Does Rage (DotF) stack with Bbn Rage?

[reapersaurus]

Rage
Enchantment (Compulsion)[Mind-Affecting]
Level:Madness 3
Components:V,S
Casting Time:One action
Range:Touch
Target:Creature touched
Duration:1 round/level
Saving Throw:Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance:Yes (harmless)

You can put a creature into a screaming blood frenzy.
In this rage,the creature gains +4 to Strength,+4 to
Constitution,and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves.
Unlike a barbarian rage,no penally to AC is suffered,
and no fatigue period comes after the rage is over.

That's all the relevant text.
There is no errata I know of, or FAQ info that describes it more.

So I think the 2 approaches to this would be:
a) The "screaming blood frenzy" descriptive text is meaning that it is a substitute for Barbarian Rage. All the relevant text for Bbn Rage is applicable here.
or
b) The spell gives an unnamed bonus to STR and CON, therefore it stacks with Bbn Rage. It even differentiates itself from Bbn Rage by not having the target be winded when it's over.

What do you think, and what's the current "Rules proper" way to play it?

 

[Crothian]

Sure, let them stack. Allow your Barbarian to have fun ripping people apart for a few rounds.

 

[Caliban]

Yup, they stack. Both are unnamed bonuses.

 

[Taren Seeker]

*ponders*

After carefully studying both sides of the issue, I have determined that Caliban is not wrong.

 

[Kraedin]

Also, there's a precedent for stacking screaming blood frenzies.

Barbarian rage stacks with Frenzied Berserker frenzy.

 

[Chun-tzu]

Would it stack with both Barbarian's Rage AND Frenzied Berserker's Frenzy? "The madder I get, the stronger I get!"

Hmm, there's a prestige class in there somewhere.

 

[Caliban]

Would it stack with both Barbarian's Rage AND Frenzied Berserker's Frenzy? "The madder I get, the stronger I get!"

Hmm, there's a prestige class in there somewhere.

Since they are all unnamed bonuses, yes.

Technically, they would also stack with bull strength and Endurance.

 

[DM_Matt]

Because this thread relates to a ruling I made, I feel the need to comment.

The spell as written clearly stacks. It is, in fact, better than regular barbarian rage in that there is no fatigue or AC penalty. I do not like spells that steal the thunder of another class, esp third level ones. Because clerics have self-healing and the most powerful buffs, I think that for a cleric to rage wth a spell, he cannot cast spells and thus have the best of both worlds. As far as the stacking goes, Frenzy requires a prestige class and has some huge drawbacks. Rage has none. For the bonuses to be unnamed would be quite overpowered. If spells granting a d4+1 enh bonus are L2, then an L3 spell should no grant a +4 unnamed bonus to two stats and +2 to saves. Thus, I rule Zero that they do not stack for balance reasons.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

Chun Tzu:

Hmm, there's a prestige class in there somewhere.

I think you might be right...

I think that PrC might be The Frenzied Berserker from DotF

 

[Chun-tzu]

Chun Tzu:


I think you might be right...

I think that PrC might be The Frenzied Berserker from DotF

I had a feeling someone was going to call me on that one


Ok, here's what I really meant:

Start off with 3 levels of Barbarian. Take the feats Power Attack and Cleave (humans, take any extra feat). At level 3, take Destructive Rage.

Then become a cleric of Garagos the Reaver (FR deity whose portfolio includes war, skill-at-arms, destruction, and plunder -> no big stretch for an ex-barbarian).

Take Madness from DotF as one of your domains (assuming that you've convinced your DM to OK Sean K Reynolds' expanded domain list for FR; he allows Madness as a regular domain, and lists Madness as a domain for Garagos).

After 5 levels of Cleric, you can cast the Rage spell (exclusive to the Madness domain). At level 6, take Intimidating Rage. You now meet all the prerequisites for Frenzied Berserker (BAB +6, nonlawful alignment, the 4 feats).

At level 9 (Barbarian 3/Cleric 5/Frenzied Berserker 1), you can now stack all three: barbarian's rage, frenzy, and the rage spell.

You gain:
+14 to Strength
+8 to Constitution
+4 to Will Saves
+1 attack at highest bonus

Penalties:
-6 to AC
takes 2 points of subdual damage per round

Add other buffing spells as needed.

Now, if only there was some template that would give this guy green skin...