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This is the first of a series of 2-level dips that I’m putting together that I refer to as ‘pre-classes’ rather than prestige classes, the idea being that they represent some sort of specialized schooling, training or expertise your character gained before becoming an adventurer. In this case, we’ll be using the Urban Barbarian/Invulnerable Rager paired archetypes.
The concept used in our campaign, though obviously you can change its origins in any way you wish, is a very specialized combat school designed to teach a oneness between mind and body. In this case, don’t think of Rage as a chaotic fury but rather as a deadly focus or combat trance, one that allows you to achieve feats that otherwise might be impossible, but can be very taxing to maintain.
The Focused Rage class feature of the Urban Barbarian offers tremendous versatility, allowing you to enhance your Strength, Dexterity or Constitution with no loss to your AC. Obviously this has many applications in combat – you can enhance your melee attacker’s strength and damage, your archer’s accuracy, reflex saves and armor class, your reach weapon wielder’s initiative and number of AoO’s and so on. That alone allows you to apply Focused Rage to a wide variety of martial classes. As a bonus, the Invulnerable Rager archetype gives you DR 1/- (DR 2/- vs. non-lethal) starting at 2nd level which can have a noticeable impact over time, particularly for lower level characters – it was the difference between living and dying in our recently completed Wormwood Mutiny AP. Flavored more as the ability to ignore or endure pain rather than having a toughened hide, it fits right in with the concept.
There’s more to the concept than Focused Rage however. Upon successfully graduating the school, you are emblazoned with a small runic tattoo, the symbol of the school. It can be placed on the temple, forehead, side of the neck, wrist, back of one’s hand or anywhere they wish whether obvious or concealed – it represents the final achievement of union between the mind and body and serves to allow those of the order to recognize one another… The tattoo also has a twofold benefit: the first is represented by the ‘Auspicious Tatto’ trait taken, granting a continuous +1 to Will saves, the second is represented by the Rage Power ‘Auspicious Mark’ which is a terribly under-valued option in my opinion. The power states that once per Rage as a swift action you can spend 2 rounds of Rage to gain an additional +1d6 to any d20 roll, and you can see the roll before you decide to use it. In combat that can be an attack or critical confirmation roll, but the uses beyond that are truly endless. Imagine needing to make that crucial save vs. poison – you ‘focus’ your mind and body, raging for 1 round and then flaring the mark with inner energy, raising your Constitution +4 (+2 Fort saves) and then adding use of the Rage Power for an additional +1d6 to the roll. What if you absolutely HAVE to make a stealth check to get by a sleeping dragon or an important climb or swim check or have to break a grapple by a man-eating plant before it drags you into its maw? In all cases you would be able to gain +1d6+2 to your roll when you need it most and would usually have access to the ability multiple times per day.
Regarding the limited rounds of Rage, the template requires taking the Trait ‘Berserker of the Society’ which grants an additional 3 rounds of Rage and the feat Extra Rage at 1st level which grants another 6. That means at 1st level with a 14 Constitution you would have 15 rounds of Rage at your disposal, 17 at 2nd level. That’s good for 2-3 combat encounters if you’re judicious in its use, or for multiple uses of Auspicious Mark power throughout the day. If you plan on continuing through the Barbarian class, those initial boosts aren’t necessarily required, but for my Lore Warden or my girlfriend’s Archer (for example), they are very necessary to get the full use out of this character.
So, after 2 levels, the combat school has given you:
The ability to Rage (as standard Rage) as well as the ability to focus your mind and body (as Focused Rage) in order to augment Strength, Dexterity or Constitution by +4 with no armor class penalty.
An inherent resistance to pain and a hardening of the body represented by 2d12 Hit Dice and permanent DR 1/- (DR 2/- vs non-lethal damage) as well as a more focused mind represented by +1 to Will saves.
Training in all simple and martial weapons as well as light armor and shields.
The ability to gain tremendous mental focus when needed most, adding +1d6 to any d20 roll as a swift action.
The training to use your enemies against one another, gaining a +1 to attack rolls and AC when adjacent to two or more enemies.
The basic template requires:
2 levels of Barbarian (choosing the Invulnerable Rager & Urban Barbarian archetypes)
The Extra Rage feat at 1st level.
The Auspicious Mark rage power at 2nd level.
The Berserker of the Society combat trait.
The Auspicious Tatto racial trait
After that initial investment, any martial class can be pursued which might make use of those benefits. We have used it successfully with reach-wielding Lore Wardens, Archers, switch-hitter Rangers (VERY effective for them), thug/scout style Rogues and even a couple of different Bards. For those of you who enjoy building characters, play around with this and see the benefits that can be gained for many different character types - and for you GM’s out there, the idea of making the pre-class a sort of specialized combat school has served as the inspiration for a number of plot hooks.
Very cool post. Flagged to be moved to Advice though, as that's what it is :)
Very cool post. Flagged to be moved to Advice though, as that's what it is :)
Heh - wasn't sure if that forum was just for the asking of advice or for the unsolicited offering of it as well...
That's where all the guides go :)
That's where all the guides go :)
Though apparently some go to the 'homebrew' forum even though the entire thing meticulously makes use of RAW.
Well, you did create a school!
Hm. Really thought there would be a bit more interest in this...