Tiny Barbarian "The Ankle Biter"

[TheNineTailKasumi]

I need some advice on what races I should consider. Str and then Dex being priority stats.

For a while now I have been wanting to create a small barbarian. I think it would be hilarious to have a short/small character that when enraged goes off the deep end and can deal massive amounts of damage. Role play wise, she runs around cutting her enemies legs to through them off balance and then jumps on them and stabs them in the face. While it is not necessarily a totally new concept, it is one that I wanted to look into.

we use all pathfinder resources, even some 3rd party pubs.

[LordKailas]

So, the biggest hurdle to over come is that as a barbarian you want Str, Dex and Con and so you'll want to avoid any race that takes a penalty to one of these stats.

I found the following races that fit the criteria of being small and not taking a penalty to a physical stat.

Grindylow: +4 Dexterity, –2 Intelligence, –2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
Monkey Goblin:+4 Dexterity, –2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
Vine Leshy:+2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence
Wayang:+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Wisdom
Wyrwood:+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Charisma

my inclination is to go with the vine leshy as it gets a bonus to con. however, if you want a crazy high dex monkey goblin is probably the best choice not only for the +4 but because you actually count as a goblin for purposes of feats meaning you have access to some pretty nice goblin only feats.

[Quixote]

My friend's halfling barbarian is pretty effective. Str/Dex/Con all 15 to start. Combat Reflexes, Power Attack, Quick Draw, a long spear and throwing axes, Superstition and Strength Surge.

[Lemartes]

I'd go goblin and do urban barbarian with either dervish dance or fencing grace to get dex to damage.

Urban Barbarian can boost dex so it would make dex to damage viable. Or use Savage technologist as it boost both str and dex at the same time.

That is of course if you don't mind going dex over str.

[Toxie2725]

Monkey Goblin Urban barb sounds REALLY FUN to play lol. Shades of Gollum for sure.

[TheNineTailKasumi]

These are some amazing classes. the urban Barbarian seems like a cool idea. I don't mind using dex over str. Honestly halfling seems like a good way to go, But I can't ignore that +4 the Monkey goblin gets.

[Quixote]

The whole thought process that small barbarian = funny definitely points toward something like a goblin. If you're going for comic relief, go all-out.

[Name Violation]

LordKailas wrote:

So, the biggest hurdle to over come is that as a barbarian you want Str, Dex and Con and so you'll want to avoid any race that takes a penalty to one of these stats.

I found the following races that fit the criteria of being small and not taking a penalty to a physical stat.

Grindylow: +4 Dexterity, –2 Intelligence, –2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
Monkey Goblin:+4 Dexterity, –2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
Vine Leshy:+2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence
Wayang:+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Wisdom
Wyrwood:+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Charisma

my inclination is to go with the vine leshy as it gets a bonus to con. however, if you want a crazy high dex monkey goblin is probably the best choice not only for the +4 but because you actually count as a goblin for purposes of feats meaning you have access to some pretty nice goblin only feats.

Orang-Pendak

[Lemartes]

TheNineTailKasumi wrote:

These are some amazing classes. the urban Barbarian seems like a cool idea. I don't mind using dex over str. Honestly halfling seems like a good way to go, But I can't ignore that +4 the Monkey goblin gets.

Regular Goblin might be even better than monkey goblin depending on what you want to do.

[Scott Wilhelm]

Quixote wrote:

My friend's halfling barbarian is pretty effective. Str/Dex/Con all 15 to start. Combat Reflexes, Power Attack, Quick Draw, a long spear and throwing axes, Superstition and Strength Surge.

I was thinking about Halfling for a Barbarian. I like Risky Striker + Power Attack to compliment Destructive Stance.

[Scott Wilhelm]

The thing I really like about Goblin are the Tangle Feet and Roll with It Feats.

TheNineTailKasumi wrote:

Role play wise, she runs around cutting her enemies legs to through them off balance and then jumps on them and stabs them in the face.

I have a character like that but coneptually, he's more like a Monk than a Barbarian. His name is Bonzai!! and he mostly does Sneak Attack Damage.

TheNineTailKasumi wrote:

we use all pathfinder resources, even some 3rd party pubs.

There are two 3rd Party Feats I think you should look at. Improved Catch Off Guard and Deadly Agility. Deadly Agility lets you Dex-to-Damage with any Finesseable Weapon. Improved Catch Off Guard makes all opponents, not just unarmed ones, Flatfooted when you use Improvised Weapons.

[LordKailas]

Name Violation wrote:

Orang-Pendak

I missed that they are a small race. I'll need to update my guide. They are actually quite a nice choice for the OP's build if they wanted to go with str instead of dex.

Orang-Pendak: +2 Strength, +2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence

[Quixote]

Personally, I don't see the humor in strong/tough small characters. They're people, aren't they? So some of them will be strong and tough. Maybe not to the extent that a comparatively beefy medium-sized character is, but certainly more so than an average medium-sized character.
I know a guy who's 5'5" and built like an ox. I know a 6'6" scarecrow.
Gnome fighter? Halfling barbarian? That's no more "hilarious" than a half-orc rogue. "LOL look he's big but he's fast."

Also, not to be that guy, but it feels a little...questionable when there are real, living people with a similar statue to those we're having a good laugh at.

The halfling barbarian in my game is rolling out with up to 4 attacks a round and took down a dire wolf in one shot last game. He's ruthlessly practical, and grim. His rage isn't the frothing madness of a lunatic, but the icy focus of one who knows he must either kill or die.

[Artofregicide]

Gotcha covered:

Ankle Biter