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I DM for a regular Friday night group; we've been gaming together almost 11 years now. We're comfortable with each other, we understand each other styles, and know what each other brings to the table. I'm a story teller; not a tactical gamer, and my combats sometimes suffers for this. We have a mix of power gamers (it's just a term; lets say optimizer?) and folks that just show up for the draft beer, and ask what dice they roll each time. Good buncha folks.
We switched to Pathfinder around two years ago; the current campaign is set in Ptolus using Pathfinder, everyone is currently 11th level. When the casual gamers started to complain that the optimizers were outshining them; the ones with the optimized characters offered to nerf themselves. I said no; and asked them to help the others with optimization. Re-organize a few feats, optimize the builds, etc. Make the others cooler, I said. Last Friday when a ranger crit an opponent for over 100 damage on a single arrow, I started thinking I might have allowed it to be overdone.
Can I get some input on a build here? At 11th level this Orc can rage for 27 rounds a day (so he's just always in a rage), crit threats on a 15-20, and has four attacks per round (speed weapon). Thats a potential max of 136 around NOT critting. Anything he can't single round can't be hit by almost anyone else, so it's a little harder to balance challenges.
Big thing here is; is the build legit, is anything combined incorrectly, or something I am missing? I've dumped the stat block out of Hero Lab; let me know if anything relevant is missing.
Male Half-Orc Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager) 11
CN Medium Humanoid (orc)
Init +3; Senses Darkvision; Perception +16
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Defense
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AC 15, touch 8, flat-footed 12 (+7 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 205 (11d12+88)
Fort +15, Ref +7, Will +9
DR 14/lethal, 7/all, Resist fire 2, Extreme Endurance (Fire)
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Offense
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Speed 50 ft.
Vengence: +2 Falchion with Speed
Melee Vengence +24/+24/+19/+14 (2d4+26/15-20/x2)
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Statistics
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Str 22/30, Dex 16, Con 16/24, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 10
Base Atk +11; CMB +21; CMD 29
Feats:
Cleave
Improved Critical (Falchion)
Power Attack -3/+6
Raging Vitality
Toughness +11
Weapon Focus (Falchion)
Traits Brute (APG), Killer
Skills Acrobatics +16, Climb +22, Escape Artist +2, Fly +2, Intimidate +16, Knowledge (local) +12, Perception +16, Ride +7, Sense Motive +3, Stealth +5, Survival +11, Swim +14
SQ Fast Movement +10, Increase Damage Reduction, Increase Damage Reduction, Orc Ferocity (1/day), Quick Reflexes, Rage (27 rounds/day), Reckless Abandon (+/-3), Renewed Vigor 2d8+7 HP (1/day)
Combat Gear +1 Sonic Resistance Mithral Breastplate, Leather, Vengence; Other Gear Backpack (empty), Belt of Giant Strength, +2, Boots of Striding and Springing, Cloak of Resistance, +1
He is not asking how to counter the build, he is asking if it is acceptable.
As far as the build goes, I am not much for playing barbarians. That said it looks like an acceptable build to me. Low AC is countered by DR, lots of variable attacks. One thing he might considering taking is combat reflexes due to his high move speed and frequently being surrounded on his next round.
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The only thing that really jumps out to me is that his stats are a bit high. To me it looks like he has a 42 point buy. Depending on what the other players have this could be one reason (unless you've given out tomes in which case it could be lower).
If you normalize the stats, he's still going to hit hard and be accurate. It's a full bab two hander build. I agree with Riuken, spread out the enemies, use terrain to make things harder, throw in some battle field control aspects. If you make things harder on the barbarian it could let the others shine more, or it could hamper them as well so ymmv.
And if all else fails, get the barbarian on a dominate person.
I was looking for feedback on the build being legit; but will take advice on how to properly challenge it... I don't want to shut anyone down, and don't want to deny him from doing The Awesome... He should have to work for it though; and without putting things in the combat only he can touch.. or would one-round other players.
It wasn't a point buy; it was an ill-advised 4d6 drop low and build as you see fit. He rolled pretty well... although I think he rolled UNTIL he rolled pretty well....:)
You can make the monsters harder and adjust. The problem with power agmers is that they make non power gamers feel worthless. Adjust the challenges. As long as each party memeber has a time to shine it will be rgeat. If they are level 11 you do not have to put them against level 11 challenges look for 15 level challeneges.
I have pit my unstoppable barbarian against an illusion and had him waste several rounds before he realized it. Invisivle is 50% miss chance. Ability damage is a quick way to shut him down as well. Soem stealthed shadows have the potential to pin him to the ground by the weight of his armor.
YTou were smart in letting the other players balance it out. Another thing you could do is give the weaker characters more magical items as well. You are the DM you can balance things however you want.