Reducing Damage and Hit Chance without AC

[Marc Rodin]

I'm making a Barbarian/Frenzied Berserker. The only problem is that while using Frenzy and Rage together, I get a -4 to AC. As such, I made the choice to ignore AC and look for other ways of reducing damage/not getting hit/getting health back. So far I have the invulnerable rager variant, Thick Skinned Feat from a 3.5 book the DM has approved (+2 to existing form of damage reduction), the Damage Reduction Rage Power, magic items for blur, a vampiric weapon (extra 1d6 damage which gets converted into health), and maybe a magic item for greater infernal healing. Any other suggestions?

[ub3r_n3rd]

I'd suggest going down the Beast Totem line, which nets you:
1) Lesser Beast Totem - Claws
2) Beast Totem - Natural Armor Bonus
3) Greater Beast Totem - Pounce

OR

Eldritch Heritage Feats: Draconic Bloodline - Nets you Claws, Resistance AND Natural Armor OR breath weapon, and Wings.

Not sure what Race you are, but I'd look into the half-orc because they have a lot of survivability due to some pretty sweet racial feats like Deathless Initiate, Deathless Master, Deathless Zealot, Ironhide (though I don't think this stacks with other NA bonuses), Fercoious Resolve, etc.

[Marc Rodin]

That wouldn't work as well as just using a 2 handed weapon. I already get an extra attack at my highest bonus while frenzied. I just need to take less damage.

[Reynard_the_fox]

Relying on DR and high hp is definitely your best bet. If you're lucky, you can get a friendly caster to cast Displacement on you.

There's a post about barbarian optimizing around here somewhere that shows how to turn a ridiculous amount of damage into nonlethal, and then ignore it; see if you can find it.

[Cyrad]

Have you considered reach weapons and Combat Reflexes? If they get near you, you cut them down.

[Glutton]

endurance-diehard-stalwart

add in crane style, 3 ranks in acrobatics, that's 4 Dr for -2 to hit. Level 11 you can take improved stalwart for DR 8. Stacks with DR given by class levels. Very feat intensive though, recommend either Unbreakable or unarmed fighter 1 level dips to ease it in.

[DrDeth]

Dodge and Wind Stance, for a 20% miss chance with ranged attacks if you move.

Blur does the same, talk to your spellcaster.

[Splitlip]

Ferocious tenacity from OoG was awesome. It got nerfed hard in ARG.

[Marc Rodin]

Thanks guys, but my feats are pretty set in stone for a while if I want to be a Frenzied Berserker. I'll look into the others for when I'm higher level. Any magic items to suggest?

[Thomas Long 175]

cloak of minor displacement? if you're comfortable on your saves that is. Permanent 20% miss chance is nothing to sneeze at.