So basically, outside of some specific barbarian archetypes (invulnerable rager, urban barbarian, mounted fury), there doesn't seem to be much reason to play a barbarian over a bloodrager. You can still get the good rage powers, so all you miss out on is a little HP (of which you already have tons). What you trade for it is way better anyway.
I agree but want to add 2 more reasons to play a Barbarian:
-Extra Rage Power: Unlike a Primalist Bloodrager you can Pick Rage Powers for feats if you want lots of those.
-The Barbarian can dump Charisma freeing up precious points to start with better physical stats
(This is strictly from a mechanic standpoint. If you don't want to cast spells, play a Barbarian)
I suspect the arcane bloodline trumps any rage power except maybe pounce.
At lev 4 rage gets blur, protection vs arrows, energy protection or spider climb and at lev 8 haste or displacement selectable at start of any rage anew without any additional cost in any way.
Only at lev 16 its a bit stupid for both beastshape and form of the dragon do not go well with the + 5 falchion and transformation has disadvantage and might give little bonus.
For higher levels other bloodlines probably better.
Unless you're going for Sunder Barbarian, Mounted Barbarian, or any other build that's not built around pounce - of which there are plenty. The Arcane Bloodline is definitely great, but let's not forget all the amazing things a Barbarian can do that a Bloodrager just can't keep up with without Rage Powers.
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I'm amazed no one has focused more heavily on the Bloodline feats that only the Bloodrager has. In many instances, these are feats that would be taken anyway (particularly with Arcane), thus giving the bloodrager a two-feat advantage by level 9. This is huge.
It is also worth noting that the Arcane-bloddlined Bloodrager has what the Barbarian does not, a decent defense. Resist energy on starting a rage is golden, and displacement is the king of non-AC defenses. Need Haste? You can do it yourself without missing a beat.
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Ah bloodrager vs. barbarian, the eternal question.
So some will say to gust go bloodrager, no question, as spells are a pretty heavy boost to a class's abilities.
However, there are some other things to consider.
Firstly, bloodragers (except the primalist, which is banned in some venues and by some GMs) don't get rage powers. A lot of rage powers are very nice, and while a bloodrager gets bloodline powers, they are fewer and farther between (plus, you can get even more if, as a barbarain, you spend feats to get even more.) Plus, there are some rage powers that are REALLY good (like the one that lets you rage while fatigued)
Secondly: Barbarians have more versatility in their setup. Remember, as a bloodrager, to cast spells, you NEED to have at least one hand free. This basically relegates you to fighting with a two-handed weapon. Now, I KNOW most Barbarians also do this, but it isn't the only way. An unchained barbarian can actually do really well two-weapon fighting (especially because they can get pounce), and a Armored Juggernaut could conceivably fight with a sword-and-board setup.
Thirdly: Barbarians don't need charisma, bloodragers should have at least 11 (probably more) in order to cast their spells. A common tactic for barbarians is to dump charisma down to 7 to buff their strength and con. That gives Barbarians a slight edge in the physical stats department.
Now, Bloodragers get access to spells at level four, which is huge and shouldn't be understated, but they don't exactly become wizards. Their spell list is basically a series of buffs and damage spells, but unlike a Magus they can't deliver spells through their weapons or spellcombat, so 9 times out of 10, they are just better off attacking. The truly nasty spells, the save-or-suck, battlefiled control, and debuff-removers they generally don't get, making spells not quite as appealing as one might think.
Now, I don't want to throw bloodragers under the bus here, they are a strong class. It's just that they aren't 100% purely better than barbarians. Up to you if you want to play, essentially, a straight up fighting class, or a fighter who looses some versatility but gets a limited set of spells.
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Yep.
Bloodragers get spells and Bloodline Powers. These are good.
Barbarians get Rage Powers and can dump Charisma. This is also good.
If the Bloodrager gets the Primalist Archetype, he can get Rage Powers, but not the Extra Rage Power Feat, or the Human FCB to Superstition. And the Barbarian can go Invulnerable Rager to get much more substantial DR as well.
Now, Bloodragers get access to spells at level four, which is huge and shouldn't be understated, but they don't exactly become wizards. Their spell list is basically a series of buffs and damage spells, but unlike a Magus they can't deliver spells through their weapons or spellcombat, so 9 times out of 10, they are just better off attacking. The truly nasty spells, the save-or-suck, battlefiled control, and debuff-removers they generally don't get, making spells not quite as appealing as one might think.
Actually, Bloodragers do get an archetype that lets them cast a spell as a swift action after they've punched or combat maneuvered someone called the Blood Conduit.
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Now, Bloodragers get access to spells at level four, which is huge and shouldn't be understated, but they don't exactly become wizards. Their spell list is basically a series of buffs and damage spells, but unlike a Magus they can't deliver spells through their weapons or spellcombat, so 9 times out of 10, they are just better off attacking. The truly nasty spells, the save-or-suck, battlefiled control, and debuff-removers they generally don't get, making spells not quite as appealing as one might think.Actually, Bloodragers do get an archetype that lets them cast a spell as a swift action after they've punched or combat maneuvered someone called the Blood Conduit.
Buy a Spell Storing Weapon/Armor.
Load it on Off days to get +1 spell on adventuring days. Then Reload it between fights.
has anything changed on this topic the last year or so?
has anything changed on this topic the last year or so?
no? bloodragers still cast magic and barbs don't.
was thinking of options that would make one more interesting then the other
Shadow and Shapeshifter bloodlines expand the bloodrager concept range a little. There are some more rage powers which you might like. There's nothing definitive on either side though.