Im looking to discuss the benefits and practicalities between two options from an optimisation standpoint:
"Armored Hulk" Barbarian, or "Steelblood, Primalist, Untouchable Rager" Bloodrager.
What are the downsides to each, beyond the latter being a bit of a mouthful.
Basically, i want to play a plate armored rager, so which do you think is more powerful / useful and why?
Edit: for example, i hear the destined bloodline can give a hefty luck bonus in later levels, and indeed a lot of bloodlines give cool stuff, so how does that compare to an armored hulk barbarian?
Links to OP builds also appreciated :)
From an optimization standpoint, Primalist Bloodrager is better than anything any Barbarian build can do.
A Steelblood Bloodrager (+/- Primalist) with the Arcane bloodline is very hard to kill. You've got normal AC in addition to layers of miss chance from Blur or Displacement (and Mirror Image or similar with Greater Bloodrage). I'm not sure I'd be willing to give up casting to get Untouchable Rager personally.
A Steelblood Bloodrager (+/- Primalist) with the Arcane bloodline is very hard to kill. You've got normal AC in addition to layers of miss chance from Blur or Displacement (and Mirror Image or similar with Greater Bloodrage). I'm not sure I'd be willing to give up casting to get Untouchable Rager personally.
Woah, so that's 50% or 70% miss chance while raging? Either way that's awesome...
As Cuup pointed out i'm not seeing anything a barbarian can do better if wearing plate armor (edit: if primalist), but i'd still love to hear more suggestions.
Nothing is stopping an invulnerable rager Barbarian from taking Heavy armour proficiency and walking around in full plate. Sure he'll be slow until hes got mithral plate but it won't be too long if you care about being fast. Pick up the extra rage power feat and go to town with all your DR. Start human so you can have power attack and heavy armour proficiency at lvl 1, though you may not have to money for it.
Also things like blindsense, blindsight, true seeing, blind-fight and other things will negate the miss chance from the bloodrager. There is no way besides being a high level fighter to reduce an Invulnerable barbs DR and even then not by much.
Thanks for the info on avoidance stuff!
So, i've established (unless going for niche builds) that bloodrager is the way to go.
Can much compete with the arcane bloodline?
edit: just discovered "Fate's Favored" trait, combining that with destined seems pretty cool, still open to ideas though!
Thanks for the info on avoidance stuff!
So, i've established (unless going for niche builds) that bloodrager is the way to go.
Can much compete with the arcane bloodline?
edit: just discovered "Fate's Favored" trait, combining that with destined seems pretty cool, still open to ideas though!
Arcane and Destined are really the two best bloodlines. Abyssal is a solid choice as well, though while weaker than the other two, the benefit of auto enlarging on rage is pretty nice.
Just discovered Urban bloodrager and other archetypes i didn't know about at the bottom of the srd, are any of these particularly worthwhile?
Gaining dex bonuses and going ranged instead of taking heavy plate sounds pretty appealing to increase AC, and its something i hadnt even considered.
Just discovered Urban bloodrager and other archetypes i didn't know about at the bottom of the srd, are any of these particularly worthwhile?
Gaining dex bonuses and going ranged instead of taking heavy plate sounds pretty appealing to increase AC, and its something i hadnt even considered.
Most people like the Urban archetypes, but the rage is a bit weaker so it depends on the build.
Just discovered Urban bloodrager and other archetypes i didn't know about at the bottom of the srd, are any of these particularly worthwhile?
Gaining dex bonuses and going ranged instead of taking heavy plate sounds pretty appealing to increase AC, and its something i hadnt even considered.
A Urban Barbarian multiclass with a Weapon Master Fighter has one of the hinghest RAW ranged firepower.
My last PC was a Human Invulnerable Rager, and i played him till lvl 16. Some Rage Power are really good, mostly notable Superstition(that thanks to favored class at lvl 16 give +11 TS vs spell and similar stuff), Witch Hunter, Reckless Abandon, CAGM (if you build for it), Eater of Magic, SPELL SUNDER and Strenght Surge
However as an Arcane Bloodarager you can change the power at lvl 4 and take Superstition and something else of your choice.
In the end i think that as a Bloodrager you will be more difficult to kill and will have more option in combat. But as AM BARBARIAN your EPICNESS will skyrocket :D