote>

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