When to Rage

[dpdx]

I DMed my first time with my usual group of players, who were playing new classes, one of whom created a barbarian.

During the final combat of the adventure, the barbarian engaged in melee with an orcish cleric of Gruumsh 3, took damage, and eventually went down.

The player never raged her barbarian on her own during the entire adventure, not even after the cleric hit her for 7 in the final battle (during which it was obvious even before the fight that it was the final battle).

My question (not having books at hand - it's at home and I'm at work): would it have been a good idea as a DM (other than rule zero) to say to that player, "You get very angry," and compute stats on that character for the rage right there?

In previous combats, even when the barbarian charged right in and took damage, I hesitated to rage, because I knew something would be right around the corner, and she might want to save it for the next fight.

The player (if we play again) will probably remember next time that she has that available, but I was curious to know if I'd screwed up (not that it would be my first, or my last as a new DM).

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Crothian]

I rage when I think the character would. When we are either fighting something pretty tough, or a the character is criticalled, or something like that.

 

[EOL]

That really depends on the experience level of the person playing the barbarian. If they should have know, then I might not even remind them. Partly this philosophy comes from high level campaigns were it's really easy to have a monster die in one round *without* reminding the characters about their abilities. If on the other hand this was the first time this person had played a barbarian I would remind them of the ability, but I still don't think I would activate it for them under any circumstance...

 

[Kershek]

If it's a player who's new to the barbarian abilities, or new to gaming, you could remind him of his abilities. Otherwise, the Barbarian has complete control over when he rages. I believe that's spelled out in the PHB. It's not a Bruce Banner syndrome

 

[kreynolds]

I'm with Crothian, EOL, and Kershek on this one.

 

[kreynolds]

It's not a Bruce Banner syndrome

Oh man!! You shouldn't have added this to your post. It makes it less "bitch-slappy".

 

[dpdx]

Thanks!

Okay. That clears it up for me. My error, then, was in forgetting (myself) to remind her that she had a choice.

I can live with that.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

It's not a Bruce Banner syndrome

I agree. I have a bbn2/rgr1/ftr1 with the Extra Rage feat in my group, and he rages all the time, but it is always by choice, not by circumstance. Of course, he can rage 3 times per day, too, which helps eliminate the trepidation of when to rage and when not to rage.

BTW, if you were referring to The Incredible Hulk, that was David Banner.

 

[EOL]

BTW, if you were referring to The Incredible Hulk, that was David Banner.

Actually in the comic books and the upcoming film it's Bruce Banner:
http://www.incrediblehulk.com/bannerhistory.html

In the TV show with Bill Bixby he was David Banner:
http://www.scifi.com/hulk/

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Serves me right for watching TV when I could have been reading.