Advice for a sarissa reach barbarian (invulnerable rager, beast totem, superstition)?

[MorganS]

We're starting a new campaign today, so I thought it'd be fun to try out the new "sarissa" weapon (15' reach in a cone, i.e. 3 squares) with an invulnerable rager. We're all very experienced, so I could go with a DPR build, but I want this guy to be a tank / enabler for the other players, not a solo killing machine.

* I want reach weapons and AoO's to be the theme for the lower levels.
* We use Paizo books only, but we're very strict other than that.
* We've agreed that to drop and quick draw a weapon is legal after taking an AoO.
* I'm aware that carrying a sarissa indoors or underground will be pretty much impossible (it's ridiculously long), but the Quick Draw / AoO weapon swap tactic will let me switch from Bardiche to Greatsword too.

So here's my build plan through level 10:

Human - Quick Draw
1b1 - Combat Reflexes, Raging Vitality
2b2 - Power Attack
3b3 - Superstition
4b4 - STR, Reckless Abandon
5b5 - Lesser Beast Totem
6b6 - Witch Hunter
7b7 - Beast Totem
8b8 - STR, Unexpected Strike
9b9 - Bolstered Resilience
10b10 - Greater Beast Totem

This is my first barbarian, so I'm not sure where the balance lies in terms offensive vs defensive feats. Does this build strike a good balance between DPR and defense? Would it be more fun to pick up some intimidation abilities instead of Witch Hunter, Reckless Abandon, and Bolstered Resiliance???

[Game Master]

Sarissa? What book is that from?

[Magda Luckbender]

Great plan. Looks highly effective.

I have a nasty question, one that many established Pathfinder PCs would dread hearing.

How will your PC carry all those weapons?

Once you're high enough level to buy a 2000 gp Handy Haversack this problem is solved.

[Chess Pwn]

I'd switch beast totem and witch hunter. and I don't think you need bolstered Resilience, I don't have anything right now to replace. But other than that it's a nice standard barb build.

[MorganS]

Magda Luckbender wrote:

Great plan. Looks highly effective.

I have a nasty question, one that many established Pathfinder PCs would dread hearing.

How will your PC carry all those weapons?

Once you're high enough level to buy a 2000 gp Handy Haversack this problem is solved.

LOL! This is One of the first things we talked about! We didn't discuss it seriously, but my comment was that barbarians, like pick up trucks in the South, often have weapon racks mounted across their shoulders instead of pauldrons

[MorganS]

Game Master wrote:

Sarissa? What book is that from?

giant slayer's handbook

[MorganS]

If not the Beast Totem line... what? I can see that Beast Totem doesn't line up well with a reach / AoO theme...

[Chess Pwn]

I think you're talking to me, I meant take beast totem at 6 and witch hunter at 7 instead of the way you have it. I feel the extra AC is better earlier as I feel AC falls off the higher levels. And magic comes in as you level so waiting a level you'll still get good use out of it.

Another thing to look into is the abyssal bloodline rage power to let you self-enlarge once a day. My favorite though is the greater elemental air bloodline and gaining flying while raging. Nothing like getting reach from being above them, then they can never get to you and can't get away without provoking.

[MorganS]

Ah, yeah, taking Witch Hunter later makes sense, I agree. I'll check out those other bloodlines too. I'm not a fan of 1/day abilities, but the elemental air line up looks very much in line with this theme.