Hello guys,
Since we're short on players, we're gonna be playing a 2 man campaign, but each player will play 2 characters.
I'm planning on making my Wizard the main roleplayed one, but we need meatshield, damage frontliner and a threat.
Everyone knows fighter suck, so my first idea was a Barbarian.
But in all honestly, I've never played a full BAB class. I always stick to Druid, Cleric and Rogue.
I always felt that besides rolling a d20 you can't do much to help the party (I know I can roleplay, I mean by doing things like scouting, spells to help, that sort of things).
I have an idea in mind, but I don't know how to put it into feats/skills.
I would REALLY like to play a small race barbarian, but core races aren't optimal for this (and I usually like to stick to core races to avoid op races), so I'd love to play a beautiful raging dwarf who is extremely resilient to spells (they have the race feat for +4 to spells) and love killing things, and of course, making it pretty clear that he wants to clear those things.
If possible, I'd like a feat to make people attack me (not really a taunt), through intimidate or being extremely rude.
And of course, Combat Reflexes.
I want to make enemies PAY for ignoring me.
I guess I'm looking at a build like this>
CON > STR > DEX > WIS > INT > CHA
I looked into the Armored Hulk, but besides Heavy Armor I don't get much that seems interesting, might as well take a dip into fighter and gain 1 feat + HAP
Can you Paizo's Messageboard help me?
P.D= I know there's a thing called Rage-cycling and I don't mind it much, I'm used to keep track of many things, so that is not a problem.
At level 12, you get access to either Come and Get Me (stock barbarian) or Taunting Stance (unchained). Both powers basically are +4 to get hit, +4 to damage you take ... and you get an AoO against whoeever's taking a swing at you. And yours goes first.
Traditionally STR is a higher emphasis than CON, too.
Another way to get attention is to get a reach weapon. Lucerne hammer + armour spikes = lots of squares you don't want to just walk through.
So far, out of combat, my Barbarian's doing a few things too. She's the only one with Survival, so any tracking goes to her. Climb and Swim aren't emphases, but between the Strength mod, and the class skill bonus, guess who gets sent up the cliffs? (Of course you're also putting a rank in Perception.) Knowledge (Nature) can be handy too.
Aside from those, nothing else is coming to my mind. Yet.
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So what exactly is rage cycling and is that still a thing in the Unchained barb?
Barbarian Core has a lot of 1 Rage Power. People would exit a rage, and enter again (it's a free action) and find a way to avoid the Fatigued condition through items, dip in other classes.
Honestly, I'm already playing a Wizard, and I'm going to play an Unchained Barbarian.
From what I can see it's heavily nerfed compared to Barbarian core, but I don't wanna deal with HP going down like crazy because of Core Rage works.
I almost feel like making a Fighter, because I don't get much and there are no guides to help!
Also, I don't wanna be a Superstitious Barbarian, I don't like how it works
I'm going with this. I'm looking for something simple to use:
Dwarf with Favored Class +1HP
STR 16
DEX 14
CON 18
INT 10
WIS 11
CHA 5
Feats
1-Power Attack
3-Combat Reflexes
5-Quickdraw
7-Lunge
Powers
2- Accurate Stance
4- Undecided > Possibly Swift Foot
6- Renewed Vitality
About this:
Scent (Ex): The barbarian gains the scent ability. She can use this ability to locate unseen foes.
Someone explain me why would this be useful! It's completely useless in combat. Yes, you can know someone is there, but that's it, you can't target them because Scent doesn't have pinpoint.
My whole idea is the following >
Reach weapon that I'll be using to get lots of AoO. Improved familiar from Wizard is going to cast Enlarge Person on first round of combat, so I'll be getting a nice range on my AoO.
If enemy comes close I can just drop 2H Reach and start attacking with 2H melee.
If I'm already Large (and they're not) I can always 5 foot and keep attacking.
I know Enlarge Person gives me 1 less AoO, but I can always take Quick Reflexes as my 4th power.Any enemy approaching me that is farther than 10 feet will cause an AoO and I'll have 4 in normal size and 3 as Large creatures.
My AC will never be high, I'm a barbarian, but this build allows me to fight even without Raging (though being Large) and be ready for almost anything that enters my reach.
I will also have tons of HP, we're talking of a possible +6/level at level 7 with a belt of Con, so I can offset my low AC.
Weapon wise it can be a little expensive, but Greater Magic Weapon is always there to be cast by buying a pearl of power for my divine caster.
I was thinking about this, what do you guys think:
Invulnerable Rager lvl 7
STR 17 + 1 4th level
DEX 14
CON 14 + 2
INT 10
WIS 11 + 2 +1 8th level
CHA 7 - 2
Feats
1-Power Attaack
3-Combat Reflexes
5-Quickdraw
7-Lunge
Powers
2- Accurate Stance
4- Quick Reflexes
6- Renewed Vitality
Longhammer, dwarven > Reach 2d6
Greatsword > 2d6
Breastplate 400
Greatsword +1 Furious 8050
Longhammer, dwarven +1 2070
Belt of giant strength +2 4000
Shirt, Quick Runner's 1000
Slippers, Feather Step 2000
Cape of Resistance +2 4000
CLW x4 200
MW Longbow, composite (+4) 800
Do you think Lunge is a good feat? What about Quick Reflexes? I tried searching for a better power but honestly I couldn't find any.
Thought about Elemental Resistance, but in all honestly can be resolved by Resist Energy. All the other good powers are level +8th
Rage Power Scent gives you a big bonus to figure out which square a invis (can't see) creature is in.
Creatures that can't be seen have a nasty habit of taking 5 foot steps after attacking and you then have a poor chance to figure where they moved too.
Feat: Quickdraw is a poor choice. It almost never comes into play as you can draw a weapon as part of a move action...if you don't have it out already.
There's a pretty good guild for Invulnerable Ragers if you click on the Guide to the Guides link that's stickied at top of the advice column. Go to the very bottom of the first post for the correct link for guides.
Sadly all the guides are for Core Barbarian. I don't feel like playing one and managing the HP with all the +CON and then dropping HP.
That's why I'm going Unchained, I just want something simplier, hoping someday someone will make a guide.
Quick Draw is there because I'm using Reach Weapons, if someone closes the distance and attacks me at melee, I wanna be able to drop my weapon, quick draw a melee one and full attack. Sadly, I can't do this without Quick Draw.
I could take a 5ft step and full attack, true, but my Reach weapon is mostly used for getting a few extra attacks and forcing the enemy to get close to me; if the enemy has more reach than I do, then I can take 5ft steps while getting closer (avoiding AoO), use lunge to keep doing damage, and once I'm close, Rage and use my main weapon.
My idea is to maximize attacks, forcing enemies to come to me and raging when they do so.
Rage Power Scent gives you a big bonus to figure out which square a invis (can't see) creature is in.
Creatures that can't be seen have a nasty habit of taking 5 foot steps after attacking and you then have a poor chance to figure where they moved too.
Feat: Quickdraw is a poor choice. It almost never comes into play as you can draw a weapon as part of a move action...if you don't have it out already.
There's a pretty good guild for Invulnerable Ragers if you click on the Guide to the Guides link that's stickied at top of the advice column. Go to the very bottom of the first post for the correct link for guides.
Sadly all the guides are for Core Barbarian. I don't feel like playing one and managing the HP with all the +CON and then dropping HP.
That's why I'm going Unchained, I just want something simplier, hoping someday someone will make a guide.
Quick Draw is there because I'm using Reach Weapons, if someone closes the distance and attacks me at melee, I wanna be able to drop my weapon, quick draw a melee one and full attack. Sadly, I can't do this without Quick Draw.
I could take a 5ft step and full attack, true, but my Reach weapon is mostly used for getting a few extra attacks and forcing the enemy to get close to me; if the enemy has more reach than I do, then I can take 5ft steps while getting closer (avoiding AoO), use lunge to keep doing damage, and once I'm close, Rage and use my main weapon.
My idea is to maximize attacks, forcing enemies to come to me and raging when they do so.
I'd suggest dropping the greatsword and going with armour spikes (and putting furious on the hammer). You're still getting your STR bonus to damage with them and you still threaten. And it's perfectly legal to take a hand off the longhammer and slug an enemy. This mitigates the whole quick draw issue (and lets you keep a long hammer to hit stuff far away). The damage difference from the greatsword (average 7 + 4 for Str) and armour spikes (3.5 + 3) is 11 vs 6.5 ... it is a bit of a drop but I think it leaves your options more open.
Plus when you kill that guy who got close, don't you want to get your hammer back quickly?
As far as Scent? It does pinpoint within 5'. Whether you find this useful is your decision but I'm wishing I could stick it on my barbarian as a feat instead. Even though my current plan leaves ONE open feat between now and 11th level. Bah.
That 400gp breastplate looks agile. Maybe soup it up a little too? Masterwork is just 150.
Before I suggest again to scrap the greatsword ... which weapon do you WANT to use more? Given you're seeing this guy as something to hide behind, I was thinking you'd want the reach weapon as primary ...
I'd suggest dropping the greatsword and going with armour spikes (and putting furious on the hammer). You're still getting your STR bonus to damage with them and you still threaten. And it's perfectly legal to take a hand off the longhammer and slug an enemy. This mitigates the whole quick draw issue (and lets you keep a long hammer to hit stuff far away). The damage difference from the greatsword (average 7 + 4 for Str) and armour...Rage Power Scent gives you a big bonus to figure out which square a invis (can't see) creature is in.
Creatures that can't be seen have a nasty habit of taking 5 foot steps after attacking and you then have a poor chance to figure where they moved too.
Feat: Quickdraw is a poor choice. It almost never comes into play as you can draw a weapon as part of a move action...if you don't have it out already.
There's a pretty good guild for Invulnerable Ragers if you click on the Guide to the Guides link that's stickied at top of the advice column. Go to the very bottom of the first post for the correct link for guides.
Sadly all the guides are for Core Barbarian. I don't feel like playing one and managing the HP with all the +CON and then dropping HP.
That's why I'm going Unchained, I just want something simplier, hoping someday someone will make a guide.
Quick Draw is there because I'm using Reach Weapons, if someone closes the distance and attacks me at melee, I wanna be able to drop my weapon, quick draw a melee one and full attack. Sadly, I can't do this without Quick Draw.
I could take a 5ft step and full attack, true, but my Reach weapon is mostly used for getting a few extra attacks and forcing the enemy to get close to me; if the enemy has more reach than I do, then I can take 5ft steps while getting closer (avoiding AoO), use lunge to keep doing damage, and once I'm close, Rage and use my main weapon.
My idea is to maximize attacks, forcing enemies to come to me and raging when they do so.
I'm guessing I'll have to be a front liner, that's why I have so much CON.
I mostly enjoyed the possibility of having AoO and doing extra damage.10 ft away is not really staying that much behind compared to casters/ranged.
Are you saying using the Armor Spikes to make attacks on adjacent squares instead of dropping the hammer? Like get 1 hand free, attack/full attack with spikes, then grab weapon again?
I was really hoping to get a Natural attack from somewhere so I can bite adjacent foes or something, but don't know where to get it.
I'm not sure if it's optimal, but I wanted to combine both styles, though I'm not entirely sure it's possible.
It's virtually impossible to threaten everything unless I have a bite attack, and then there's the problem of enchanting 2 eapons.
Do you think it's possible to play a reach barbarian and still be effective?
I'm guessing I'll have to be a front liner, that's why I have so much CON.
I mostly enjoyed the possibility of having AoO and doing extra damage.
10 ft away is not really staying that much behind compared to casters/ranged.
Are you saying using the Armor Spikes to make attacks on adjacent squares instead of dropping the hammer? Like get 1 hand free, attack/full attack with spikes, then grab weapon again?I was really hoping to get a Natural attack from somewhere so I can bite adjacent foes or something, but don't know where to get it.
I'm not sure if it's optimal, but I wanted to combine both styles, though I'm not entirely sure it's possible.
It's virtually impossible to threaten everything unless I have a bite attack, and then there's the problem of enchanting 2 eapons.Do you think it's possible to play a reach barbarian and still be effective?
This barbarian's going to be a frontliner, yeah. I got that feeling when the main goal seemed to be 'control others into avoiding squishy caster'.
And yes, I'm saying to use the armour spikes to do exactly what you're saying. If you're not able to 5' to get the longhammer into play, punch them.
Barbarians DO get a bite attack as a rage power. Animal Fury. Primary natural attack at d4 damage. And while it's a ton of fun to see NPCs react to you trying to eat them, there are some downsides: it only works in rage, and it doesn't get iterative attacks, so while it's fun to chomp that nearby monster, at level 6 you might as well armour spike punch it twice. (Then again, you can combine it with actual weapon attacks, at -5, for fun value.)
Honestly, I can't imagine reach not being effective--when I get the chance on my little rageball, she's going to make her weapon Transformative just for those times. Others have written a few things on reach stuff too. It's not a bad way to fight, from what I've seen.
I was really hoping to get a Natural attack from somewhere so I can bite adjacent foes or something, but don't know where to get it.
Animal Fury rage power?
Dwarf Unchained Barbarian 7
Feats: 1. Power Attack, 3. Combat Reflexes, 5. Hurtful 7. Vital Strike
Traits: Accelerated Drinker, Glory of Old
Rage powers: Accurate Stance, Intimidating Glare, Animal Fury
Equipment: +1 Furious Lucerne Hammer, potions of Enlarge Person.
If you carry a potion in one hand and your hammer in the other, you can drink, 5' step, and vital strike an enemy who started 25' away from you.
IME (as a caster), you can't rely on casters to Enlarge you. That one round casting time is a PITA. Potions are cheap and fast.
IME (as a caster), you can't rely on casters to Enlarge you. That one round casting time is a PITA. Potions are cheap and fast.
Improved familiar! It's casting instead of wizard. I'm not wasting a caster's action on that.
I guess wizard will probably be casting Haste on the first round.
I was really hoping to get a Natural attack from somewhere so I can bite adjacent foes or something, but don't know where to get it.Animal Fury rage power?
Dwarf Unchained Barbarian 7
Feats: 1. Power Attack, 3. Combat Reflexes, 5. Hurtful 7. Vital Strike
Traits: Accelerated Drinker, Glory of Old
Rage powers: Accurate Stance, Intimidating Glare, Animal FuryEquipment: +1 Furious Lucerne Hammer, potions of Enlarge Person.
If you carry a potion in one hand and your hammer in the other, you can drink, 5' step, and vital strike an enemy who started 25' away from you.
I'm not sold on Vital Strike. Your combo seems interesting, I wonder how it works.
From what I get, I can do the following:1- Move action to Demoralize 1 opponent
2- Swift action to attack at highest bab bonus such opponent if demoralize successful
3- Standard action to attack at highest bab bonus, here I can use Vital Strike
It seems a great combo! What I'm confused about, it's that is seems a great combo even when you can full attack.
At level 10 I would have > +10/+5 BAB but using this combo I'm having +10/+10 on both attack with full bonuses.
It's a Bugbear feat, what a shame!