What is peoples opinions on the Mad Dog Barbarian?


Advice


So, I found this fun looking archetype and started wondering what peoples opinions on it is, You basicaly get a worse Rage in exchange for a Animal Companion that can drag enemies over to you!


Animal Companions are cool and thematic, but it doesn't make sense that a ball of pure rage can handle an animal.

Animal Companions also fall off if you ever hit higher levels, when the Barbarian should be getting deadly with his rage. Rage powers can be incredibly more powerful than just the normal bonuses to rage.


The Mad Dog gets a full animal companion from level 1, But dosent get Rage untill level 4, And gets I think half as many rage powers.. Not sure.. He gets less rage powers.


I experimented once with a build that consisted of a Ragebred Skinwalker Mad Dog with a Rhinoceros Animal Companion. On later levels give them the Rage Power "Boar's Charge" and "Disembowling Tusks" and let the animal do Auto crit + no save Con Damage Charges.

Optimally the Barbarian does something to move the target away, like drag, bull rush, Reposition. So that the Rhino can really Charge every round.


It seems like it'd be really good at 1st level if you pick the right animal companion, peak at level 4-7 or so, and from there get steadily worse.


PK the Dragon wrote:
It seems like it'd be really good at 1st level if you pick the right animal companion, peak at level 4-7 or so, and from there get steadily worse.

At least animal companions are not as bad as they are in 5th edition.


Animal Companions arent very good..? Aww.. Seems like a fun archetype though, A mighty barbarian with his loved pet wolf that fetches enemies that bother team mates so the barbarian can whack them! ^_^


Not at all. Animal Companions are quite strong early on, at least if you pick the right ones (Cats, Dinosaurs in general, Rocs are the obvious ones). They just have an early peak. The early levels should actually be really impressive as you get two martials for the price of one. Animal Companions do fall off, but you still have a solid Barbarian with less class features and delayed rage, and you should still have enough Rage powers to do the whole pounce thing. Level 7 will also be impressive as you AC gets a buff, and then after that is when you start running into problems, but it should still be perfectly playable.

Mammoth Rider in theory could help with the upper levels, and would be fun to try with this class, but the size of the animal companions (and limit of AC choice) make this hard to pull off. But if you do, it'll be legendary!


I think it's kinda weak, but harmless... I'd allow it without any problem.


Looks acceptably competent if it matches your character concept. Animal companions can be great or almost useless depending on your campaign.

And of course, this opens up a raging tiger pounce with a lancer barbarian riding it build...

And I find it flavorful.

Scarab Sages

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DM Livgin wrote:


And of course, this opens up a raging tiger pounce with a lancer barbarian riding it build...

And I find it flavorful.

I had never thought of it before, but it's a great way to make He-man and Battle Cat.


Just for fun(well might use him for a one shot) I made a Tiefling Mad Dog Barbarian with a Skitter Goat companion because goats are awesome! Plus the tiefling has cloven feet and gets horns so he's kinda goaty. ;)

Anyways, 25 point build...no items as of yet. Did I do the natural attacks right if he's full attacking? Shown with and without power attack. Claws are from Tiefling racial abilities. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. :)

Male Tiefling, Pitborn Barbarian 9
N medium humanoid
Init +2 Senses Darkvision (60), Low-Light Vision Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 10, touch 10, flat-footed 8
hp 138
Fort 11 Reflex 5 Will 5
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft
Melee

Claw +15 / +15 (1d4+6/x2), Fiend Totem Gore +15 (1d8+6/x2), Animal Fury Bite +10 (1d4+3/x2)

or (with Power attack)

Claw +12 / +12 (1d4+12/x2), Fiend Totem Gore +12 (1d8+12/x2), Animal Fury Bite +7 (1d4+6/x2)

Special Attacks Rage
Space 5 Reach 5
STATISTICS
STR 22 DEX 14 CON 20 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 14
BAB 9 CMB 15 CMD 25
Feats Power Attack, Grasping Tail, Extra Rage Power, Extra Rage, Extra Rage


Two words: War Swan.

And if you want to drop the feats on top as well, you can also have a (Mauler) War Chicken.


Roc animal companion. Enough said, you just got flying for half your rage powers as well as a competent combat buddy. A dip into hunter as a half orc to get amplified rage is also amazing.


Three Feats (Nature Soul + Animal Ally + Boon Companion) gives a Barbarian a full Animal Companion.

The Mad Dog loses 5 Rage Powers over the course of his career and cannot be an Invulnerable Rager. So at later levels the Archetype loses out.

You could also play a Mounted Fury, which pays less for a more restricted pet. If you are an Orc/Half-Orc with the Beast Rider Feat you can add dinosuars to your list, if not there is still the monstrous mount feat.

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