Glass Cannon

[MDCityNIGHT]

I love the idea of the barbarian archetype "Titan Mauler" but I see a few problems with it in terms of dual wielding two, two handed melee weapons. I have used some of the skills from the Titan Mauler archetype to create my new archetype called Glass Cannon. I hope you enjoy and send me your feedback! :D

Barbarian Archetype: Glass Cannon

Two-Weapon Fighting
At 1st level, a glass cannon learns Two-Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat. This ability replaces fast movement.

Jotungrip (Ex)
At 2nd level, a glass cannon may choose to wield a two-handed melee weapon in one hand with a –2 penalty to AC for each two-handed melee weapon. It is treated as a one-handed weapon when determining the effect of Power Attack, Strength bonus to damage, and the like. This ability replaces uncanny dodge.

Light as a feather (Ex)
At 4th level, a glass cannon may learn a special rage power. A glass cannon becomes so powerful that even the largest weapons feel light as a feather. While raging, two-handed melee weapons are considered to be light weapons. This ability replaces trap sense.

Massive Weapons (Ex)
At 5th level, a glass cannon becomes skilled in the use of massive weapons looted from her titanic foes. The attack roll penalty for using weapons too large for her size is reduced by 1, and this reduction increases by 1 for every three levels beyond 3rd (to a minimum of 0). This ability replaces improved uncanny dodge.

[downerbeautiful]

Honestly, I see a potential area for abuse with "Light as a Feather." Also, it's not worded as explicitly as possible. Are these two-handed melee weapons weapons that are in the two-handed category, or are they weapons the character wields with two hands? Given Jotungrip's verbiage I'm not so sure.

Anyway, I see abuse with certain finessable/agile feats and qualities. It seems that whenever people can get their light, one-handed piercing weapon on, they do. If that's acceptable according to your archetype, you should make that more obvious. If it's not, I don't walk away with that impression.

[MDCityNIGHT]

I honestly don't see what you mean by, "Also, it's not worded as explicitly as possible. Are these two-handed melee weapons weapons that are in the two-handed category, or are they weapons the character wields with two hands? Given Jotungrip's verbiage I'm not so sure."

[downerbeautiful]

MDCityNIGHT wrote:

I honestly don't see what you mean by, "Also, it's not worded as explicitly as possible. Are these two-handed melee weapons weapons that are in the two-handed category, or are they weapons the character wields with two hands? Given Jotungrip's verbiage I'm not so sure."

I mean, for the proposes of Light as a Feather, would a character applying Jotungrip two his two harpoons get to finesse them, too?

Jotungrip doesn't actually change the size category of the weapon wielded, so by your archetype can the glass cannon have an agile harpoon in each hand and efficiently use them in combat?

[MDCityNIGHT]

downerbeautiful wrote:

MDCityNIGHT wrote:

I honestly don't see what you mean by, "Also, it's not worded as explicitly as possible. Are these two-handed melee weapons weapons that are in the two-handed category, or are they weapons the character wields with two hands? Given Jotungrip's verbiage I'm not so sure."

I mean, for the proposes of Light as a Feather, would a character applying Jotungrip two his two harpoons get to finesse them, too?

Jotungrip doesn't actually change the size category of the weapon wielded, so by your archetype can the glass cannon have an agile harpoon in each hand and efficiently use them in combat?

Ok I understand what you mean. This was not intended but since you will still receive the AC reduction for wielding a weapon with two hands I don't see why it would be more beneficial to use to hands to wield a one handed heavy weapon in both hands rather than have two, two handed weapons in each hand.

[Sowde Da'aro]

and the term "glass cannon" is used more for wizards then barbarians
Definition of Glass connon:
In short: he can dish it out, but he can't take it. Similar to (but distinct from) the Fragile Speedster, the Glass Cannon is characterized by insane attack power coupled with pathetic defensive ability.

[downerbeautiful]

Sowde Da'aro wrote:

insane attack power coupled with pathetic defensive ability.

And a barbarian isn't this incarnate? Rage, power attack, reckless abandon, max medium armor prof., charging. Those all add up to a low AC; the aforementioned penalties coupled with the -2 to AC for each two-handed weapon make this character something that potentially hits for a lot at the cost of his AC.

[Marthkus]

Pounce line gives barbar nat AC

superstition line gives barbar more some other kind of AC

In short, NO. Barbars tends to have more AC than fighters along with having better saves AND are immune to sneak attacks.

[downerbeautiful]

Marthkus wrote:

Pounce line gives barbar nat AC

superstition line gives barbar more some other kind of AC

In short, NO. Barbars tends to have more AC than fighters along with having better saves AND are immune to sneak attacks.

And still I have yet to meet a raging barbarian with a double-digit AC.

[MDCityNIGHT]

downerbeautiful wrote:

Marthkus wrote:

Pounce line gives barbar nat AC

superstition line gives barbar more some other kind of AC

In short, NO. Barbars tends to have more AC than fighters along with having better saves AND are immune to sneak attacks.

And still I have yet to meet a raging barbarian with a double-digit AC.

I have to agree with you here. They don't even start off with heavy armor proficiency

[Claxon]

Barbarians while not possessed of particularly high AC, do have very high HP while raging.

A glass cannon is someone that cannot take a (or at least many) hits. The barbarian gets hit, but between his DR, d12 hit die, and con mod he doesn't care.