How would you keep a Frenzied Beserker from killing the whole party?

[Metalsmith]

If I were the DM, I would not allow the character to suddenly turn himself into a worthless fighter using power attac, tower shields, etc.

Well DUH! I said Crazy to Cheezy after all. Power Attack is completely viable as you will do extra damage when you hit and the 30 Str that was talked about earlier combined with a Magic Weapon will still be enough to hit most people.

Fighting Defensively also viable as you attack anyone close to you. Who wouldn't want a few more points of AC when you're surrounded by your enemies.

And I don't think the posts advocating against it were pointless at all. They merely expressed some ideas as to why this person may not want to go that route.

He posted his question in the Rules Forum, not in General RPG Discussion

Posts that say Basicly "Dont Do It!" do not answer his question, it avoids it.

I have no idea what the social dynamics of his gaming group are,

Exactly, and thats another reason why the posts didnt help.

Metalsmith

 

[James McMurray]

Power Attack is completely viable as you will do extra damage when you hit and the 30 Str that was talked about earlier combined with a Magic Weapon will still be enough to hit most people.

Fighting Defensively also viable as you attack anyone close to you. Who wouldn't want a few more points of AC when you're sourounded by your enemies.

That is true, however, I would not let him switch to full power attack, tower shielded defensive fighting if he was not already using them against his true enemies.

Also, you'll note that I never said don't do it. I just told how I would react, I then gace ways to help aginst the frenzy.

 

[Templetroll]

Fighting Defensively also viable as you attack anyone close to you. Who wouldn't want a few more points of AC when you're sourounded by your enemies.

By its nature a berserker is giving up all defensive actions to enter into an all-consuming rage. As a DM I would not allow a berserker to take actions that reguire some form of concentration or reasoned behavior. Power Attack would be reasonable since it is also giving up something to gain the extra damage; I could see a berserker doing this. Fighting Defensively or using a shield for anything other than a chew toy I do not see.

 

[Metalsmith]

His choice of character is detrimental to the group, his choice will result in someone elses good time ending, his choice is selfish to an extreme... I don't see why someone who is being this inconciderate to his fellow players should NOT have their inconciderate choice killed in its sleep.

Because you are arguing what might happen as opposed to what has happened. Seems to me the player is being considerate right now by asking for our help to keep it from happening later on down the road. Othewise you might as well kill the mage too cause he may accidently catch the other characters in a fireball.

Every choice hath its price.

Yep, prices. Sometimes you can use Coupons. Sometimes you can even ask for help from other people who may know of sales/bargains.

The choice of Frenzied Berserker is a huge liability to the group unless he chooses NOT to Frenzy. Nor should he EVER use that Inspire Frenzy unless the WHOLE party requests it... playing the Frenzied Berserker is a very rude choice for him to have made.

Again more quibbling about what could happen as opposed to what the character plans to do.

Even if they keep him its a drain on party resourses....
I'd be very upset to have to take feats or spells or make items to deal with a rabid jerk of a character.

Then don't take those feats or magic items. And watch him kill you. But serously the Fenzied Bezerker can go out and buy his party's cleric a wand of Calm Emotions, or the Wizard a Wand of Silent Image.

Even Better, a Wand of Daze. It's Dirt Cheap! The Bezerker can fail his save.

The Odds are just not that Bad that the party will ever be in danger.

Round 1 he finishes off the bad guys. Free Action to make Will save DC 20.

Round 2 Free Action to make Will Save DC 20. Attacks poor wizard with a Power Grapple Attack. Wizard has a knife, and takes the attack of opportunity could hit and does 1-4 damage with dagger and thus ends the round, or misses and the Frothing Bezerker grabs, uses iterative attacks to Pin.

Round 3 Free Action to make Will Save DC 20. Begins to do subdual damage to wizard.

Big Freeking Deal! Oh yeah he's a menace.

Actually al your time would be better spent worriying about the Fighters in your party will do to you if they fail a save vs Dominate Person. They get 2 saves to resist, only 1 if they don't like you that much.

Metalsmith

 

[Limper]

Greater Power Attack IS a class ability for the FB.... its actually the best of its abilities. Given such it would be a viable choice... 3/2 and later 2 to one ratios for BAB points when power attacking.



And no MetalSmith if he were conciderate then he'd not have taken the Pres Class in the first place.... unless he plays with a group who likes writing up new PCs.

 

[Metalsmith]

Fighting Defensively or using a shield for anything other than a chew toy I do not see.

***sorta quote***
While Frenzied the character cannont use skills or abilities that require patience or concentration or cast spells drink potions, activate magic items (thus the previously mentioned Magical Bracers/Handcuffs will work fine) or read scrolls, or Feats such as Expertise, Item Creation Feats and MetaMagic Feats.
***end sorta quote***

You can Use Trip, Bull Rush, Charge (provoking Trip Attacks from Allies), Fight Defensively and use Shields.

Metalsmith

 

[James McMurray]

Just a note, unless he happens to be a 12th level character with only 4 hit dice, that wand of daze will be worthless.

Again, grappling is not something I would allow a frenzied berserker to do. He is in a killing frenzy, not a hugging frenzy.

 

[Metalsmith]

Just a note, unless he happens to be a 12th level character with only 4 hit dice, that wand of daze will be worthless.

Bah. Just trying to save some money. You can still do it with:
Command - Clerics
Silent Image - Arcane Casters

"Guys I'm taking a Level of Frenzied Bezerker here's your wand."

Again, grappling is not something I would allow a frenzied berserker to do. He is in a killing frenzy, not a hugging frenzy.

What are you Nutz!?! If you played a really strong Character you Wouldn't like to grapple a 12th Level Wizard. You must really enjoy sucking down Hasted Chain Lightning or Dominate Monster.

Metalsmith

 

[Xarlen]

Um, a wand of Command would have a DC 11.

 

[Metalsmith]

Um, a wand of Command would have a DC 11.

See the above:
4 You can choose to fail your save against the Calm Emotions Spell.

It also applies to Command and Silent Image.

Page 150 PHB. "A Creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell's result."

Also (my favorite rule in the whole game) If a creature's Saving throw succeeds against a targeted spell you sense that the spell has failed.

Metalsmith