Wild-shaping barbarian

[buzz]

I guess I already know the answer to this question, but hey...

A new campaign is starting up and I decided to play a barbarian. I thought it would be a cool idea to take levels in druid later on, but looking at the druid's weapon and armor limitations, this now seems like a bad idea.

It states clearly that if a druid uses any prohibited weapons or armor, they can't use their druid abilites for that day and 24 hours afterwards. I assume that even when multiclassed, a character must abide by the more restrictive class. Given this, it seems like limiting a barbarian to druid weapons and armor is just a waste of fighting ability. This combo might be useful the other way around (a druid taking a few levels of barbarian), but in my case it seems silly.

Hmm... guess this is an observation more than a question.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

It's not actually as bad as it might seem. The more your damage is coming from bonuses (like high Strength and liberal application of Power Attack, for barbarians), the less you care about what your weapon's base damage is, as long as it's large enough to be wielded two-handed. You only lose an average of about 2 points of damage per hit by using spears instead of a greataxe or something.

 

[buzz]

You only lose an average of about 2 points of damage per hit by using spears instead of a greataxe or something.

Yeah, but hide armor blows. And then compensating for that by using a shield... and your two-hand bonus is out the window.

I'm starting to think that the druid weapon/armor restrictions need to be re-thought. It smacks of the "balance a rule with a role-playing restriction" concept that plagued 1e. (E.g., "Barbarians are massively powerful, but they're not supposed to use magic items, so it's okay.")

But I could just be bitter.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've prepared a backup character who is a barbarian/druid, for several reasons:

1. raging while in wildshape. yeah!
2. Buff self with barkskin, shillelagh on my quarterstaff/club and raging.
3. The whole shamanistic feel to it
4. Barbarian uncanny dodge means Dex bonus always counts (useful when in hide armour).

I think there are some nice synergies in there.

Another poster on these boards has a group of Barbarian/druids who sometimes take out those greataxes and get whuppin', knowing that they will have to undertake their purification rites afterwards...

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Bears that can cast Magic Fang on themselves and then Rage.

A Druid/Barbarian has some great potential.

Barbarian with a little Druid.

All the bonuses of being a burly fighter type. Granted you can only wear hide for medium armor. That just means you should go high on DEX, and stick with studded leather. Not much of a loss with your Uncanny Dodge. I also don't think it would be a stretch to add a great club or sythe to the weapons list, and now you have your two handed damage back. Shillelagh also covers this well for the important battles. Or, you can always go a little Ranger, too. Dual weilding Scimitars, anyone?

Some magic, including healing, The ability to navigate and sustain your selves in the wild, (with cantrips, no less), and some light damage spells.

Add that in with Fast Movement AND the ability to pass without a trace, and keeping your base speed even in rough terrain. And any bonus to a fighter types saves is a boon, even if it's only vs Fey. A decent skill list and you set.


A Druid with a little Barbarian.

A Druid that can kick ass.

Even a couple of levels will put you into the realm of four interative attacks, not to mention rage, fast move, uncanny dodge, and the best HD possible. The only thing I can see you lacking is a good REF save, and Lightning Reflexes and the above mentioned high DEX will help with that.

I've been toying with the same idea for a while. If only I weren't so attached to Jondor.

 

[Endur]

I guess it depends.

Do you want to play a barbarian that can wild shape? Or do you want to play a barbarian who is also a spell caster that can wild shape?

If you just want to be a wild-shaping Barbarian, there are several prestige classes that give you that ability.
Animal Lord from Masters of the Wild
Berserk from Dieties and Demigods
something else from Oriental Adventures

Of the three, Berserk from DDG is an awesome prestige class for Barbarians.

Tom

 

[buzz]

That just means you should go high on DEX, and stick with studded leather.

IIRC, studded leather is the one type of leather druids cannot wear. And are you saying stick your highest score in Dex? That would seem to diminish the usefullness of Rage.

"Okay, I rage."

"Allright. What's your Str bonus now?"

"+2!"

 

[zyzzyr]

I believe that the armor restriction is "any natural armor"

So you fashion platemail out of wood and cast "ironwood" on it.

Or hire someone to do same. I thought this was mentioned in the text, but maybe I saw it somewhere else.

 

[Saepiroth]

or play with speed-enhancing spells and throw Rhino Hide on the pile.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Bear Warrior, all the way baby!

A really interesting class from Oriental Adventures, that could probably slot right into a fantasy game (there is nothing that particularly marks it as 'oriental'). In fact, some middle earth conversions I've seen recommend the class for Beornings.

Alternatively, if the game is high level, you could try being a lycanthrope