Wave Totem - Surfing Barbarian

[ColbyMunro]

So I'm running an aquatic campaign and my friend decided that he wants to use his wooden shield as a surfboard. He is playing a titan mauler barbarian anyways, so having an oversized wooden shield doesn't break his character.

I think this is a fantastic idea, but I'm trying to come up with a reasonable way for this to work, and give him some fun abilities to build upon this. Even before I came up with the idea for it to build off of the barbarian totem powers, he described his surfboard/shield as a highly intricate piece of carved wood with maori-esque designs, so thematically it seems to fit.

My best idea is to give him a "Surf Speed" at second level (inspired by the penguin's ridiculous "toboggan" movement), which is essentially a 10 foot swim speed that only works on the surface, and doubles (or maybe triples) if he's going with the waves. This would only work while he is raging which we've reskinned to be called "Being in the Zone." This ability would be the "Lesser Wave Totem"

I need some other ideas for a surfing based character's totem rage powers too though. I'm thinking some kind of attack that builds off the movement that he's been given, where he can hit any target he moves over with slam attack as a full round action so long as they are on the surface of the water.

These are probably massively broken in some way, but if you have ideas how to tweak these ideas, or anything to add I'd love your input.

[Pizza Lord]

Depends on how comical you want to go. I suppose you think up some surfing terms and try and come up with a game mechanics way to make them work.

You could have:
'Hang Ten! (Ex)'
Where he basically makes an Acrobatics check to tumble through/over other enemies in the water, going inverted or bonking them on the head as he passes, basically a free shield bash whenever he succeeds. Would need a high Acrobatics to pass that or maybe substitutes Swim in its place, but don't want to allow that substitution too often, or would be overpowered.

'Shoot the Curl (Sp)'
As a swift action during his normal 'board' movement (while raging) he submerges into a wave or the water (at least big enough to contain him) at any point in the movement. He gets a short dimension hop-esque effect (archetype level is caster level) requiring a Swim check (DC equal to distance traveled + 5 for each additional use that day.) On a success, he can emerge from any wave or water surface (even one not connected to his entry point) that is big or deep enough to contain him and can continue any remaining movement. On a failure, the attempt fails and his movement ends where he is. On a failure of 5 or more, his remaining turn ends and he's inhaled water; gagging and choking, unable to speak and suffering penalties similar to Sickened (though not actually being Sickened, that's just a nice well-rounded penalty condition for being inconvenienced) until the start of his next turn.

'Leash Lash (Ex)'
If attached to his 'board' by a leash or cord, as a standard action while moving (similar to having Spring Attack or Rideby Attack) he may attempt a Trip, Disarm, or Grapple check against an adjacent target with the leash. This provokes an AoO if he doesn't have the appropriate Improved feat. He receives a +2 bonus for the leash's flexibility. Trip won't work against swimming or submerged foes, but those walking on water or or wading in it can be tripped. In the case of a Grapple check, if the attempt succeeds the character's movement ends and the target is entangled. Neither gains the grappled condition though neither can move away from the other (the target is tangled in the leash and the character is leashed to the board.) Entangled targets can free themselves with a DC 15 Strength or Escape Artist check or the surfer can spend a move-action releasing his leash to free his board up again.
If the surfer fails one of these Combat Maneuvers by 5 or more, they are pulled from the board as though tripped (only ending up prone if they aren't in deep enough water to swim in) and their movement ends.

Could apply penalties to all these based on the water conditions or weather.

I am sure there are more surfing terms you can use to make something up. The key part will be trying to make sure the adventure actually allows the player to utilize their abilities and doesn't allow them to dominate the adventure or relegate everyone else to bit players.

[AM BARBARIAN]

IF EVERYONE AM HAVING OCEAN
ACROSS GOLARION
THEN EVERYONE BE SURFING
LIKE BARBARIAN
AM SEEING RUNNING ROUND SHIRTLESS
AM WEARING CLOAK OF RES
PUSHY PUSHY BULL RUSH MOVES
AM SURFBARIAN

[GM_Beernorg]

Shield spikes (which could serve as stabilizing fins for shield board) on a very elongated oval shield (seeing a stretched out zulu sort of shape). Darkwood would be sweet, and bonus points if "spike fins" are made out of dire shark teeth.

The bashing property would be nice too.

A variation on death from above feat, "Death from the Crest" style rage power strikes me as appropriate.