Drop Trap Sense from the Barbarian in exchange for...?

[Felnar]

i'm glad you like Brain's idea
usually these threads are about ditching an ability you dont care about in exchange for something you'd use constantly (eg familiar/animal compaion for a feat)
and frankly, if you dropped trap sense and didnt replace it with anything, i doubt the barbarian class would be selected any less often

IMO, the reason trap sense is a barbarian class ability is the same reason barbarians have uncanny dodge
were you planning to drop that too?

 

[3d6]

Why DO barbarians have "trap sense?"

There's no sense in bbn's having "Trap Sense." Only Rogues should have anything to do with traps.

jh

Its because of Conan. He is frequently depicted as having much better Reflexes than his allies, and often dodges traps that kill other people. Hence, the barbarian has trap sense.

 

[Destil]

Indeed, trap sense is a hold over from 3.0, where it was part of Uncanny Dodge. With the much more elegant uncanny dodge in 3.5 trap sense needs to be spelled out, but it's really just part of that ability.

If I were replacing it I would go with Alertness or Self Sufficient as a bonus feat.

 

[GreatLemur]

Its because of Conan. He is frequently depicted as having much better Reflexes than his allies, and often dodges traps that kill other people. Hence, the barbarian has trap sense.

Yeah, I suspect that's the thinking behind it. Still badly flawed, though: Conan definitely had levels in Rogue. Cimmerians who didn't spend all their time looting tombs and temples probably weren't quite as slick at ducking blade traps.

 

[Eloi]

I like Brain's idea.

I have another idea which is more powerful, and then another idea which is a lot more powerful.

First idea: Instead of Trap Sense, and its progression, simply give +2 hp to the Barbarian each level Trap Sense is mentioned, lasts while raging. (Not as cool as Brain's idea.)

Second idea: Trap Sense redirected, instead aiding the save a Frenzied Berserker needs to not slaughter his friends when he is totally out of foes, and then more Trap Sense progression is instead more bonus to not hack one's buddy down.