#barbarian class

[mtg-cards-hourly]

Barbarian Class

Artist: Campbell White TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

[ropeyringedwire]

Potential subclass: Fig Faeth (Barbarian)

Fig as a barbarian is not a difficult argument to make anger is (if not the main) a part of her feelings and arc, now there is argument to be made in that some of the role of anger in her arc is taking step away from it and angling it at people trying to hurt her and her friends while letting the flames cool so that she can still accept love (this is in regards to her mom for the vast majority of it) though the idea of having magically enhanced rage could add to said arc. Within the Spyre universe being a barbarian is something that can be taught so that is no worries (though Fig may not attend those classes)

Chance of being a barbarian: potentially to happen with minimal changes at beginning of series.

Interesting change that could be present: Fig not going down immediately during the 1st battle potentially.

Potential options purposed: There are several Fig Barbarian subclasses ideas, on a quick rundown we have both PawPunk and Remidyal who have fics preposing a Wild magic/soul subclass (PawPunks 'Class Swap AU' series and 'Dreams' by Remidyal) and there is also Alistair_Seacaster who gave 'Different Bad Kids (But Somehow The Same)' and @bacchuschucklefuck with some rad artwork, though the specific subclass is something I am not certain about.

Idea of a story: potentially there are avenues with either beast or wild magic to connect with Fig's feelings of being bad for her magic translated to barbarian form I think I am going to lean more to wild magic for both providing the more burst of magics while keeping in the barbarian station (the part of junior year with the bardics being dangerous because of how wholly Fig they were) and for bolstering magic which actually work similar to bardics though with more wild magic edge and allows for a sense of belief in self and a careening towards her junior year arc of only feeling worthy when helping others.

Potential of multiclassing: it's Fig Faeth so absolutely.

[occasional-wott-bros]

🎲 Squirrel

Prompt List

[nocturnal-designs]

Rage Reworked

Rage is a really fun class feature, but it could be better.

With the 2024 player's handbook, Wizards of the Coast have been moving towards rage being an 'always on' feature. Sure you've still got limited uses, but not only can you use a bonus action to keep it up (so you don't need to just hit or be hit) and use it more out of combat, you get an extra use back on a short rest, and most importantly, it now lasts for 10 minutes.

10 minutes.

With a bonus action, it seems clear to me that the intent is for barbarians to sneak around a dungeon while raging, which doesn't really feel thematic for me. In fact I know that's the intent because a later feature lets barbarians use strength for stealth while raging.

Generally this just seems to me that the intent is to make sure barbarians never run out of rages, and in that case, why still have limited uses? It doesn't make sense for me that a barbarian could just, not get angry when they've gotten angry twice today. Combining this with my other rage tweaks, I propose a solution, I propose:

Frenzy

1st-level barbarian feature, which optionally replaces the Rage feature

In battle, you fight with primal ferocity. On your turn, you can enter a frenzy as a bonus action.

While in frenzy and not wearing heavy armor, you gain the following benefits:

You have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity, the weight you can push, drag, or lift, and creatures you can push or grapple.

When you make a melee weapon attack using Strength, you gain a +2 bonus to the damage roll. This bonus increases as you level.

You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. 

At  11th level, you also have resistance to force damage.

You ignore the Fatigued condition

You are unable to cast or concentrate on spells while in frenzy, except for any free casts of leveled spells you have gained through your race.

Your frenzy lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven't attacked a hostile creature, taken damage, cast a spell, or made a strength check since your last turn.

When you end a frenzy, you gain the fatigued condition. Finishing a short rest removes 1 of your levels of fatigue, and finishing a long rest removes a number of levels of fatigue equal to your constitution modifier (minimum 1).

Fatigued

While you are subjected to the Fatigued condition you experience the following effects:

Levels of Fatigue. This Condition is cumulative. Each time you receive it, you gain 1 level of fatigue. You die if your fatigue level exceeds 10.

d20 Rolls Affected. When you make a d20 Test, you subtract your fatigue level from the d20 roll.

Spell Save DCs Affected. Subtract your fatigue level from the Spell save DC of any Spell you cast.

Speed Affected. Your movement speed is reduced by 5 feet for every two fatigue levels you have.

Ending the Condition. Finishing a Long Rest removes 1 of your levels of fatigue. When your fatigue level reaches 0, you are no longer fatigued.

Technically this isn't completely resourceless, you're still having to track your fatigue, but Frenzy feels a lot more thematic to me. So what are the changes and why?

Fatigue vs Limited Uses. I've already mentioned feeling that limited uses doesn't feel right for a barbarian, but the idea of fatigue, where pushing yourself into rage has physical rammifications (that you can ignore while raging) feels thematic, and while yes it's technically limited by the death level for fatigue, pushing yourself so far that you literally die from anger feels more thematic than just, not being able to rage any more. Also 'extra uses' being losing fatigue from resting also just feels like it makes sense for a barbarian.

Force Resistance. For reasons I've discussed a few times before, I feel with the move in high CR monster design away from B/P/S damage, barbarians absolutely need force resistance at later levels so they can keep being the tank they're meant to.

Spells and Strength. Playing a barbarian genasi or tiefling just feels bad, they're really fun combinations (just look at the love Karlach's gotten), but you can't cast spells in rage, so what's the point in having them, well, letting racial spells be cast in frenzy (and continue it) makes those combinations feel a lot better. Additionally, rage continuing from Strength checks lets you use your rage to push and grapple in combat, or move things around outside it without having to worry about it ending early (DMs could rule that raging them pulling something is only one strength check, I'd say you're still making them after the first, but they're low enough you'd automatically pass, your milage may vary)

No Bonus Action to End. Rage ending as a bonus action also always felt weird to me thematically and I've never seen it come up, so Frenzy... doesn't. if you want to stop your fury, you have to take time to calm down, you can't just stop easily.

Counting as Larger. This is another thing where it just feels like barbarians should already get it, you're a raging juggernaut, you should be able to grapple T-Rexes and push away adult dragons!

[hollowkonpaku]

Taidus the Frostrager Barbarian. My first D&D character cir. 2007.

[batrachois]

Barbarian Frog | DnD Frog series

(available as prints on INPRINT and downloadable as an HD file on Patreon)

[chaoticdumbasshalforc]

babe, wake up new merch just dropped! “Happy when I rage” stickers and shirts for my guys, gals and Barbarian pals on my Teespring

And on Redbubble, I have baseball shirts, stickers and buttons (and more!) with  more colorful version!

Thanks for shopping! 

[flyingclubhouse]

The dungeon master says I'm the Mr. Rogers of barbarians.