How does a character multiclass into the Barbarian Class

[Sagan Darkside]

My wife fell asleep in the theatre during this movie. I wish I had. I can't caution you strenuously enough -- if you have any alternative, don't watch it.

The movie is fine. It is not great, but most movies are not (because then none would be great).

It is an ok movie- and one of the better ones ported from Crichton's books.

But, in the end, I suggested the book for a reason. It gives more internal detail to his coming to understand and be like the people he is travelling with.

SD

 

[HellHound]

In Rokugan, the Crab Clan (I believe) have a samurai school that bloody well TRAINS berserkers instead of "real" samurai. They are still Samurai in station, but not in class. Instead they are berserkers (Barbarians) - unhinged warriors that lose themselves in battling the forces of the taint.

 

[Ravellion]

I'll allow it for any class but fighter. Actually, I'd allow fighter too, but I wouldn't allow weapon specialization to be used during Rage... different approaches to fighting, the mix is used only for minmaxing damage (the evil kind) output IMHO...

 

[Silver Griffon]

I think that as long as there is a legitimate in-character explanation (as there should always be when multi-classing) adding a level of Barbarian is perfectly acceptable.

I disagree with those who feel that such a character would somehow suddenly "forget" the ability to read though. Literacy is part of the Speak Language skill for literate characters. Even though it does not work like other skills and you even get extra "ranks" at first level it is still a skill. You never lose any part of a skill when you multiclass, even if it is no longer a class skill. Not even exclusive class skills. Someone who added a level of Barbarian would not suddenly become illiterate without the intervention of powerful magic (probably at least a limited wish or possibly some form of permanent psionic effect).

IMHO, anyway...

 

[Zaruthustran]

Just take the level in "Barbarian"

As long as you meet the class requirement (nonlawful) there are zero problems with taking a level in the class.

After all, the class name is just flavor. It could just as easily be "Berserker".

Going with the movie thing, how about D-FENS (Michael Douglas) in "Falling Down"? Or John McClane (Bruce Willis) in "Die Hard"? Both these guys "rage"/use the primary "Barbarian" class ability, even though their primary class is something else (Expert or Fighter).

I once had an urbane rogue/spymaster character; James Bond with a rapier. My build had him with a level or two of Barbarian (for the Rage and Intimidate skills). His rage was a cold rage, not the more familiar spittle-spewing rage--though the game effects were exactly the same.

Of course, your campaign is your campaign and you can rule zero anything you want. But there's no rule against multiclassing barbarians.

-z

 

[noretoc]

First, when you multiclass into a barbarian you do not forget how to read. this is stated explicitly in the section on multiclassing in the PHB.
I had a bard become a barbarian. All of the PC ended up with a barbarian tribe of centaurs. They took part in a coming of age ceremony for one of the centaurs. They were given this potion to drink, which had blood of a freshly killed animal. The shaman through some powder into the smoke, and suddenly they were all thinking differently. They felt urges they had not ever felt. Primitive feeling from thier ancestors. They all raged. It was wild. The bard missed the next two session. I said that his character stayed on with the centaurs learning some of thier history and songs and stuff. He came back and he had gotten enough xp to level. He came up with this whole story how he was inducted into the tribe. They used a bear claw to scratch marks on him and scar him. He had to spend several weeks with thier warriors, etc.. He started taking levels in barbarian. We called him a Bardbarian. When he came back to the group, he was definatly changed. He did a great job of being his old self, but adding a bit to it, making it look like he had gone through something incredible.
his is just one example of how to do it. A good DM can come u[p with many more ways to introduce a strange multiclass.

 

[LuYangShih]

It all depends on how you handle the Barbarian class in your game. If you treat them as a cultural statement, instead of simple abilities and a way of fighting, it is hard to justify multiclassing for them.

I've often thought it was a mistake to call the Barbarian class by that name, since it holds cultural connotations that limit and restrict many peoples viewpoint of how a Barbarian comes about in a game world. Monks suffer a similar stigma, quite often, being restricted to aesthetic philosophers living in a monastery away from the rest of the world, basically becoming nothing more than Shaolin clones.

You can make a game world work that uses those classes in such ways, but I myself prefer to leave it more open. I can think of plenty of literary examples in fantasy books that would indicate someone taking a level of Barbarian.

Salvatore: Drizzt is a pure Fighter, up until the point he leaves Menzoberannzan and wanders off into the untamed wilds of the Underdark. Forced to rely almost purely on his instincts and learn how to survive in a harsh and unforgiving setting, he gains a level of Barbarian.

Tolkien: I'd say you could argue all five companions who are involved in the chase of the Uruk-Hai (Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin) gained a level of Barbarian because of that. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli had to run after the Orcs (who were clearly Barbarians themselves, ) across an incredible distance, and they actually managed to gain ground.

Merry and Pippin had to survive extremely harsh conditions when they were captured by the Orcs, and gained a lot of endurance and toughness because of that. I'd also argue that Aragorn, and probably Legolas and Gimli as well, had at least one or two levels of Barbarian before the chase began, making them already multiclassed Barbarians.

You could also argue Frodo and Sam gained Barbarian levels, but given their reliance on Gollum and lack of toughness (compared to Merry and Pippin at least) right up until the end, I'd say they probably remained an Aristocrat and Commoner.

Oh yeah, and Pippin and Merry clearly evidenced use of the Intimidate skill during the reclaiming of the Shire.


Brooks: I'd say when Morgan Leah attacks those Trolls and rescues Shirl, making a mad dash across rocky ground on his barefeet, while carrying a heavy load over his shoulder, he picks up a level of Barbarian in addition to his Ranger levels.

There's way more stuff I could go in too, here, but I really think allowing players to choose their own skills and abilities is best, and being a Barbarian is not a cultural commitment, it's just a set of abilities that help better define a character.

 

[Henry]

...I disagree with those who feel that such a character would somehow suddenly "forget" the ability to read though. Literacy is part of the Speak Language skill for literate characters. Even though it does not work like other skills and you even get extra "ranks" at first level it is still a skill. You never lose any part of a skill when you multiclass... IMHO, anyway...

It's not just your opinion, it's by the rules. Page 56 of the player's handbook, first column. "Exception: A character who gains a level of the Barbarian class does not become illiterate."

So, beyond being counter-intuitive for someone to "forget" how to read, it's not in the rules, either.

 

[John Smallberries]

You mean besides writing 'Barbarian' on your character sheet?

 

[I'm A Banana]

Yeesh, sorry I didn't reference the book.

Okay, no illiteracy (yeah, I agree it's counter-inuitive, and it certainly takes some extreme feats of explanatory prowess to explain it away). The rest of the description remains apt as ever.