So, in my upcoming Carrion Crown game, I have a character who wants to play a dwarf barbarian. This is a refreshing change for me, as most of my players are used to playing human, so I don't get a lot of racial diversity in my games.
However, in reading through the dwarf racial traits and the barbarian class features, I stumbled across something I'm not sure how to deal with.
The dwarf racial trait "Slow and Steady" reads: "Dwarves have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance."
However, the barbarian class feature "Fast Movement" reads: "A barbarian's land speed is faster than the norm for her race by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when she is wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor, and not carrying a heavy load. Apply this bonus before modifying the barbarian's speed because of any load carried or armor worn. This bonus stacks with any other bonuses to the barbarian's land speed."
So, I'm looking for clarification on how these two abilities interact with one another. Does the dwarf now have a base land speed of 30 feet, which is not modified by armor or encumbrance? Or does he lose the benefit of the barbarian's fast movement due to heavy armor or encumbrance, but then his dwarf base speed of 20 isn't penalized any further for being encumbered?
Any help on this matter will be much appreciated. :)
The base dwarf speed is a constant 20'. The barbarian speed boost has its own restrictions placed on it, to which it is subject regardless of race.
So, 30' in light or medium armor, 20' in heavy (or if carrying a heavy load).
My group always housruled that the Dwarfs "Slow but Steady" ability out-rules the restrictions on fastmovment. It is our House rule but we all like it and feel it makes sense. I say its a house rule but personally we feel it makes sense.
Nothing about slow and steady prevents a dwarf from using fast movement. A dwarf's base speed is 20, never modified by encumbranc/armor. Fast movement gives a 10ft bonus. The dwarf barbarians movement is 30ft. If the question is does a dwarf in heavy armor or carrying a heavy load move 30 ft or 20 feet the answer is 20. While a dwarf's base speed isn't affected by encumbrance, the wording of fast movement makes it clear that you would lose the benefit. Read the wording on slow and steady as base speed instead of speed and it makes it clear.