What to do with 1st level orc barbarians

[pawsplay]

So, let's make an orc barbarian. Start with Str 15, add +4 for being an orc, for a 19. When he goes into a rage, his Str increases to 23, for a bonus of +6. If he wields a greataxe, he does 1d12+9 damage, with an average of 15.5. That's enough to drop a fighter in one hit. That's enough to kill a rogue or a cleric on a good roll. CR 1.

How do you make an encounter with a 1st level orc barbarian work with 1st level characters?

 

[Mark Chance]

So, let's make an orc barbarian. Start with Str 15, add +4 for being an orc, for a 19. When he goes into a rage, his Str increases to 23, for a bonus of +6. If he wields a greataxe, he does 1d12+9 damage, with an average of 15.5. That's enough to drop a fighter in one hit. That's enough to kill a rogue or a cleric on a good roll. CR 1.

How do you make an encounter with a 1st level orc barbarian work with 1st level characters?

Run the orc as is. If he drops the fighter, that's what happens. If he kills the rogue or the cleric, bummer for them. Getting hit with a greataxe ought to be a worrisome prospect for a 1st-level character.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Grease his boots or axe handle?
Spam the heck out of Daze?
Run/hide until Rage wears off and he's fatigued?
Trick him into charging a silent image?
Sleep spell?
Get him into a narrow choke point and have the sword & board Fighter stand in his way Fighting Defensively w/ Tower Shield?
Judicious use of readied actions...

Really, the one theme of nearly any advice for how a party deals with such a foe is anything that prevents him from ever landing a single hit. Because it will very likely kill someone.

I'd just avoid using the amped up damage barbarians until the PCs have more hp. First levels is dangerous enough already, and putting in enemies designed to deal a maximum amount of damage on a hit isn't going to be fun, unless you want a very gritty, deadly game. This isn't really a flaw in the system, barbarians at first level should be incredibly deadly. Just because it's CR 1 doesn't mean you have to use it. Such a foe would actually be pretty great to have a group of when the PCs are level 3-4, weak enough in defense/hp to be felled easily, yet still with the attack and damage numbers to make the party sweat.

And if you do have a party with the spells/tactics to keep him from getting a hit in, it could actually be a pretty great encounter. It'd be like the first episode of RoLW (the TV series), when Parn (Fighter) is taking on Orson (Berserker/Barbarian). Orson keeps missing, but the attacks are so blatantly powerful and deadly Parn's gotta be afraid of what happens if Orson were to get lucky... Definitely give such an NPC Intimidate ranks, and maybe a flaw so he can have both Power Attack AND Intimidating Strike -- double the attack penalty, twice the fear-mongering!

 

[pawsplay]

Yeah, this is just something that came into my mind when I was working up an ECL 3 challenge, say one orc barbarian and two orc warriors. I was just startled by the orc barbarian's damage output. Admittedly, one sleep spell could take them all out, but that is a hard hitting dude.

 

[Jhaelen]

Yep, orcs are nasty that way. It's how I (again) managed to start a campaign with a TPK...

I've used a couple of CR3 orcs (Brb1/Ftr2) to create a very challenging encounter for a level 11 party!

 

[Starbuck_II]

Yep, orcs are nasty that way. It's how I (again) managed to start a campaign with a TPK...

I've used a couple of CR3 orcs (Brb1/Ftr2) to create a very challenging encounter for a level 11 party!

Were the 11th level party under funded in equipment?

I dare say I can't see how the orcs hit often if the party properly bought gear for their level.

They should have AC around:
26 AC (okay AC) to 31 (Good AC) to 36 (great AC).
26 for those who wear little armor like mages. 31 for skirmishers/ PC barbarians. 36 for heavy armored dudes.

 

[Kask]

How do you make an encounter with a 1st level orc barbarian work with 1st level characters?

What problem are you trying to solve?

 

[Thanee]

How do you make an encounter with a 1st level orc barbarian work with 1st level characters?

I still recall the 1st-level drow rogue being hit by an orc barbarian with a greataxe. Critical. Ouch! New character. Happens.

That's why I usually start campaigns at 2nd level, BTW, because 1st-level hit points can be so incredibly low. 1st-level orc barbarians are still very nasty at 2nd level.


As for the "problem" ... just do not use them exclusively. Mix and match with some less awesome damage dealing NPCs.

Bye
Thanee

 

[krupintupple]

given, it's deadly, but in the same vein, a competent ranger, rogue, or scout will probably be dealing out over 10 damage per shot - something that, given the right circumstances, will drop the raging orc. if the orc's nearby, he's got the melee advantage; if he's far away, he'll be a pin-cushion before he's even within 50 feet of the character.

also, keep in mind a mage could grease his weapon or the floor, sleep or charm him; a cleric could sanctuary or fear him, or use obscuring mist so that he can't see/hit him at all now; all of this has been said.

typically, even if the encounter were to start some 60 feet apart, the party's probably going to get the jump on him initiative-wise, and at least half of them will be shooting him full of all sorts of ranged goodness: magic missiles, eldritch blast, and arrows. oh, also, keep in mind this is where things like tanglefoot bags and alchemical fire really make lower levels livable - that bag is going to stop him for at least a round or so, meaning that he's just going to sit there, with his horrible armour class, not moving, trying to escape while he's shot to pieces.

 

[Runestar]

You may want to lower the barb's base damage, but give him more attacks. For example, let him TWF with short swords or kukris. Unapproachable east has a feat which lets him make a full attack with light weapons on a charge, or you could go complete champion's lion totem for pounce. Hopefully, one attack misses, while the other hits, but the fighter should survive the 7-8 damage dealt. Whirling frenzy (UA) gives you an extra attack, but at a penalty. So you could try spreading them out amongst multiple PCs.

This may let you work around the binary nature of his attacks (he either hits and 1-shots a PC, or misses and does squat). I usually hold them off until around 4th lv (4 of them are still a fairly scary challenge for a 4th lv party).

typically, even if the encounter were to start some 60 feet apart, the party's probably going to get the jump on him initiative-wise, and at least half of them will be shooting him full of all sorts of ranged goodness

Or the barb could win initiative, charge (covering up to 80-ft), and still attack at +10 to-hit (+1bab, +6str, +2charge, +1weapon focus). Given that a 1st lv PC averages around 16-17 AC, he stands a fairly high chance of hitting.