Erythnul... The Half-Orc(or Orc?) Barbarian

[TheOddGoblin]

So, I've always loved the image of Erythnul as done by Wayne Reynolds, massively muscled brute carrying that brutal morningstar and charging mid-swing, wearing little to no armor at all.

In keeping with this "theme" I'm very much wanting to make a crazy barbarian character. I'd like him optimized to do fairly large amounts of damage but also wear very little armor or none at all but still be an effective character and not a glass cannon. Whether that means shrugging off attacks and ignoring them, or dipping levels to get maxed out AC, it doesn't quite matter to me. I'd ideally like to have a very large anount of health and use an Earthbreaker as his weapon of choice, maybe even a Large Earthbreaker for the sheer factor of using such a massive weapon. I don't mind eating a penalty to attack rolls, it should be compensated for by his huge strength and the amount of damage he'll deal when he hits.

We're starting our characters at 8th level with an 18, 16, 14, 14, 12, 12 attribute array before racial modifiers. So if you're making a mad barbarian dedicated to the worship of battle, how would you make him?

[Renegadeshepherd]

Same way I do any barb really... Invulnerable rager with superstition and come and get me. Armor on a barb is almost a non factor. For half orc take the normal sacred tattoo and fates favored combo. Get a 13 INT for fast learner so you can take favored class bonus of human to pump superstitious rage power. Then somewhere grab racial heritage (changeling) and mothers gift for spe resistance. Add in toughness and you should have D12+5 health per level without raging and DR on top of that. Heck maybe you can eventually cram in improved eldritch heritage for orc bloodline strength boost :)

So you are nearly immune or save on all spells, have top tier health, and are super strong. That enough for ya?

[blackbloodtroll]

Half-Orc Primalist Bloodrager with the Destined Bloodline, and Fate's Favored trait.

[Reg06]

I have a level 9 Invulnerable Rager Barbarian in PFS.
First level the stat spread was STR 20, DEX 14, CON 16, INT WIS CHA all 7. In his career he's never worn armor and I've never spent any resources on defensive features.

Feats;
Weapon Focus
Furious Focus
Power Attack
Improved Initiative
Reckless Rage
Improved Critical

Rage Powers;
Reckless Abandon
Increased Damage Reduction
Beast Totem, Lesser
Beast Totem (yes this gives AC, but it's just a requirement to get pounce)

The items that matter are the belt of giant strength a really good weapon (Vicious and Furious, in my case).

It's primary form of defense is killing the enemy before they can be a threat (high initiative and really strong hits). If that doesn't work, DR and a ton of HP have done the trick.

You can definitely have the hulking, muscled barbarian with no armor you want and still not be a glass cannon. Admittedly, the build I use is not a good idea, but he hasn't died yet.

[Thanael]

Erik Mona's Ostog the Unslain used the Barbarisn archetype that grants nat armor I think. Savage Warrior? Invulnerable fits better though.

[TheOddGoblin]

Are the Deathless feats worth taking on this sort of concept? I've never taken them before but it seems really fitting for a sort of "Oh gods, it will not die d" type of character.

[TheOddGoblin]

I'm debating a single level dip into Unbreakable Fighter. It's slightly lower health, but it would net me Endurance and Diehard both at 1st level, which makes the Deathless Initiate and it's successor feats a lot easier to pick up without having a massive feat sink. Thoughts on whether those feats are actually worth the investment?

[blackbloodtroll]

I don't think that's needed.

[Renegadeshepherd]

Unbreakable is a good dip but not for barb for two reasons. 1) unless you have an excellent method to heal yourself you didn't really change anything but one rounds worth of offense at best. If you have a life oracle on hand I might change my tune but then il be lead to number 2. 2). Ask yourself why did you lose all your health in the first place? Did you have no healer? Was the healer really bad? How did your foe deal out so much more damage than you did? Out of all these scenarios and more how did diehard really solve it?

[TheOddGoblin]

Definitely some relevant points, not even worth the feat-sink then. Makes sense. We have a "healer" our Warpriest, and a Bard who is joining our party as well, so I'm doubting I'll need it now that I think more on things.

[RumpinRufus]

TheOddGoblin wrote:

maybe even a Large Earthbreaker for the sheer factor of using such a massive weapon.

Keep in mind this requires dipping Titan Fighter.

[TheOddGoblin]

Right, which is why I decided to do away with that idea. I'm sticking to a more "traditional" damage and magic denial build for him.

Though since I plan on having him worship Gorum and have strong ties to Gorum's church(we have a Warpriest of Gorum in our party) I have been debating whether a small dip into a divine class would be worth it for this character to have something of a "raging templar" kind of feel added to him. I considered Oracle of Battle, or maybe a dip in Cleric or Inquisitor, but nothing really jumps out at me for this. Maybe it would be best off just sticking to straight Barbarian? I'd really like the divine touch thrown in there but I'm unsure of what would be a good way to go about it.

[RumpinRufus]

Have you seen the Rage Prophet prestige class?

[TheOddGoblin]

My only issue with that class is that from everything I've read about it, it seems to be very subpar in people's opinions. I haven't looked into the class much myself but seeing as I don't want the character to be much of a spellcaster but more of a martial brute, maybe it could be an option. I'll need advice on it but I would possibly consider the class if the benefits overall enhance the concept for the character.