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Either this is a legitimate question or troll-bait (do a search on barbarians and you'll understand why I'm saying this), so I'll first respond with the answer that you should start getting used to:
"Make a Fighter"
I'm really not kidding. If damage is the only thing you're going for, fighter is where you should be spending your efforts, not barbarian. If on the other hand you want to do more than just swing your weapon about, and you like having skills and other fun things at your fingertips, this is a build I helped my girlfriend with for PFS:
Human Barbarian 10/Fighter 2 (sorry, if your campaign is going to 20 you're on your own)
STR - 18
DEX - 14
CON - 15
INT - 8
WIS - 8
CHA - 12
Barbarian for levels 1-2, Fighter at 3, Barbarians at 4-6, Fighter at 7, Barbarian there on out. This build gives you a couple extra feats without killing your barbarian abilities and turns of rage. The gimick is twofold. First, you get to play the quintessential low int, low wis barbarian. Secondly, the CHA of 12 turns you into an intimidation machine. I don't have the specific feat/rage power list with me, but you're looking at powers like intimidating stare, dazzling display, and the like (your goal is to keep things panicked/shaken), as well as toughness and putting every preferred class point in HP (you're talking 28 HP at level 2). Finally, take power attack around level 3 or so and then with the fighter level at 7 lets you take vital strike, which becomes critical to the whole build.
Ideal? No, but man she's been having fun with it.
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I have to entirely agree with Mister Slanky on the fighter bit. Barbarian is on the low end for melee damage after level 4. If you really want the rage, 2 levels of barbarian mixed in with the fighter gets you more power. Just make sure to take extra rage.
The barbarian's strength is in things that are not damage. Amusingly, he is the best tactical beast in the game. No other class can bull rush as an AoO at reach, so you can combine it with a guisarm and combat reflexes to make one of the best trippers in the game by bull rushing them when they provoke an AoO standing. Add in the ability to add their level to a str check 1 per rage with strength surge and the free AoO against people entering your threatened area and you are good to go.
Animal fury makes them one of the best grapplers in the game. They get free extra damage each round and are rolling with bigger bonuses thanks to rage and the +2. Strength surge is also great here.
The intimidation build aslo works very well, but is best if you have some friends. A bard or rogue stack with you very nicely after lvl 8-9, when you set the rogue up with shattered defenses and make the bard's Dirge of Doom into a pannic with terrifying howl. Its also a lot of fun to debuff people by showing them the spike through your tongue.
Hope these ideas help spark some interest. People keep looking at the barbarian and wondering why it sucks. I say it doesn't suck, but its focus shifted to where they aren't looking. The fighter took its old focus.
Yes yes, caineach, we know you're in love with barbarians and think they're the bees knees. Let's not let this devolve into another "but fighters are better" argument (because they are :P).
Caineach does give some good starting ideas though. Barbarians do make good grapplers, probably the best around save a druid in a form with grab.
Put your best scores in Str and Con, obviously. Dex can be important depending on your style, but I'm going to assume giant brutal masher archetype who hates magic and gets angry when you call him Lumpy. Dump your mental stats, but try not to go below 10 because they can become useful. Take survival and acrobatics as skills, and perception and stealth.
I'm personally in love with the Superstition rage power. I think it adds a good flavor and is fairly powerful unto itself. Dispite not upping damage, I strongly suggest you take Iron Will. Even with a meh wisdom (MAYBE 12) you'll have a very decent will save between Superstition, rage, and Iron Will. You'll need it.
Try to get Mithril breastplate, and as for weapons go Falchion or maybe Greataxe. You just don't get as much out of trying to specialize in a weapon as a fighter does that's his thing, your thing is you can make anything deadly. Absolutely pick up imp unarmed strike, improved and maybe greater grapple, razor sharp chairleg maybe. Imp Bull Rush ain't bad either, but don't miss mainstays like Power Attack and Cleave. Fighter may do better single target damage, but you can be the mook murderer with a falchion and great cleave. Don't get improved crit, but instead pick up critical focus since it works with all weapons. You can always buy a scabbard of keen edges.
My only question is...
Pathfinder Feats/Prestige Classes only? Because Leaping Goliath Barbarian/Frenzied Berserkers could deal obscene damage in 3.5... if your DM is allowing 3.x feats, Prestige Classes and Races, that may be viable. If not, erm... listen to what they're telling you. *Points to above posts*
My only question is...
Pathfinder Feats/Prestige Classes only? Because Leaping Goliath Barbarian/Frenzied Berserkers could deal obscene damage in 3.5... if your DM is allowing 3.x feats, Prestige Classes and Races, that may be viable. If not, erm... listen to what they're telling you. *Points to above posts*
Fair enough, I guess I assumed PF only. Otherwise frenzied berserker is obnoxious. Take the reckless rage feat (I think it's a feat) for another +2 str and -2 AC when raging. 11bbn/9Fbz gets like +18 str when rage/frenzying. Which is just...retarded.
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Wow, that just reminded me of something that might be scary. Wasn't there a minitures handbook prestige class that basically gave you strength every level instead of an attack bonus?
War hulk or War hammer or something like that...
That might be super-viable with the new vital strike stuff. You only swing once. But you only have to swing once.
War Hulk. Yeh, they get +2 Str every level...and no BAB.
Definetely good from 16th lvl on (assuming full BAB), but otherwise, meh.
+1 for Fighter tho. Unless you've got a specific build in mind, tripper, grappler, sunderer, etc. fighter>barbarian. If max damage is your objective, then go straight fighter, get Quick Draw and ruin the DM's day as an archer. Anything comes close, falchion to the head.
btw, if 3.5 is allowed, Lion Totem ACF from CChampion is a must. Pounce + full BAB + Power Attack = win.
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To a large extent they are right; though in fairness the barbarian can be more effective at low levels, where rage bonus gives them the best to hit/damage out there.
The one good barb build I've seen involved dazzling display + the power that makes enimies panicked, pending a will save 10 + 1/2 level + Str. At 8th level you can pretty much tap dazzling display (a solid debuff); then the next turn give them a DC 22-23 will save to avoid running. And that's all enemies within 30 feet. Fighters can't do that; even wizards have difficulty getting saves so high (or do such an effect).
But sadly, that's the only way I've seen to build a good barb. At low levels your high damage output will rule the day, at high levels demons will flee out of fear from your battle prowess.
Starting a new campign as a player after years of DM-ing only... so I wondered if any of you min-maxers out there could help me build a human barbarian from 1st level upwards... feat choices advice, etc.
I want a melee hard-hitter with everything geared towards inflicting as much damage as possible!
I'm playing a dwarf barbarian, imo it can't be as good as a fighter in a 1 vs 1 battle, but it is quite good (if not the best) when many creatures try to attack you, Uncanny Dodge is prolly its more powerfull feature. When others get flanked by rogues or overwhelmed by many creatures you can manage quite well.
If you want to rage as much as possible and without fear to instant-death (when/if your hp bonus goes away), I would check those feats:
-Diehard (you become staggered instead of inconscious, but Endurance is a prerequisite)
-Extra rage
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If you want a stupid powerful build that is so easy no one can mess it up all you need to do is...
1. Have your DM approve of allowing you to use races/PrC from the Eberron Campaign setting.
2. Race = shifter, Barbarian 5, Weartouch Master 5 (Bear), Frenzied Bezerker 1.
What does this do for you at level 11?
use three free actions, Rage, Frenzy and then shift in your hybrid bear form, you get +26 Strength +2 Dexterity and +12 Constitution. +13 to hit +19 to damage... Your feats will be eaten getting pre-reqs, but that is why we have flaws :).
start with an 18 Str, by level 11 you will have 20, throw in a belt lets say it is only +4, then get all the above going (all three acts are a free action), you are at a whopping 50 strength... 50 STRENGTH!!! At this point you can headbutt things to death.
Starting a new campign as a player after years of DM-ing only... so I wondered if any of you min-maxers out there could help me build a human barbarian from 1st level upwards... feat choices advice, etc.
I want a melee hard-hitter with everything geared towards inflicting as much damage as possible!
So... I think we need a few answers on what your limitations are for the campaign. Pathfinder only? Races allowed? Etc...
As others have said, if 3.5 is open, then NOTHING is scarier than a Frenzied Berserker. Golieths are a fun race, especially with Mountain Rage as a alternate class feature.
I could also make a case for a Shifter (eberron race)/Barbarian/WarShaper/FrenziedBerserker. Shifting while raging, with frenzy active, you'd have reach, immunity to crits, and fast healing.
2. Race = shifter, Barbarian 5, Weartouch Master 5 (Bear), Frenzied Bezerker 1.
What's a 'Weartouch Master'? Which book is that again? Do you mean Bear Warrior?
What's a 'Weartouch Master'? Which book is that again? Do you mean Bear Warrior?
2. Race = shifter, Barbarian 5, Weartouch Master 5 (Bear), Frenzied Bezerker 1.
The Weretouched Master is a PrC from the Eberron Campaign Setting.
Cheers. I'm not allowed that one. Damn.
question:
If you take take "roused anger" as a rage power, would that allow you to use certain rage abilities twice in a combat?
For example:
Strength Surge can only be used once per rage. However, in a combat you can rage, use strength surge, then end your rage. You'll be fatigued...but roused anger allows you to rage again, even if you are fatigued.
Does that mean you can use strength surge again? Ending and starting your rage are two free actions. So...
Round 1: You rage (free action) move and grapple someone using strength surge.
Round 2: End your rage (free action) Rage again (roused anger free action) Pin your opponent using strength surge.
Would that work? Only drawback is you will be exhausted, but hopefully all the baddies will be dead.
Yes, imo, everytime you enter in rage it is a new rage (otherwise you could enter in rage even fatigued if you were raging a while ago). As you pointed out you need a special ability to do so (and you may take some penalties).
You can't do so using the "Moment of clarity" rage power, as it doesn't end the rage.Furthermore, Roused Anger becomes useless when you get the "Timeless rage" feature at barbarian level 17.
Another way to go is Bbn3/Sor3(Draconic bloodline)/Dragon Disciple4/EK10. If you start with an 18 STR, +6 enhancement, +5 inherent, +5 levels, +2 racial, +4 rage +4 from Dragon Disciple and +6 size from casting Giant Form that's 50 str or 20 modifier. As a Large giant (say Fire Giant) you can wield a large Falchion for 2d6+30 base damage. With power attack (BAB 17)and a +5 weapon that's +37 to hit and 2d6+50 damage.
Starting a new campign as a player after years of DM-ing only... so I wondered if any of you min-maxers out there could help me build a human barbarian from 1st level upwards... feat choices advice, etc.
I want a melee hard-hitter with everything geared towards inflicting as much damage as possible!
Why don't you do some of the work there, Carl? I'd be happy to help you tweak a build you've already got and give you some pointers, but I'm not going to build something for you. No free lunches!
While it looks like this posting got a reasonable number of responses, you may find in the future a couple of curmudgeon-y holdouts like myself respond a WHOLE lot nicer if there's some indication of effort on the part of the OP.
What do you want? A melee hard-hitter is pretty much any barbarian, so I'd say, "play a barbarian!" if that's your criteria. Do you want a particular style? Do you have any other requirements beyond being human? What's the stat-line of the game? Anticipated style of GMing and play? Any particular weapon styles/combat options you'd like to explore?
Otherwise, I'd say grab your favorite two handed weapon, power attack, and cleave and have fun slicing heads.