Rage and the unarmoured Barbarian

[Erekose]

I'm in the process of tailoring the Barbarian class to be more like the Berserker archetype.

I've hit upon a stumbling block.

The class cannot wear any armour but may use shield (excluding Tower Shields). As an extraordinary ability they gain a natural armour bonus of +1 at 1st level and this increases by +1 at 6th level and then by an additional +1 for each 6 levels thereafter (i.e. a maximum of +4 at 18th level).

I'm happy with this.

However, when the Barbarian rages he gets a -2 penalty to AC. This would heavily penalise the Berserker.

I'd like confirmation on what people think of either removing the AC penalty or reducing it to -1 for the Berserker?

 

[Anabstercorian]

Retain the -2 penalty to AC but increase the natural armor bonus by three points when in a rage. They'll actually become less vulnerable to normal weapons, but touch attacks will become a greater threat.

 

[Nifft]

Earlier Damage Reduction.

The Barbarian Way (tm) is:
- Low AC
- Lots of HP (including Rage bonus to Con)
- High Strength (including Rage bonus)
- Damage Reduction

I'd boost DR while raging by 2 points. The Barbarian Way (tm) isn't to avoid damage -- it's to be so freekin' tough, you don't mind the damage.

-- Nifft

 

[Erekose]

Thanks for the replies.

To make things easier, here's the full class so far.

All simple and martial weapons.
No armour but all shields (except tower shields)
Hit points, alignment restriction, skills and skill points as the barbarian.

1 - Hard to kill (i.e. natural armour) +1, rage 1/day
2 - Greater fortitude bonus feat
3
4 - Rage 2/day
5 - Fire resistance 5
6 - Hard to kill +2
7
8 - Rage 3/day
9
10 - Fire resistance 10
11 - Greater rage
12 - Hard to kill +3, rage 4/day
13
14 - Indomitable will
15 - Fire resistance 15
16 - Rage 5/day
17 - Tireless rage
18 - Hard to kill +4
19
20 - Fire resistance 20, mighty rage, rage 6/day

The berserker does not receive damage resistance, fast movement, etc.

[I have two barbarian-derived classes. This is the "tough" barbarian and the other, the Highland Warrior, is the "agile" barbarian.]

Back to my original question. Given the above, how can I balance the impact of the -2 AC associated with rage?

 

[Nifft]

Interesting. Why only Fire resistance? Many legends of Berserkers involve them being warriors who fight naked in cold places -- like, say, Scandinavia.

-- Nifft

 

[Erekose]

Originally posted by Nifft:
Interesting. Why only Fire resistance? Many legends of Berserkers involve them being warriors who fight naked in cold places -- like, say, Scandinavia.

My favourite quote that defines the berserker . . .

“They advanced without mail-coats and were as frenzied as dogs or wolves. They were as strong as bears or boars. They bit their shields, they struck men down, but neither fire nor steel could mark them.”

Snorri Sturluson from Ynglinga Saga.

I know this could imply damage resistance but I've always felt DR should be restricted to very powerful monster. This is why the berserker class that I've outlined has natural armour instead.