Dwarf barbarians, how fast do they move

[Jinete]

SRD:
Dwarf base land speed is 20 feet. However, dwarves can move at this speed even when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load (unlike other creatures, whose speed is reduced in such situations).

So by RAW it seems that a dwarf barbarian still moves 20 feet when wearing medium armor. However my group has always played otherwise, letting dwarves move faster in heavy or medium armor if they somehow increased their speed.

What about your group? Do you think letting dwarves move faster is unbalanced?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Dwarves are never encumbered by armor or load and move at their full speed. A Dwarf Barbarian moves at 30 ft in any sort of armor.

 

[Jinete]

Dwarves are never encumbered by armor or load and move at their full speed.

The way I'm reading the SRD is that a dwarfs speed is never reduced below 20 feet due to armor or encumberance. Do you have another source?

 

[Deset Gled]

Also from the SRD, Armor Section:

Remember, however, that a dwarf’s land speed remains 20 feet even in medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load.

I always interpreted this as meaning that 20 was treated as their base speed in medium/heavy armor. They simply don't take the penalty other races do. According to this interpretation, they still get the +10 bonus from being a barbarian.

This is one of the very few scenarios where I have ever seen medium armor used.

 

[Jinete]

I always interpreted this as meaning that 20 was treated as their base speed in medium/heavy armor. They simply don't take the penalty other races do. According to this interpretation, they still get the +10 bonus from being a barbarian.

That's the way we've always interpreted it, but recently I've made a dwarf barbarbarian character, re-read the SRD and started to have my doubts.

Well I guess if people her say so, 30 feet it is

 

[frankthedm]

Dwarves are never encumbered by armor or load and move at their full speed. A Dwarf Barbarian moves at 30 ft in any sort of armor.

Not unless it has a Fast Movement other than the one barbarians get from their class.

Fast Movement (Ex)
A barbarian’s land speed is faster than the norm for his race by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when he is wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load. Apply this bonus before modifying the barbarian’s speed because of any load carried or armor worn.

 

[Forged Fury]

I would think we need to specifically focus on the Barbarian class feature. It states: "[Fast Movement] applies only when he is wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load."

By my reading, even a dwarf barbarian would lose fast movement in heavy armor or when carrying a heavy load. I don't know how it can be looked at in any other way. To me, it gets into the shades of gray that you run into when considering whether something is flat-footed or has merely lost its Dex bonus to AC. The class feature specifically discusses what type of armor is being worn or how heavy a load is being carried, not whether movement has been reduced as a result of either of these scenarios.

Either way, I'd probably Rule 0 it. I see a dwarf's ability to move around unencumbered regardless of load is far more "classic D&D" than a barbarian having Fast Movement.

Ah, Frankthedm beat me to it.

 

[Ogrehatescomputers]

I've gotten into this with a DM once. I rule that a Dwarf is the exception to this rule since he does not submit to the rules of of heavy loads as do other races. I would tell you that they cancel eachother out. And he moves 30ft a round. What does your DM say? Or are you the DM? Perhaps compromise at 25ft a round. Either way I read the rule as Dwarves have no encumbrance and Barbs get plus ten unless wearing armor. So to me a Dwarf is excluded from the barb rule of armor. Try emailing wizards. they normaly answer peoples questions.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Not unless it has a Fast Movement other than the one barbarians get from their class.

Fast Movement (Ex)
A barbarian’s land speed is faster than the norm for his race by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when he is wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load. Apply this bonus before modifying the barbarian’s speed because of any load carried or armor worn.

Yeah, that's right. The Fast Movement entry still restricts you to medium armor. Can't remember the last time I used non-mithral full plate, so that kinda slipped my mind.