My first Barbarian


Advice


I am playing my first barbarian and would like advice on how to make him effective in combat, having a decent AC, and ways to help his terrible will save. I don't mind a bad reflex save if I can improve my will save.

Here is what I have so far:

I have picked Half-Orc as my race for a bonus to intimidate and Orc Ferocity. Have an 18 Str 18 Con, 14 Dex, 12 Cha, 10 Wis & Int.

I was thinking of adding additional ability scores at 4th and 8th into CON so I can get: more HP, rage rounds, and FORT save.

I want to be able to sunder weapons, perhaps armor. Though how do I overcome all those armor HP with a DR 10 on metal objects? I see the Smasher rage power from the Advanced Players Guide would help this, but should I invest a rage power for this?

I like the rage ability Ground Breaker from the Advanced Players Guide, and would use it with the Combat Reflexes feat to get more attacks of opportunity. Or, should I just forget this and use the Cleave feat to get extra attacks?

I like the Clear Mind rage power to help me with will saves.

I like the Intimidating Glare rage power, with my bonus to intimidate as a half-orc. I picked this to offset my reduced AC while raging.

Suggestions?

Scarab Sages

I'm not a fan of sunder, since you can end up destroying the party's treasure. If that's your thing, go for it, but I can't offer any advice since I don't use it.

I offer one suggestion, especially since you're already a half-orc character. Look into getting the Eldritch Heritage feat line for the orc bloodline. For the cost of two feats, you'll have another rage-like power, one that mostly stacks with barbarian rage. A third feat brings a nice inherent bonus to Str (+2 at 9th, +4 at 13th, +6 at 17th). The last feat gives giant size (another +6 Str and +4 Con) for quite a long time each day. Not too shabby for a raging barbarian.

Liberty's Edge

Anias wrote:
I am playing my first barbarian and would like advice on how to make him effective in combat, having a decent AC, and ways to help his terrible will save. I don't mind a bad reflex save if I can improve my will save.

Well, the best save enhancer Barbarians have (Will Saves included) is Superstition. A wonderful and effective Rage Power that you should acquire post-haste.

It's down side is inconvenient, but not as mch as you might think since it doesn't apply to Channel Energy, Lay on Hands, or Potions. Or when not Raging.

If you're using Traits, Indomitable Faith is also potentially worth it. And there is the never-to-be-forgotten +2 Will Save bonus you get just for Raging.

Anias wrote:

Here is what I have so far:

I have picked Half-Orc as my race for a bonus to intimidate and Orc Ferocity. Have an 18 Str 18 Con, 14 Dex, 12 Cha, 10 Wis & Int.

Well, switching that 12 to Wis would help out on those Will saves you mention.

Anias wrote:
I was thinking of adding additional ability scores at 4th and 8th into CON so I can get: more HP, rage rounds, and FORT save.

Your Ability score bumps should always go into Strengh. Con is wonderful for Barbarians, but Strength is much more wonderful. If you want more Con, get the Raging Vitality Feat (an awesome Feat that gives you an additional +2 Con while Raging, among other things).

Anias wrote:
I want to be able to sunder weapons, perhaps armor. Though how do I overcome all those armor HP with a DR 10 on metal objects? I see the Smasher rage power from the Advanced Players Guide would help this, but should I invest a rage power for this?

Sunder can be fun. It's really only a one feat cost to be good at, too (since you're going to have Power attack anyway). I wouldn't invest a Rage Power in Smasher, though.

If you go that route, take a look at Spell Sunder in Ultimate Combat. It's cool, espeially combined with Strength Surge...though that combo is a bit Rage Power intensive and only works once per combat. You might easily not want to put the investment in...but it's very nice for a dedicated mage-killer.

Anias wrote:
I like the rage ability Ground Breaker from the Advanced Players Guide, and would use it with the Combat Reflexes feat to get more attacks of opportunity. Or, should I just forget this and use the Cleave feat to get extra attacks?

Cleave is just bad, mechanically. If you want Attacks of Opportunity up the wazoo, grab Come and Get Me...but be aware that it's going to hurt. A lot. And not be available till 12th level.

Or, at lower levels, just use a Reach Weapon and Armor Spikes. Or grab the Step Up feat. Or both of the above. :)

Anias wrote:
I like the Clear Mind rage power to help me with will saves.

Clear Mind is strictly worse than Superstition, which I highly reccomend.

Anias wrote:

I like the Intimidating Glare rage power, with my bonus to intimidate as a half-orc. I picked this to offset my reduced AC while raging.

Suggestions?

Eh. It only works on one opponent, there are better AC enhancers.

My favorite Rage Power AC enhancer is Beast Totem. It doesn't kick in until 6th level (and does have a prerquisite of debaqtable use), but it grants a flat +2 Natural Armor bonus even then, and only goes up from there (topping off at +6). It's also the prerequisite for Greater Beast Totem, which grants Pounce. An advantage not to be sniffed at, and one of the best ways to get as many attacks as possible (though not till 10th level).

For your character, my Rage Power list would probably be something like this:

2: Superstition
4: Lesser Beast Totem
6: Beast Totem
8: Whatever you like.
10: Greater Beast Totem

If you also want the spell sunder stuff, a Feat or two in Extra Rage Power will give it to you.

Feat wise? Maybe something like this:

1: Power Attack
3: Improved Sunder (if you really wanna do this regularly) or Furious Focus if you don't.
5: Raging Vitality
7: Maybe Extra Rage Power.

The Exchange

Raging vitality will net u 1 to ur fort saves but for barbarians the HP doesn't seem to be as big a deal u likely have more than anyone else anyways. How about destroyers blessing instead ifu want to sunder. And trade out orc ferocity for gatecrasher for +2 to sunder attempts


Lesser Beast Totem is not of debatable use. The two claw attacks are extremely useful in those situations where your weapon isn't useable, swallowed whole, in a grapple, disarmed. I played a beast totem barbarian and got plenty of use out of those claws.

Liberty's Edge

Talynonyx wrote:
Lesser Beast Totem is not of debatable use. The two claw attacks are extremely useful in those situations where your weapon isn't useable, swallowed whole, in a grapple, disarmed. I played a beast totem barbarian and got plenty of use out of those claws.

I'm a personal fan, too, but they aren't a lot more useful than just having a back-up weapon or two on your person for emergencies. A bit nastier, yes, but probably not worth it for a weapon focused barbarian on their own. Of course, as the prerequisite to the other Beast Totem stuff, they're eminently worth it and potentially a lot of fun.


Intimidating glare is a good rage power. espcially from levels one to five, since you can not full attack. that move action can result in a -2 in the saving trhows of the enemy, the wizard/sorc/witch in your party will love you.

At later levels it usefullnes is decreased, but is a prerequisite to take Terryfying howl, wich can be very useful, especially combined with cornugon smash.


Nice advice. I think I'll give up sunder and focus on the howling barbarian, and beast totem. I'll also use the invulnerable barbarian build. This should be fun to play in combat, and will have intimidate to use during roleplaying. I'll also keep putting my ability scores into strength.

Where is Cornugon Smash?


Deadmanwalking wrote:

Well, the best save enhancer Barbarians have (Will Saves included) is Superstition. A wonderful and effective Rage Power that you should acquire post-haste.

Raging provides a +2 morale bonus to Will saves. Supertition provides a +2 morale bonus on saving throws made to resist spells, supernatural abilities, and spell-like abilities. This bonus increases by +1 for every 4 levels the barbarian has attained. This means that it doesn't stack.

Also, while raging, the barbarian cannot be a willing target of any spell and must make saving throws to resist all spells, even those cast by allies.

Why would this not apply to potions?


Anias wrote:
Where is Cornugon Smash?

Cornugon Smash is here: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/cornugon-smash-combat

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