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Scent is pretty cool. Superstition is a potentially very good call, though one with a distinct downside. Strength Surge is a great utility power, and solid for any combat maneuver at need if you grab the Lunge Feat. No Escape is potentially quite fun.
Once you can get it, Increased Damage Reduction is great. As is Fearless Rage.
In terms of Feats, you obviously want Power Attack, and might eventually want Heavy Armor Proficiency to wear Mithral full Plate. Plus Lunge as mentioned above, and Diehard is also actually a really good Feat (albeit one with a prerequisite) since it can keep from dying when you go unconscious (by keeping you from going unconscious). Other Feats depend on your Rage Powers and fighting style. I'd likely go Power Attack and Endurance at 1st, Diehard at 3rd, whatever you like at 5th, and Lunge at 7th.
Stat-wise, I'd probably go Str 16+2 Dex 14 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 12 Cha 7. That lets you mess with Barbarian stereotypes by being bright, while still being pretty close to optimal.
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I'd personally go without the heavy armor proficiency. Go with a mithral breastplate instead. You can get it earlier, your movement stays at 40 rather than 30, and it ends up costing about 6000 gold less. Honestly, get a +2 on the breastplate and an amulet of natural armor or ring of deflection +1 and it ends up costing about the same amount, but doesn't take a feat or reduce your speed.
I was talking at really high levels, not any time early. And I said 'maybe'. :)
Raging Vitality is a good feat to pick up, too. It requires a 15 CON, but hopefully you have that with a 20 point buy.
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Raging Vitality is a good feat to pick up, too. It requires a 15 CON, but hopefully you have that with a 20 point buy.
Raging Vitality is not in the corebook. Hence my recommendation of Diehard.
I would not take superstitious myself. Without hte non core rage powers and feats (raging vitality for example) that patch the barbarian other defenses superstitious is more like a trap.
It's still a large bonus, and Diehard does help...but yeah, there are dangers there.
In regards to superstitious, this may not be the most optimal path, but if you combine it with moment of clarity, then maybe. Of course, that wastes a rage round, your teammate needs to be in position, so yeah.
It's definitely a balancing act. If avoiding Superstition, Iron Will may be a good Feat to consider.
What about powerful blow, is that worth it?
No, it isn't. +1-3 damage on one attack once per combat? That's awful.
You can dip 1 level of cleric with Community Domain to get rid of fatigue 3 times a day at 10 wis.
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Diehard is a definite. I'm considering a 1 lvl dip in ranger for endurance as well as the slight boost to my reflex save.
Ranger doesn't actually give you Endurance until level 3 in Pathfinder.
Ok, then I will strike powerful blow off the list.
Good call.
If the community domain is in the core book (don't have in front of me), then that would be very tempting. However, I don't see my character having spellcasting as a roleplay thing.
It takes a Standard action to do...so combined with the thematic elements I wouldn't take it. It is in the corebook, though.
I am curious about renewed vigor. At first glance, it doesn't seem to scale well, and the amount healed just doesn't seem to be worth it for 12 HD class. Am I missing something?
You're correct, it scales poorly.
Also, What about unexpected strike?
Eh...at one extra attack per combat, it's a bit lackluster.