What is a Barbarian?

[Tonguez]

I have a class of Mystics imc that can channel adrenaline through their bodies so that they increase strength, constitution, dexterity (modified rage) and speed (speed of thought). They also learn to resist pain (DR), instantly heal wounds (Regen 2/-) and walk on hot coals!

These Mystics are based on Swami of India...

 

[Hand of Evil]

The best thing to to is set the norm for your campaign, those outside that are the barbarians.

Now, what is the norm? First would be an established national government, then church. Barbarians were complex people but what we consider them to be did not have a unified government but more local one. And while a lot worshipped the same gods, gods were mostly elemental in nature and worshipped quarterly or annually, not taking a major part of the barbarians life. An orginized churh has temples and meets a good deal.

 

[Oni]

Just another example of a non-stereotypical barbarian.

Think of Lestat as described in his youth in The Vampire Lestat. A Young nobleman from a family that has lost most of their wealth. He's never been taught to read properly, he spends most of his time in the woods hunting game to keep his family fed, and is a skilled woodsman. And he is prone to rages.

 

[Tonguez]

The best thing to to is set the norm for your campaign, those outside that are the barbarians.

Now, what is the norm? First would be an established national government, then church. Barbarians were complex people but what we consider them to be did not have a unified government but more local one. And while a lot worshipped the same gods, gods were mostly elemental in nature and worshipped quarterly or annually, not taking a major part of the barbarians life. An orginized churh has temples and meets a good deal.

But what if Barbarian is the norm? Not everyone in a Barbarian culture is a DnD Barbarian


For instance my current campaign is set in Mythic Polynesia. Each 'district' of an island is occupied by a distinct tribe lead by its own autonomous chief - so no unifed government. No writing system (although it did have iconographic systems of carving and tattoo) and no metal or clay use (historic clay use is evident but not continued beyond Tonga).
Also your assessment of the role of gods is inaccurate - infact most 'Barbarous' cultures had gods involved in every aspect of daily life - they may not have had large ritualised ceremoines but the spirits of your house lived with you and so had to be respected (and placated) daily...

Anyway in this campaign 'Barbarians' are cannibal savages - their rage becomes a Bloodlust.

 

[Dark Eternal]

Finally the most bizarre non-stereotype of them all... the female barbarian. How many of these fabled creatures truly exist? (And if my reading of Gibbon's Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire is accurate, there were plenty of these sword-wielding women running around two thousand years ago, and they were pretty scary.)

In freeport, my dwarven sorcerer had the privledge to adventure with one. Twinkle, the female gnomish barbarian, was one of the most frightening pc's I've ever seen - and one of the funniest. But damn, she could kick some!!

 

[Hand of Evil]

But what if Barbarian is the norm? Not everyone in a Barbarian culture is a DnD Barbarian

True and you really do not have an issue in your game. You may have alternate PrCs for them but you game in built around your barbarians.

Also your assessment of the role of gods is inaccurate - infact most 'Barbarous' cultures had gods involved in every aspect of daily life - they may not have had large ritualised ceremoines but the spirits of your house lived with you and so had to be respected (and placated) daily...

Note, I said what we consider them to be. What many people take for barbarians had a very complex culture, relationships bewteen tribes/gods/nature were interwoven and dealt with a lot of myth and history. I was generalizing.

Anyway in this campaign 'Barbarians' are cannibal savages - their rage becomes a Bloodlust.

This sounds interesting.

 

[Zaruthustran]

I played once played a James Bond-style barbarian. He had an above-average Int, put the skill point into literacy, and was suave (high Cha). But he could get mad, oh yeah. His rage was an icy rage.

-z