D&D 5E Split the Barbarian

[Minigiant]

Been thinking about this for a while.

As the editions go,the fighter class has been more and more focused on martial skill. And other warrior classes have brokenoff to focus more on what powers their combat ability. Paladins became more divinely powered. Rangers became more observant. Monks gain a better handle on the power of ki.

But the Barbarian, when it broke off, snagged 2 bits: Emotion and Physical Ability. Rage and Raw Strength.

We could split the Barbarian in 2.
One warrior who is just stronger, faster, and tougher than the rest. And get more and more as they advance.
Another warrior who is more influenced by emotions and channels it to power their strikes and movement.

Sure. In fantasy, the 2 are often linked to the same character. However the two don't have to be from the same class to mak the trope work. You can multiclass to be mad when you hit someone with your 30 Strength.

 

[Blue]

I wonder if these are enough to have a complex character from 1st to 20th in terms of theme, mechanics, and replayability.

Now where I could definitely see this if D&D removed all of the hybrid classes and fully embraced multiclassing. Like Paladin is just the divine warrior bits without fighting style and limited weapon/armor and is intended to take with levels of Fighter if that's what you want, or with levels of the cloth wearing, pure casters Priest class to get current Clerics. Being able to mix the Raw martial class (Physical), the tactical martial class (Fighter), the skilled skirmisher class (Rogue), the Passion class (Emotion) as wanted to make your pure marital character, or mix in your Nature Adept class for some ranger, the Divine Herald for some paladin, etc.

 

[Minigiant]

I wonder if these are enough to have a complex character from 1st to 20th in terms of theme, mechanics, and replayability.

There easily can be. The original version of the barbarian was an full class.
Unarmored Defense, Danger Sense, and Fast Movement, and Indomitable Might are most just physical. So you can expand it with strength, speed, agility, toughness, endurance and every combination.

Now where I could definitely see this if D&D removed all of the hybrid classes and fully embraced multiclassing. Like Paladin is just the divine warrior bits without fighting style and limited weapon/armor and is intended to take with levels of Fighter if that's what you want, or with levels of the cloth wearing, pure casters Priest class to get current Clerics. Being able to mix the Raw martial class (Physical), the tactical martial class (Fighter), the skilled skirmisher class (Rogue), the Passion class (Emotion) as wanted to make your pure marital character, or mix in your Nature Adept class for some ranger, the Divine Herald for some paladin, etc.

Well if there was more a multiclassing game, I could see this.

• ???? (Warrior of Physical Might)
• Fighter (Warrior of Martial Skill)
• Warlord (Warrior of Martial Knowledge)
• Monk (Warrior of Inner Power)
• Berserker (Warrior of Emotion)
• Paladin (Warrior of Divinity Power)
• Warden (Warrior of Primal Power)
• ???? (Warrior of Arcane Power)
• ???? (Warrior of Psionic Power)

But D&D isn't at that level yet.

 

[Mind of tempest]

There easily can be. The original version of the barbarian was an full class.
Unarmored Defense, Danger Sense, and Fast Movement, and Indomitable Might are most just physical. So you can expand it with strength, speed, agility, toughness, endurance and every combination.



Well if there was more a multiclassing game, I could see this.

• ???? (Warrior of Physical Might)
• Fighter (Warrior of Martial Skill)
• Warlord (Warrior of Martial Knowledge)
• Monk (Warrior of Inner Power)
• Berserker (Warrior of Emotion)
• Paladin (Warrior of Divinity Power)
• Warden (Warrior of Primal Power)
• ???? (Warrior of Arcane Power)
• ???? (Warrior of Psionic Power)

But D&D isn't at that level yet.

I do not think monk has ever been a variant of the fighter class.

 

[Minigiant]

I do not think monk has ever been a variant of the fighter class.

It isn't and is. The monk is a warrior class now. There was a time where it could be seen as a rogue/expert class but it's a warrior class now.

And all warriors are branches of fighter with parts of it excised from the classes.

The monks is a warrior powered by inner power.

The barbarian/berserker is a warrior powered by emotion.

There could a new class of warriors powered by physical prowess. Just being strong fast and tough. None of this weapon skill crap.

 

[Mind of tempest]

It isn't and is. The monk is a warrior class now. There was a time where it could be seen as a rogue/expert class but it's a warrior class now.

And all warriors are branches of fighter with parts of it excised from the classes.

The monks is a warrior powered by inner power.

The barbarian/berserker is a warrior powered by emotion.

There could a new class of warriors powered by physical prowess. Just being strong fast and tough. None of this weapon skill crap.

do you mean like a brawler or like a superhero?

 

[Minigiant]

do you mean like a brawler or like a superhero?

I was thinking a mix.

Like the core 3 subclasses would be the bodybuilder, demigod, and transformed where it would the 3 main wats to get super speed or super strength.

Or maybe split them. A Hercules subclass and an Atalanta subclass.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I was thinking a mix.

Like the core 3 subclasses would be the bodybuilder, demigod, and transformed where it would the 3 main wats to get super speed or super strength.

Or maybe split them. A Hercules subclass and an Atalanta subclass.

I do not see what it really sells it would need a real idea behind it.

 

[Minigiant]

I do not see what it really sells it would need a real idea behind it.

"I throw a boulder at the dragon"
"I stab the lich... (rolls) 7 times"
"So I get up and brush the debris off my shoulders..,."


Basically it sells the ancient era hero in the medieval era. Many of the classes get powers as spells. This class would sell beating enemies and obstacles with your ability scores.

 

[Mind of tempest]

"I throw a boulder at the dragon"
"I stab the lich... (rolls) 7 times"
"So I get up and brush the debris off my shoulders..,."


Basically it sells the ancient era hero in the medieval era. Many of the classes get powers as spells. This class would sell beating enemies and obstacles with your ability scores.

so a martial class with backbone instead of being hobbled by being for "beginners" (have they consider just making the tutorial easier to understand and a better organisation system for spells?)