I'm in the mood for a new character and a couple days ago one archetype jumped out at me. Since then, the character has been constantly on my mind (even at work) and so I'm starting to actually put pencil to paper. That said, the class is something I'm not used to and the archetype is a bit of a nerf, but at this point I'm committed. Also, I usually play Humans, so I'm used to having 2 Feats at 1st but in my mind, this guy can't be anything but Half-Orc, so I'm stuck with one and this is where this thread comes in.
For a 1st level Dreadnought Barbarian (possibly Invulnerable Rager as well, undecided), which should I take: Raging Vitality or Power Attack? STR/17, CON/15.
Raging Vitality helps to mitigate the one thing I hate about Barbarians, being the instant death syndrome upon being knocked out. I've had a lot of fun with my Unchained Barbarian/Ranger as well as my Urban Bloodrager/Monk, both of which don't have this syndrome. I'd play Unchained Dreadnought if I could, but because the archetype messes with Rage, it's a no-go.
Power Attack, besides being a staple of Barbarians for decades, helps to make up for my lackluster Rage damage but cancels out my rage accuracy.
The one I don't take at 1st will likely be taken at 3rd, but I'm still unsure as to which is more important.
Well, waiting until 3rd for raging vitality is probably safe, as you are not getting too many bonus hp so the window of neg hp that will kill you is smaller. On the other hand with high strength and a 2 handed weapon you likely do enough damage without powerattack at 1st and 2nd level.
So thinking about the rest of your party which does the group need more? Neither looks like a bad choice to me.
Edit: although raging vitality seems more iconic for an invulnerable dreadnought.
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I'd take Raging Vitality first. I can't imagine you'll need more than 2d6+7 damage often enough to really matter at levels 1 and 2. Even when you do need more, will 2d6+10 damage be enough?
I completely agree with MrCharisma - surviving a random crit at 1st level is more important than having more damage that will probably end up being overkill, anyway.
I'd play Unchained Dreadnought if I could, but because the archetype messes with Rage, it's a no-go.
Unless it's for PFS, ask your GM - usually, the archetyes altering rage change the ability score bonuses, but halfing the benefits would be the easiest thing to apply to unRage.
Both, but I usually take power attack first.
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RV at 1st. And pick up yourself a nice bardiche, and plop Combat Reflexes into the other 1st-level feat slot.
BTW, if the reason you're attracted to Dreadnaught is for not losing AC, take a look at Savage Technologist. (If you want heavy armor prof, just dip some fighter.)
This is indeed being built for PFS. A home game would be nice, but between work, PFS, and a Starfinder Adventure Path, I don't have the time to devote to that.
As for why I'm interested in Dreadnought, it's more of the flavour of Dead Calm. Rather than getting angry and letting their passion carve their way to victory, this character is as the ability says: dead calm. Perhaps a passionate and jovial peasant-type most of the time, but in the midst of the carnage of battle, he's utterly devoid of expression or concern as he hews limb from limb like it's second nature. His friends and family all abandon him once they see how easily killing comes to him.
And as stated earlier, this is for a Half-Orc, so there is only a single 1st level feat, or has it been so long since I've made a new character that I've forgotten one somewhere?
As far as weapons go, I was thinking of something along the lines of a Heavy Pick, a Scythe, or some other weapon that evokes the idea that this is a tool for his day-job that makes for a wicked implement of destruction once he snaps.
Thought of this later, but couldn't figure how to edit my post:
In PFS it is very unlikely to reach LV20 and is even rare to play past LV12. Would a 3 level dip into 2-handed Fighter for Overhand Chop be worth delaying Greater Rage?
In PFS it is very unlikely to reach LV20 and is even rare to play past LV12. Would a 3 level dip into 2-handed Fighter for Overhand Chop be worth delaying Greater Rage?
Probably not. You already get 1.5x strength damage with two-handed weapons by default, so going up to 2x isn't necessarily a huge increase. For a 3-level dip, you'd probably get better value out of weapon master, since +1 to hit and +1 damage on all attacks with your specialized weapon (rather than just charges and single attacks) will be more valuable.
Why would you want to increase the damage on a single-attack-charge when you can have pounce?
I wouldn't want to do either as Dreadnought can't charge when Dead Calm.
The reason I was interested in Overhand Chop was because I'll be spending most of my time with an odd number in STR so I thought rather than 1.5 for an odd number, double for an even one. I have since realized the difference between having an odd score like 17 and having an odd modifier like +3.
Weapon Master might be something to consider.
I wouldn't want to do either as Dreadnought can't charge when Dead Calm.
Ah, right, forgot about that, sorry. God, that archetype is stupid!
Anyway, I'd still want a 10th level rage power, most likely Greater Elemental Blood (Air).