D&D 5E [poll] Barbarian Satisfaction Survey

[Sacrosanct]

Once a year or so, I think it would be interesting to get a pulse on the satisfaction of the various classes. The game's been out for a few years now, and that's plenty of time to get a good experience on how each plays out.

For the purpose of this poll, I am keeping the answers to a minimum intentionally. When you have too many options, it's harder to really evaluate the results. And for the purposes of this, a general feeling is more than adequate.

First up, the barbarian.

Long term goal: Have a survey of each class, then compiled results to be easily referenced for future discussions that may want said information.

 

[Shiroiken]

I've seen several barbarians, all Totem Warriors, but have not played one (prefer spellcasters). The berserker might need a small fix if this is any indication; probably the concern over exhaustion.

 

[Rellott]

I would agree that the exhaustion aspect probably steers a lot of people away from berserker. I'd be willing to try one if the opportunity arose. I've played a battlerager from levels 4-6 and was frustrated at the dependence on grappling, which felt like not a well-thought out MO. The targets most susceptible to grappling are not on the front lines and aren't the ones dishing out the most damage (necessarily) that a barbarian's resistance would match up most nicely with. Then there's the issue of the lack of support for the spiked armor without homebrewing. It's all a great idea, the grappling mechanics just need tweaked for it to be great. I swapped my battlerager over to totem warrior (bear) and have been playing that for a little while, and enjoy it.

 

[Coroc]

Depending on setting or context the bear totem barbarian can be very overpowered.
This applies definitely in games where you do not use feats and in games where good armor is not easy available.

In general barbarian class does not fit to well in any high middle age setting and is totally a bit out of place when you move it up to renaissance (at least as a PC) but that is my personal point of view.

Minor tweaks: mostly cosmetic. Rather fluff. Make a dwarven barbarian a battle rager (refluff the totems somehow), if you absolutely insist on Halfling barbarians make this get some other fluff than totem, except when your halflings resemble north American Indians in their cultural ways. As pointed out above depending on race the standard fluff just does not fit well in any possible context.

 

[MiraMels]

I love the barbarian. My berserker is 7th level now, and, I know it isn't a popular opinion but, I really like the berserker as written? Even with the exhaustion? The frenzy is incredibly powerful, and the barbarians core class features provide many sources of advantage to counteract the levels of exhaustion you accrue from using it.

 

[DaveDash]

I've seen several barbarians, all Totem Warriors, but have not played one (prefer spellcasters). The berserker might need a small fix if this is any indication; probably the concern over exhaustion.

We had a Berserker Barbarian with us in Tyranny of Dragons up to about level 11. The exhaustion thing wasn't too bad really, as he'd generally save frenzy for those big fights where we could rest afterwards. And boy was he a damage machine.

 

[Bupp]

I've only seen totem barbarians in play, and my players have liked them. They've all shied away from the beserker over concerns about the exhaustion. Glad to hear others are doing well with it, though!

 

[Xeviat]

I picked "mostly", mostly because I've always preferred the idea of a barbarian going into a rage, not choosing to go into a rage. I liked 3E's PHB 2 rage variant where it was triggered at low HP, and 4E's Heroes of the Fey Wild variant that raged when bloodied. I know what the "x/day" rage "means", but deep down it always feels like "choosing" to rage, and then I get the image of a barbarian taking off their top-hat and monocle and saying "Good friends, I think it's time to get angry now".

The berserker could be altered too. I've seen a Totem (bear) played at level 5-7, and a battlerager played at 5-6. The battlerager's extra attack has been very useful (he doesn't have GWFing), and the totem barbarian's use of GWFing and Reckless Attack made him quite the force. Half damage while raging is one of my most favorite mechanics this edition; combined with Reckless Attack, it really feels like a barbarian.

 

[Yunru]

I've seen a Bear Totem Barbarian, a Wolf Totem Barbarian, and even a bow-using Eagle Totem Barbar. Never seen a Frenzy before I gave them a "remove a level of exhaustion every short rest" feature though.

 

[Yunru]

but deep down it always feels like "choosing" to rage, and then I get the image of a barbarian taking off their top-hat and monocle and saying "Good friends, I think it's time to get angry now".

Don't worry, you no longer have to think it. Because I'm stealing it.