Here's the link to the google doc.
What do you think about it? What would you change? I also need more ideas for feats so those would be welcomed.
I definitely like the theme, and would like to see more takes on Rage where the mechanic is more a state of focus than one of anger, though I have a few reservations about the implementation:
I have no real criticisms of the feats, as both look flavorful, on-brand for this instinct, and mechanically interesting. My recommendations would be the following:
Overall, I think there's some really good bits to this brew, even if I would personally do a few things differently. Kudos on the good work!
You know this kinda of makes me wonder why rage cannot be inflicted on others as a condition as a skill action (just providing the +2 damage and -1 to AC and cant use concentration abilities) Same limitations as other skill actions they become temporarily immune for 10 minutes. I guess it would need to a condition with a duration and not a value when applied this way.
Maybe this barbarian's stoicism can bring out and exploit anger in others?
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This isn't too serious, but the anathema I think is fairly passive and therefore unlikely to affect roleplaying in practice. Generally, edicts and anathema are about actions you take that have some sort of outward impact, whereas falling prey to strong emotion is very much an internal state.
I agree the anathema doesn't have much impact on RP (though I think it wouldn't be the only one) but I think it does restrict you a little. Most people play barbarians as hulking brutes who often find themselves in the "comic relief" role for the party during those scenes with a lightier tone. This anathema doesn't exactly prohibits that, but it gives the player a constant warning that they are constantly one step away from losing their powers if they exceed. I also think this anathema shines the most for an RP-heavy player that gives a detailed backstory to the GM and that is willing to bond with the other player's characters, specially if the GM uses those to its advantage. This could culminate in a scene in which after a ton of struggle the barbarian completely breaks character and rages like a berserk, though I still agree that for tables that aren't much into RP the anathema is very light.
I'm not certain why Stoic Rage's damage only increases against non-mindless creatures, particularly as this instinct then gains resistance against mindless creatures. Removing the AC debuff and concentrate limitations comes across as more of a fix than a flavorful addition, but both are welcome nonetheless and make sense on a not-so-furious Barb.
This is something I noticed too, and while it bugs me I can't think of a better alternative right now. The idea of the rage damage increasing only against non-mindless targets is kinda a holdover from a previous concept in which this instinct was more about using the feelings of their foes against them. The current iteration would be more about you being so tempered that it kinda bugs those around you in a weird way.
Metal damage resistance was a no-brainer, though mental damage is really weird in this system (I couldn't find more than a couple of things that dealt mental dmage) so I thought an extra benefit like the spirit instinct would be kinda fitting. I agree dealing more damage to non-mindless creatures but then you being more resistant to it doesn't make much sense (though in a sense you could see it as them being emotionless can't really have that much impact on you, since you aren't emotionless yourself but rather someone that manages to control or hide his feelings really well) but if I remove that I think just mental resistance would be kinda weak honestly.
I'm not at all comfortable with the specialization ability giving attack accuracy on par with the Fighter, as I really don't think that's a space the Barbarian ought to get into.
I would be lying if I said that I'm not too in love with the idea either, but this whole thing began when I thought about a barbarian that was more about accuracy than damage, with was fitting with the idea of a barbarian that wasn't so rage-y but rather more stoic. I don't think it steps on the fighter's toes that much since it takes a while to fully be equal to a fighter, and damage-wise I think it would be comparable to something like giant instinct in the long run, but I also wouldn't have a problem to replace that with just +8 damage at 7th and +14 or +16 damage at 15th level.
Removing the stipulation on only affecting non-mindless creatures may be the only adjustment Stoic Rage needs, in my opinion. If you want to add something else, perhaps you could add a status bonus to saves against emotion effects, as that'd fit the theme.
I think a bonus against mental saves instead of the extra damage could be fitting. It could probably start as a simple +1 that goes up to +2 when you receive raging resistance? This would serve as a nice fix to replace the mindless resistance.
Thanks for the detailed response!
You know this kinda of makes me wonder why rage cannot be inflicted on others as a condition as a skill action (just providing the +2 damage and -1 to AC and cant use concentration abilities) Same limitations as other skill actions they become temporarily immune for 10 minutes. I guess it would need to a condition with a duration and not a value when applied this way.
Maybe this barbarian's stoicism can bring out and exploit anger in others?
This is in a sense what the 12th-level feat tries to achieve, even if its a little reactive rather than proactive from the barbarian's side.
While the idea of a barbarian that can enrage his foes sounds interesting, I think that allowing a barbarian (or any class) to target someone and make them rage could potentially turn down a whole character down if they rely on actions with the concentration trait.
Right its like a quasi silence