Okay so we all love our fellow player and (surprisingly) character's frenzied berserker and we need to convert him to pathfinder.
As GM, I decided to convert the class not to 10lv, but rather to 5lv, some rage powers and feats because it didn't feel specialized and unique enough mechanic and flavour-wise to deserve a 10lv detour from the barbarian. Only the truly core and completely flavour-wise unique abilities of the frenzied berserker, the frenzy, are part of the PrC (even though the supreme power attack was previously a capstone ability).
I broke the power attack chain into feats (to nerf the otherwise ridiculous previous version of FB's attack powers and as a conversion), and likewise with cleave. To keep these feats from becoming a de facto choice of every melee class and unique to the barbarian flavor, I added the prerequisite of Must be able to enter a rage, and we feel there aren't many feat choices for the barbarian.
They could perhaps be considered as new rage powers aswell, though it would be strange for a rage power to require a feat in order to be used, and we have already come up with many rage powers.
I also added the ruinous rage power which is required to enter the class. Sorry for my poor English, it's my third language.
Ruinous rage (Ex)
Once per rage, the barbarian can add his barbarian level to a strength check made to break an object, or to the damage dealt to an object. You must decide wether to use this power or not before the attack roll or CM is made.
Great power attack (Ex)
Prerequisites:Base attack bonus +7, Power attack, Must be able to enter a rage.
Benefits: When using power attack, the barbarian can opt to take a penalty higher than the usual -1 per +4 base attack bonus, up to -1 per +2 attack bonus.
Supreme power attack (Ex)
Prerequisites:Base attack bonus +13, Great Power attack, Must be able to enter a rage.
Benefits: When using power attack or great power attack, the barbarian increases the bonus gained to damage by 50% of the original amount.
Supreme cleave (Ex)
Prerequisites:Base attack bonus +9, Great cleave, Must be able to enter a rage.
Benefits: When raging, as part of a full attack action the barbarian can use cleave once per round.
The random madness of the thunderstorm and the unpredictability of the slaadi come together in the soul of the frenzied berserker. Unlike most other characters, they do not fight to achieve a heroic goal or defeat a loathsome villain. Those are mere excuses -- it is the thrill of combat that draws them. For the frenzied berserker, the insanity of battle is like an addictive drug -- they must constantly seek out more conflict to feed their craving for battle. Because of their traditional love for battle, Barbarians are the ones who most frequently adopt this prestige class. Spellcasting characters almost never become frenzied berserkers.
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +8
Feats: Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Toughness, Diehard
Special: Ruinous rage and Howling rage rage powers.
Class Features
Hit die: d12
Proficiencies: None
Skill points: 2 + Int modifier
Class skills: Intimidate, Jump, Survival, Swim
Base attack bonus progression: High
Good saving throws: Fortitude
Lv Special
1 Frenzy
2 Deathless frenzy
3 Inspire frenzy
4 Bonus Combat Feat
5 Greater frenzy
Frenzy (Ex): At 1st-level Frenzied Berserker gains the ability to frenzy. Frenzy adds a +4 bonus to Strength, imposes a -2 penalty to AC, and gives the Frenzied Berserker a single extra attack at her highest Base Attack Bonus (this does not stack with haste or other effects that add an additional attack). Also, each round of frenzy, the character takes 4 points of subdual damage and uses a round of rage use per day. At the end of a frenzy, the character is fatigued for twice the number of rounds she spent in a frenzy.
Furthermore, the frenzied berserker must make a will save (DC 20) to stop her frenzy before she spends her daily allotment of rage rounds and if hit, she must make a will save (DC= damage taken during the round) to avoid entering a frenzy. When in a frenzy the character must attack at the best of her abilities.
Levels of frenzied berserker stack with barbarian levels for purposes of determining the number of rounds a barbarian can rage per day.
Deathless Frenzy (Ex): At 2nd level, when the Frenzied Berserker is under the effects of Frenzy, she will keep on fightning until she is brought to a negative hit point score equal to her class level multiplied by her constitution score.
Inspire Frenzy (Ex): At 3rd level, the Frenzied Berserker can inspire a Frenzy in all her allies. Inspire Frenzy grants an effect identical to the Frenzied Berserker's Frenzy, and each round the berserker maintains this ability, she spends 2 rounds of her daily rage allotment.
Bonus combat feat: At 4th level, the Frenzied Berserker gains a bonus combat feat.
Greater Frenzy (Su?): At 5th level, the Frenzied Berserker gains a +8 bonus to Strength while under Frenzy instead of a +4. When making a full attack action, she can also make an extra attack that round at her highest attack bonus. This effect is not cumulative with any other effect granting an extra attack such as haste or a speed weapon.
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The only time we ever had a Frenzied Berzerker in our group was a new PC who started at 10th level. He failed saves in his first combat and was attacking everyone on both sides doing crazy damage. All healers were too scared to get close enough to heal him and he went into negative hit points. He killed everyone on the other side then went to turn on us but we all went and flew out of his reach(thanks wizard!). He finally made his save and dropped out of the frenzy.....at -218hp. He dissipated into a fine mist of blood.
I don't see anywhere in your frenzy ability where the Berzerker would attack allies. Is that an omission or did you purposely remove that part of the ability?
The only time we ever had a Frenzied Berzerker in our group was a new PC who started at 10th level. He failed saves in his first combat and was attacking everyone on both sides doing crazy damage. All healers were too scared to get close enough to heal him and he went into negative hit points. He killed everyone on the other side then went to turn on us but we all went and flew out of his reach(thanks wizard!). He finally made his save and dropped out of the frenzy.....at -218hp. He dissipated into a fine mist of blood.
That's part of the fun =)!!
I don't see anywhere in your frenzy ability where the Berzerker would attack allies. Is that an omission or did you purposely remove that part of the ability?
2nd paragraph, 3rd line: 'When in a frenzy the character must attack at the best of her abilities'.
Now, yeah, he cannot attack stones or trees, but I cannot word it as living targets 'cos it would exclude constructs, undead, etc, gotta find a more proper wording.
Isn't there an existing rage power that grants Barbarian level to damage? Why make something even MORE limited than that one?
Why not just use that one in place of the proposed one?
{I'm not opposed to rage powers, but MAN ... making a new one that's even MORE limited than existing ones??? They got enough abuse from the Beta to the final release. They don't need another marginalized ability on top of it.}
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I don't see anywhere in your frenzy ability where the Berzerker would attack allies. Is that an omission or did you purposely remove that part of the ability?
2nd paragraph, 3rd line: 'When in a frenzy the character must attack at the best of her abilities'.
Now, yeah, he cannot attack stones or trees, but I cannot word it as living targets 'cos it would exclude constructs, undead, etc, gotta find a more proper wording.
'Creatures' seems to sum up all the above, living/undead/constructs, etc.
How about;
"When in a frenzy the character must attempt to engage in melee, with at least one creature, if at all possible.
If all enemies in charge range are dead or unconscious, a frenzied character must attempt to engage allied creatures in melee, attacking at the best of her abilities, as if that creature were an enemy.
If all creatures in charge range are dead or unconscious, the frenzied character must attempt to move at maximum speed toward the nearest creature (enemy or ally), in an attempt to initiate a new melee.
If no potential targets can be sensed, a frenzied character will go on a search for new targets, stopping at least once per round, to vent his fury by attacking inanimate objects or the ground itself.
The GM is within his rights to overrule any declared actions, which he/she deems to constitute a player pulling their punches, even to the point of (in egregious cases) running that character as an NPC."
This prevents the player opting out of fighting his fellow PCs by repeatedly beating a corpse, or running past easy targets in favour of a speck on the horizon. It prevents them making move and single attack vs party tank, while ignoring possible full attack on unarmoured ally within 5 feet.
And the last sentence heads off the inevitable toys-out-of-the-pram protests from the Player-Entitlement Brigade ('The DM can never limit the player's wishes'), by being a drawback they explicitly sign up to.
Isn't there an existing rage power that grants Barbarian level to damage? Why make something even MORE limited than that one?
the power you're talking about is basically +1 every 4 levels, this one is more limited because it's +1 per level (4 times stronger) mechanic-wise and flavour-wise to smash stuff around.
Thank you, Snorter, let's update that!
edit: except that I cannot find the edit button on my first post hmm strange :l
Isn't there an existing rage power that grants Barbarian level to damage? Why make something even MORE limited than that one?the power you're talking about is basically +1 every 4 levels, this one is more limited because it's +1 per level (4 times stronger) mechanic-wise and flavour-wise to smash stuff around.
Thank you, Snorter, let's update that!
edit: except that I cannot find the edit button on my first post hmm strange :l
After about an hour you cannot go back and edit a post. You can "reply" to your original post, copy it, back out/cancel the reply and then use the copy+paste to provide your original post so that you can edit it as desired.
thanks...
Any other feedback about this? balanced? overpowered? underwhelming?
Anything you'd change?
I've always liked the beserk from dieties and Demigods more but still an interesting concept.
How about;"When in a frenzy the character must attempt to engage in melee, with at least one creature, if at all possible.
If all enemies in charge range are dead or unconscious, a frenzied character must attempt to engage allied creatures in melee, attacking at the best of her abilities, as if that creature were an enemy.
If all creatures in charge range are dead or unconscious, the frenzied character must attempt to move at maximum speed toward the nearest creature (enemy or ally), in an attempt to initiate a new melee.
If no potential targets can be sensed, a frenzied character will go on a search for new targets, stopping at least once per round, to vent his fury by attacking inanimate objects or the ground itself.
The GM is within his rights to overrule any declared actions, which he/she deems to constitute a player pulling their punches, even to the point of (in egregious cases) running that character as an NPC."This prevents the player opting out of fighting his fellow PCs by repeatedly beating a corpse, or running past easy targets in favour of a speck on the horizon. It prevents them making move and single attack vs party tank, while ignoring possible full attack on unarmoured ally within 5 feet.
And the last sentence heads off the inevitable toys-out-of-the-pram protests from the Player-Entitlement Brigade ('The DM can never limit the player's wishes'), by being a drawback they explicitly sign up to.
I wouldn't limit it to enemies first. A frenzied berserker loses the ability to tell friend from foe, they will attack the nearest creature. Allies should know this and stay the hell away from them.
Isn't there an existing rage power that grants Barbarian level to damage? Why make something even MORE limited than that one?the power you're talking about is basically +1 every 4 levels, this one is more limited because it's +1 per level (4 times stronger) mechanic-wise and flavour-wise to smash stuff around.
Thank you, Snorter, let's update that!
edit: except that I cannot find the edit button on my first post hmm strange :l
Whoops! My bad ... I was thinking of Beta's original design with the same power. In that case, go right ahead with this one!
I like the class honestly, and shortening it to a 5 level progression is just about fine. Why, though, separate out the 4th level with a "bonus" feat? why not just make it a 4 level PrC? It's not like there isn't a precedent for much shorter PrC's already? There are 3 level PrC's out there ... you could just by-pass the level 4 thing, and raise the 5 to 4 and leave it as a 4-level PrC period.
I did it in 5 because 5 levels seemed "pretty" to me :p. Then I had an empty level so i filled it with a bonus feat as a vestige from the power attack/cleave things.
Heck maybe I could smash it in 3 levels, the 3rd one beign my deathless frenzy version, the semi-haste thing and +6 to strength. Sounds a bit too powerful though. Though there seems to be nothing wrong with 4 levels, it just looks "uncomfy" to me.
Any other feedback?
Lol! Well, since it's aesthetics, why not bring in one of the other class options you dropped instead of a bland Feat?
Why not toss on Supreme Power Attack or something like that into the mix? {modified for PF PA rules now, though}
Also, why'd you tone down the frenzy boons? And why the bump in BAB from 6 to 8?
On a 'clarification' front, the old frenzy could be combined (all penalties and bonuses) with a rage at the same time. A line or three explaining the combo here would be pretty helpful, IMO, for clarification purposes.
Well tone it down and go for a 3 level class.
The last level capstone would be the 5th level frenzy ability combined with deathless frenzy, thus needing to be tonned down.
And idk bout the BAB jump :p.