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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TorgoTheWhite" data-source="post: 9680994" data-attributes="member: 7051716">"Sword" & board barb can be a nicely different way to play. I've played the "shield mastery" zealot, Because our group doesn't pack much healing. I have pretty great stats so my unarmored AC is pretty ridiculous on the guy at baseline while being quite mobile.I like that I can play him "multimodal"; feel out combat and start off in defensive posture, stand next to "protection" fighting style paladin and reap the benefits and switch to my battle <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="🪓" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1fa93.png" title="Axe    :axe:" data-shortname=":axe:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /> to try toppling or run with my sap mastery if I am mobilized into isolation. Or vice-versa.. start reckless to draw fire, then become a brickwall after presenting as an easy hit. Get the free shield mastery shove for battlefield control. The reaction to <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="💯" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f4af.png" title="Hundred points    :100:" data-shortname=":100:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" />% negate dex-based saves pairs very nicely with the barbarian advantage to dex saves. Even when he starts to lose life, the bonus action d12 healing goes a long way. If he needs to enter cleanup mode, or if I need to screw with the DM a little, then I opt to go reckless and become more of a dmg-merchant. This character can break grapple easily as well, especially if using the warhammer + 🛡... then you have multiple shots at shoving without losing out on action economy. Good that Zealy ability isn't tied to reckless attack any more. The other subclass I would choose with for this is Wildheart... that bear option is tempting, but then you are minimizing dmg potential even more.At the cusp of level 8, I am considering if I want to take the non-flashy but appropriate "resilient dex" to never worry about breath weapons again, "polearm master" to  wield a spear & increase dmg output and give some competition to my bonus action and reaction slots.. though decreased weapon mastery versatility, or just "mage slayer" to shore up some saving throw weaknesses</blockquote>

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