Ninja/Barbarian

[Vorput]

I have a PC who is currently a ninja (complete adventurer), and wants to multiclass with barbarian.

He backs up this change rather convincingly with references to his character history, and how he plays his character.

I have two qualms though.

1) Is the chaotic barbarian compatible with the disciplined learning of a ninja?

2) Would a ninja/barbarian be able to use some of his ki abilities (ghost step, etc.) while raging? Or would the restrictions on abilities that take patience, etc. make it impossible?

The PC pointed out that the description of rage only limits dex, cha, and int skills though. So I dunno...

Any comments?

 

[Tonguez]

1) Is the chaotic barbarian compatible with the disciplined learning of a ninja?

I'd use the interpretation of chaotic as unpredictable rather than undisciplined. The Barbarian is unpredictable and acts without hesitation doing whatever the conditions dictate is right for that moment - The ninja is unfathomable and reacts without hesitation doing whatever the conditions dictate is right for that moment (hey that works!)

2) Would a ninja/barbarian be able to use some of his ki abilities (ghost step, etc.) while raging? Or would the restrictions on abilities that take patience, etc. make it impossible?

I'd so no to use of ki powers (since the full force of their ki is being directed into the rage) however I might allow a feat that lets them use certain ki powers with a concentration check

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

That sounds really cool, reminds me of some of the crazy ninjae from Ninja Scroll. I agree that Ki powers couldn't be used during rage.

 

[irdeggman]

I'd so no to use of ki powers (since the full force of their ki is being directed into the rage) however I might allow a feat that lets them use certain ki powers with a concentration check

Except that barbarians are forbidden from making COncentration checks while raging.

SRD:

Rage (Ex): A barbarian can fly into a rage a certain number of times per day. In a rage, a barbarian temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Constitution, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but he takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase in Constitution increases the barbarian’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the rage when his Constitution score drops back to normal. (These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are.) While raging, a barbarian cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for Balance, Escape Artist, Intimidate, and Ride), the Concentration skill, or any abilities that require patience or concentration, nor can he cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. He can use any feat he has except Combat Expertise, item creation feats, and metamagic feats. A fit of rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) Constitution modifier. A barbarian may prematurely end his rage. At the end of the rage, the barbarian loses the rage modifiers and restrictions and becomes fatigued (–2 penalty to Strength, –2 penalty to Dexterity, can’t charge or run) for the duration of the current encounter (unless he is a 17th-level barbarian, at which point this limitation no longer applies; see below).

A barbarian can fly into a rage only once per encounter. At 1st level he can use his rage ability once per day. At 4th level and every four levels thereafter, he can use it one additional time per day (to a maximum of six times per day at 20th level). Entering a rage takes no time itself, but a barbarian can do it only during his action, not in response to someone else’s action.

 

[rowport]

How about offering the player some variation of the Rage Mage PrC that would allow both Rage and Ki used together?

In the meanwhile, as long as he is careful about when to use each, he should be OK with them being incompatible. My Druid/Barbarian works just fine not being able to Rage and cast at the same time. He would probably be best off using his Ki powers to sneak up for a Sudden Strike, then going into a Rage to fight toe-to-toe with his chosen target.