Foppin's page

Linda and I have looked at the issue, and it appears the mad dog archetype is something of an outlier, being the only barbarian archetype we could find that states it modifies rage without actually changing how the feature function (simply when it's accessed). At a glance, the list of incompatible but otherwise legal archetypes appears to include: Dreadnaught (Horror Adventures), Flesheater (Occult Adventures), Mooncursed (Horror Adventures), Primal Hunter (Ranged Tactics Toolbox), Savage Technologist (Technology Guide), and Urban Barbarian (Ultimate Combat).

We're looking strongly to declaring the unchained mad dog good to go with a few clarifications.

Much as I clarified in a blog discussion after Pathfinder Unchained released, the unchained mad dog barbarian should use the unchained barbarian rage rules in all respects that reference rage. I particular, I'm considering how an unchained mad dog with a badger animal companion would operate; with this clarification, the badger would have several rounds of unchained rage at its disposal, not two distinct pools of different, stackable rage.

An unchained mad dog barbarian would qualify for the ferocious beast and greater ferocious beast rage powers printed alongside the archetype. These are largely a variation on the ferocious mount and greater ferocious mount rage powers already available to the unchained barbarian.

An unchained mad dog barbarian's list of recommended rage powers does not provide access to other rage powers otherwise inaccessible to unchained barbarians (e.g. bestial leaper and reckless abandon). They're suggestions, not binding rules text.

Any concerns or questions about how this might operate or whether such would introduce contradictory complications or troubling precedents before we lock this in?

Thanks John!! I'm happy to be legal :-)

My assumption is that the choice of word 'operate' is to allow the greatest number of barbarian archetypes to be legal for use with the unchained barbarian, and to use good sense to determine what is compatible.

Mad Dog does not appear to change the way rage operates, and simply alters its availability in a way that is easily calculable with zero confusion. This is contrary to the urban barbarian archetype which changes the function of rage in such a way that it's obviously incompatible with the Unchained Barbarian.

To disallow a player option due to a dispute in the language that appears to contradict the developers intent feels like shaky ground to stand on unless we get some commentary from the team.

To those opposed to the Unchained Mad Dog, what would be the negative impact caused by someone sitting down at one of your tables with such a character? How would it's inclusion be detrimental to organized play, or to your play experience?

I'm glad that the Gm's I play with view it this way because I'd have died from "Sudden Rageless Death Syndrome" twice now.

John Compton wrote:

What are a few things that Dreng would need to do or contribute to in order to earn someone's respect—minus his appearing slightly more presentable?

How about wake us up in the middle of the night because you know...whatever is happening has to happen in the middle of the night. Or have us over for tea. Tea makes everything better.

I remember one adventure where Dreng invited us over to do paperwork. Thankfully the Blackrose Museum had an emergency so he graciously let us go hack and slash while he did the tedious paperwork. He has my eternal gratitude.

I named mine after my childhood dog....Doc

"Oh yeah, a charisma based dwarf and a halfling barbarian? Sit down at my table!"

*sits down* you asked for a halfling barbarian? Have greatsword will rage for gold.

Hmmm I asked butterfrog to do a portrait a few years ago.