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<blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 1144591" data-attributes="member: 3051">IMC, we rebuilt the Barbarian class a bit to avoid just the problem you've mentioned.&nbsp; Basically, the primal rage sort of ability is just a bit too limiting.&nbsp; STR and CON are all well and good, but the basic Rage is just not a good choice for anyone other than the 2-handed sword brute-force fighter.&nbsp; It typecasts anyone who takes the Barbarian class, and it reduces the multiclass appeal.&nbsp; I'll see Wizard/Barbarian multiclasses, to take advantage of the 1st-level HP and speed increase, but they never use the Rage ability.Instead, we created the Build-A-Rage System (tm), inspired by an old thread on this board.&nbsp; I think I've posted it here before.&nbsp; Essentially, the player built a &quot;trance&quot; that they could slip into several times a day for increased abilities.&nbsp; For one guy it could be the Barbarian-style &quot;rage&quot; (STR and CON, can't cast spells), for another it could be a Dwarven Defender-style &quot;stance&quot; (lots of physical boosts, can't move), for a third it could be a trance that gives good vision and Evasion but didn't allow you to attack.&nbsp; It fit really well into a shamanistic society; each fighter's trance would be different, and each would identify it with a totem creature.You'd pick three minor abilities, two minor drawbacks, and one major drawback.&nbsp; The major drawback would never go away, and it'd be &quot;can't cast spells&quot;, &quot;can't attack&quot;, or &quot;can't move&quot;.Every three levels you'd get to add one new ability or remove one minor drawback, and higher levels unlock better choices for abilities.&nbsp; End result, an always-useful class ability that the player gets to design.&nbsp; IMC, we (the DMs) were very happy with the resulting balance, and the players liked the class a lot more.You could try something like that.&nbsp; Keep the basic rage concept (short-term ability boost with a big drawback), but get away from the stereotype.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Spatzimaus, post: 1144591, member: 3051"] IMC, we rebuilt the Barbarian class a bit to avoid just the problem you've mentioned. Basically, the primal rage sort of ability is just a bit too limiting. STR and CON are all well and good, but the basic Rage is just not a good choice for anyone other than the 2-handed sword brute-force fighter. It typecasts anyone who takes the Barbarian class, and it reduces the multiclass appeal. I'll see Wizard/Barbarian multiclasses, to take advantage of the 1st-level HP and speed increase, but they never use the Rage ability. Instead, we created the Build-A-Rage System (tm), inspired by an old thread on this board. I think I've posted it here before. Essentially, the player built a "trance" that they could slip into several times a day for increased abilities. For one guy it could be the Barbarian-style "rage" (STR and CON, can't cast spells), for another it could be a Dwarven Defender-style "stance" (lots of physical boosts, can't move), for a third it could be a trance that gives good vision and Evasion but didn't allow you to attack. It fit really well into a shamanistic society; each fighter's trance would be different, and each would identify it with a totem creature. You'd pick three minor abilities, two minor drawbacks, and one major drawback. The major drawback would never go away, and it'd be "can't cast spells", "can't attack", or "can't move". Every three levels you'd get to add one new ability or remove one minor drawback, and higher levels unlock better choices for abilities. End result, an always-useful class ability that the player gets to design. IMC, we (the DMs) were very happy with the resulting balance, and the players liked the class a lot more. You could try something like that. Keep the basic rage concept (short-term ability boost with a big drawback), but get away from the stereotype. [/QUOTE]

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