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Does this mean that I can get 24 hit points at level 1 when I use Rage? Since a Barbarian has 12 hit dice?
You get 2 extra hit points, since a 1st level barbarian has 1 hit die.
Also what does it mean when it says "are not lost first like temporary hit points." What's the point of being able to boost my hp if when I take damage I lose my normal hit points instead of my boosted hit points. Please explain that part.
You can keep fighting and not fall unconscious until your wounds exceed your boosted hit points. It would be a very good idea for the party cleric to heal you before you end your rage, if you've taken more damage than your normal hit points.
They are not temporary hit points, so those rules aren't relevant. You have more hit points while raging because your CON is higher.
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Hey all how are ya. The first game I played in Pathfinder I was a Sorceress but now I am switching to Barbarian since we are starting a new campaign. (Everyone died except me)
I have been reading the rulebook and am more experience now than before. I have a few questions.
I'll do my best
1)It states that when you Rage as a barbarian"While in rage, a barbarian gains a +4 morale bonus to her Strength and Constitution, as well as a +2 morale bonus on Will saves. In addition, she takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase to Constitution grants the barbarian 2 hit points per Hit Dice, but these disappear when the rage ends and are not lost first like temporary hit points."
Does this mean that I can get 24 hit points at level 1 when I use Rage? Since a Barbarian has 12 hit dice?
You get one hit dice at first level.
It is a 12-sided dice, but you only get one of them.So, at level 1 you get 2 hit points when you rage.
Also what does it mean when it says "are not lost first like temporary hit points." What's the point of being able to boost my hp if when I take damage I lose my normal hit points instead of my boosted hit points. Please explain that part.
You still have extra hit points, 2 extra!
The difference is that when your rage ends those bonus hit points go away.This can mean that you fall unconscious if you have not been healed before your rage ends (for example, if you have 14 hit points, and you get 2 more for raging 14+2=16. You can then take 15 points of damage and still be fighting. When your rage ends you'll lose those 2 bonus hit points and go to -1)
As for the rest.
You can play any race, all of those will make good barbarians.
Barbarians don't make great defensive characters because they can't use heavy armour. Most barbarians accept that, boost their constitution and use high hit points to absorb damage.
Trade off the +2 from the shield for extra damage from a two-handed weapon: if you have 18 strength you'll be doing an extra 2 points of damage from strength and your weapon damage will go up from d8 (longsword) to 2d6 (greatsword).
2d6+6 (2d6+9 when raging) will kill quicker than 1d8+4 (1d8+6 when raging) and things can't hurt you when they're dead. Having a minimum damage of 8 (10 when raging) means that most foes will drop in one shot at level one.
You can go for shield if it suits the character you want to play, but don't think that you need it for your barbarian to support the party. You are the primary damage dealer in that group and your job is to hurt things in the face.
With the druid's animal companion alongside you the rest of the party will have plenty of time and space to cast their spells.
Actually Combat Reflexes and Unexpected Strike, paired with Knockbak and Knockdown, help the barbarian on the tank side. Add strenght surge for the lulz.
don't forget that rage works on a number of rounds per day rather than just once per day for so many rounds at first level. you start with 4+ base con mod in rounds per day which makes raging last a bit longer than it used to.
also don't forget that you can add your favored class bonus to HP to help boost your HP.
Actually Combat Reflexes and Unexpected Strike, paired with Knockbak and Knockdown, help the barbarian on the tank side. Add strenght surge for the lulz.
Well traditionally the way I've viewed tanks is someone who can take a ton of punishment before going down. Not necessarily dealing a lot of damage.
However if the Barbarian is tailored more toward doing damage (which I've seen from posts) then that is another way of tanking as you say. I will try him out and see how good I can be with him.
I think I'll do alright as long as I save my rage toward the second half/end part of the final battle. Also to make sure not to fight too many enemies at once.
Yeah, I see your point. That said, I guess that what you said is why I love Barbarians :)
I guess that CaGM + the things above could be enough to stuck the enemy there and then beat him up faster (although it strongly depends from monsters nature and their tactics).
This thread gives me the idea for a Half Orc barbarian with a bite attack and a reach weapon. Have the mage-y guy cast Enlarge person on you as often as possible. Then you will be threatening a full 20 ft radius around you.
Who needs to tank when you can kill them before they even get close to hitting you?
(Just remembered that there is the rage talent that gives a bite attack, so I guess any race could do this. I did this with an NPC gnome in a campaign I ran; the players found the gnome barbarian rather creepy! A feral dwarf barbarian with a bite would be kinda cool too.)
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Actually Combat Reflexes and Unexpected Strike, paired with Knockbak and Knockdown, help the barbarian on the tank side. Add strenght surge for the lulz.
Well traditionally the way I've viewed tanks is someone who can take a ton of punishment before going down. Not necessarily dealing a lot of damage.
However if the Barbarian is tailored more toward doing damage (which I've seen from posts) then that is another way of tanking as you say. I will try him out and see how good I can be with him.
I think I'll do alright as long as I save my rage toward the second half/end part of the final battle. Also to make sure not to fight too many enemies at once.
Looking at your party mix
DruidCleric
Wizard/Sorcerer/Witch
Barbarian
???
You've got to have someone who will actually damage opponents:
Clerics can be useful in combat but there combination of poor weapon choices and primary stat wisdom puts them at a disadvantage.
Druids are poorly armoured and have limited weapon choices. They have an animal companion but even the big cat does not have a great hit bonus and you can only cast magic fang so many times.
Arcane casters don't do melee.
So, unless your undecided friend chooses melee you will need to be the one who actually kills the bad guys.
If you want to stop the enemy from moving around the battlefield (the MMORPG 'tank' role) then that's the job of the casters. At level one you've got grease, hypnotism, sleep, colour spray, cause fear, command, obscuring mist, entangle, faerie fire, summon monster and summon matures ally to control the battlefield with when you've got all of those casters.
don't forget that rage works on a number of rounds per day rather than just once per day for so many rounds at first level. you start with 4+ base con mod in rounds per day which makes raging last a bit longer than it used to.
also don't forget that you can add your favored class bonus to HP to help boost your HP.
I understand the first part. However once I activate rage I can't shut it off till it runs it course, right? Then I'm fatigued which means I must rest for 8 hours to get rid of the - penalties.
As for favored class, I understand that part. I'll just keep getting hit points when I level since it's just darn good.
Anyway this will be out second adventure and this time I will do my best to make sure we make it past level 2. We'll probably only gain a level per session anyways.
you can end your rage as a free action at any point after you start your rage. you don't have to use up all the rounds in one encounter. just remember that you are fatigued for a number of rounds equal to 2 times the number of rounds you were raging.
With a cleric and a druid in the party, You'll have some good healing available. There are some neat new things for the barbarian in the APG, so check it out.
I love barbarians. While people generally think the fighter is better, I've enjoyed every barbarian I've played. It's a fun class.
My group has a halfling barbarian that uses a scizor and raged bite. The lil' bugger has maxed his acrobatics and is a joy to see in battle.
Owner - D20 Hobbies
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1) Does this mean that I can get 24 hit points at level 1 when I use Rage? Since a Barbarian has 12 hit dice?
2) "are not lost first"
1) No, you have 1 HD. So you gain 2 hp (2 * 1) at 1st level.
2) They increase your total, and decrease when you go out of rage.
Example:
12 hp with CON 10
Rages = 14 HP
Takes 14 damage, is staggered.
Loses Rage, is now -2 and bleeding.