The Brutal Barbarian

Are you making a character and don’t know what class to pick? There are a lot of options in the Player’s Handbook, but where do you start? Pick something that you like the sound of, or are interested in playing. It’s your character after all. If you’ve never played before, here’s a brief explanation of Barbarians. (without all the confusing numbers attached to it).

What are Barbarians?

Barbarians. Those who draw on primal rage to aid them in battle. Don’t let the moniker fool you. Not every barbarian is a hulking mass of muscle with no intellect, although, some can be. Barbarians are sometimes seen as nomadic people who wander and live off the lands, usually a community that uses their strength to survive. For some, their rage comes from their communication with animal spirits, for others it is merely a reservoir of anger that can hardly be quelled. Rage is not just about power, but the uncanny reflexes and feats of strength that is brought with it. Barbarian is more than just a term used by city folk to describe these wanders, but a title earned. Barbarians are leaders and protectors of their people. The wilds are a dangerous place, whether combating deadly weather or terrifying monsters, barbarians charge in headlong with no fear so their people don’t have to. It is these qualities that make barbarians perfectly suited to be adventures.

Core Abilities:

Barbarians are very versatile in the equipment they can use, being proficient in all weapons and most armour, although a lot of barbarians choose not to wear armour. What is scarier than the warrior who charges at you with no armour and no fear in their eyes? This same versatility is attributed to skills as well. Certain tribes of barbarians may have kept animals to help with hunting, so training these creatures is something that would have been taught. The same goes for understanding the terrain they cross, and the plants and food they gather from their surroundings, enhancing their chances of survival. Such a lifestyle would lead to them being athletic. Let’s not forget learning to spot where their enemies may come from, or intimidating rival tribes from entering their territory. All of this depends on what kind of barbarian you want to play.

At the very core of barbarian is the ability to go into a rage. Not only do they become stronger, tapping into a power beyond their usual capacity, but it puts them in a state where pain doesn’t hurt as much, allowing them to stay in the battle far longer than anyone else.

Whether consumed by rage or not, some barbarian’s choose to fight without fear, attacking far more recklessly than others. While others see the problem with this – leaving themselves open for an opponent to take advantage – barbarians do not. They have no use for the fear of others. They are sure of their abilities and ferocity of the strike that it will hit true; plus, it’s hard to worry about getting hit when your opponent is dead.

Their time in the wild has allowed them to hone their sense and heighten their reflexes. It doesn’t matter whether it is a beast jumping out at them or a trap set by a rival tribe, they always have an edge when it comes to getting out of the way of danger.

The benefits to barbarians not wearing heavy armour like a paladin might, is that due to their athleticism they are able to run even faster while wearing medium armour like scale mail or even half plate, light armour like furs and hides, or no armour at all.

The wild teaches barbarians a lot and they draw from the teachings of nature. Like a beast with feral instincts, the barbarian is always ready when it comes to a fight. They are quick to act the second they know blood is about to be drawn.

With experience, a barbarian learns to make the most dangerous of attacks count for more. When they hit that sweet-spot or find that inch of weakness in their opponent’s defences, they attack with brutality unrivalled by other classes.

The greatest and oldest of barbarians learn to push their rage to the very limits. Some have taken grievous wounds that would have felled any other, but their rage keeps them standing. They’re able to push pass the limits of their bodies and become the embodiment of the wilds itself.

Subclasses:

There are two distinct paths that a barbarian can choose to go down: one that draws from an unending ocean of rage, and the other that has more of a connection to the animal spirits of their tribe.

Path of the Berserker:

The path of the Berserker is a path that is paved with blood. Rage is the means to an end, and that end is violence. Entering a rage so deep that they thrive off the chaos of battle, heedlessly throwing themselves into the melee with no thought of their own lives.

A berserker is able to push into a deep, insane, frenzied rage, allowing them to do far more than what they could in a normal rage. The drawback to this is the exertion of energy that they unknowing use up during the battle. This can lead to a barbarian being far more exhausted than usual. It’s not all bad though. When they are in this mindless rage, it is impossible for them to be charmed or frightened – the bane of every spellcaster.

The berserkers are notorious. So much so that their very presence is enough to scare off most weaker monsters or opponents. Just being around is enough to frighten the enemy. Giving them a head start just adds more fun to a berserker’s day.

Path of the Totem Warrior:

The path of the Totem Warrior is a spiritual journey taken by some barbarians who are willing to accept a spirit animal as a guide, protector and inspiration. A spirit animal enhances the rage a barbarian already has, adding new a wonderous abilities to stem from it. A spirit animal is normally unique to a clan, but it isn’t unheard of to have a barbarian with multiple spirit animals.

At their core, a Totem Warrior barbarian is able to speak with beast and commune with nature, given their relationship with their spirit animal.

Bear Totem:

The bear is a sign of strength and fortitude. When a bear totem barbarian enters a rage, their ability to take damage is unparalleled. Pain is not an issue. A swing from a giant’s club might feel no more than a swing from a farmer with a stick. Their feats of strength surpass anything most people could even dream of. Finally, much like the berserkers, the presence of a bear totem barbarian in the middle of combat can cause fear within the enemy, sending their swings or shots wide, or simply fleeing in terror.

Eagle Totem:

The eagle is a sign of speed and perception. An eagle totem barbarian entering a rage can slip through ranks of enemies, avoiding strikes with inhuman reflexes. With an eagle as a spirit guide, they give a barbarian the sight of an eagle, allowing them to see things a mile away in great detail. The last gift of the eagle is unlike any other. For short burst, a barbarian may fly, held aloft by the spirit. They can only ‘fly’ as far as they could usually move, but it allows them to attack aerial creatures and bring them back to the floor, where they can take full advantage of them.

Wolf Totem:

The wolf is a sign of loyalty and pack mentality. When a wolf totem barbarian enters a rage, they fight like a wolf would, having allies coordinate with them and opening up the enemy to vicious attacks when they don’t know which side to look at. If they choose to fight solo, they can use their powerful build to knock a creature prone. Finally, the gift of the wolf totem allows a barbarian to hunt and track like a wolf. They are able to remain stealthy at high speeds as they track their prey.

Are there other subclasses for the barbarian?

Yes. There are quite a few more subclasses that were added to supplemental books. I will be doing those as well. I’ll also be adding some special add ons to the Berserker subclass as well as additional animal spirits for the Totem Warrior.