Barbarian Store

[Seheren]

With the introduction of the awe-inspiring new stores for Legion/Blackwood I would like to suggest a bit of a change to the Barbarian store. This was a store made to compliment a class that can otherwise be... Underwhelming in a PW setting.

My idea is to take what is already there, and just up the bonuses. There are items in the Blackwood store that add 20% immunities, make the same immunities for 15+ barbarians 25-30%. They have +4 stat items. Give the Barbarian armor ((Top tier)) +4 to its stat boost, as well as upping the gauntlets to +4. I would also suggest the addition of + 3 Nat armor to the already useful amulet, and the (top) Weapons to +4 with Vamp regen increased by 1 point. Lastly, the Cloak being given +3 Deflection and 10/- Cold. I think these changes would be welcomed by many, they involve a heavy investment ((Both class and gold)) and would bring the items to be as good/better then normal faction gear as they were intended to be when they were first implemented.

Barbarians deserve the love, and the items can remain as-is, just with some increased bonuses at the top.

Edit: I suppose I'd also love it if the armor was 6 armor 3 max dex bonus instead of 5 armor 4 dex bonus.

[Cornuto]

At this point, I'd rather us buff the class than the store.

[Seheren]

The store would be a 'quick-fix.' though I agree that the class could use some help beyond items. I think class changes for barbarian would take a lot of work, and I know the Team has a lot on it's plate. I would love to see Icewind Dale put in sooner rather then later!

[drifter]

I think we'd like to keep with the Faction Store > The Other Stuff theme.

That is to say, the Blackwood Barbarian > The Other Barbarian. I wouldn't count on any store changes that aren't associated with a faction. I could see the prices being reduced, however. That dirty little caravan trader is greedy.

At this point, I'd rather us buff the class than the store.

+1

[Snowmane]

At this point, I'd rather us buff the class than the store.

I agree with this. If equipment with increased stats gets into circulation it will make rebalancing the class nigh impossible as they really can't take back the instances of the equipment that the barbarian PCs will have in their inventories.

However, if improvements to the class mean Pathfinderizing the Rage power, that is a considerable undertaking that I doubt will happen anytime soon. It might be something to consider implementing as part of the Icewind Dale expansion as barbarians will be more prevalent in those areas, but I doubt we would see it anytime soon.

IMO, that barb equipment on that merchant is already crazy tough, but then I don't have a pure barbarian so I am not sure what unique challenges they face.

[Seheren]

Well, they suffer from less AC/AB/Damage then fighters((Not even getting into the number of feats)). Partly since the Fighter class has already been updated, but they were inferior beforehand as well. While the Store is indeed good... The new items in updated faction stores are far more powerful, and are accessible by most anyone with the reputation and funds to acquire them.

I only felt that pushing up the bonuses of the items by ~1 level on most of the items seemed fair enough of a boost.

I also understand why Faction items are a greater focus. Just airing a suggestion.

[Doubtful]

I'd love to see the Barbarians get an update. Poor buggers, they're so inferior when compared to Fighters.

Duelists too. Even if it's just the Ego Shield feature (because it makes me laugh).

I'm not sure that a lot of the Pathfinderisation of the Rage features would work though (that's a lot of coding) and in all honesty even with the pathfinder updates Barbarians are still pretty poor. I'd love to see them get more flexability, some stealth skills for example (Hide, MS, possibly Spot) and some feats.

A shame, barbarians have so much potential as a base class or a class to mix things up. Instead they're a pretty shitty fighter who can become an average fighter for a number of turns a day.

[Poltergeist]

I'd love to see them get more flexability, some stealth skills for example (Hide, MS, possibly Spot) and some feats.

I really like this. Especially given many rage powers won't be possible due to engine issues, I could also see giving them a feat tree in a vein similar to what rangers get (choose a barbarian path at a low level, get abilities as you level up related to that path.)

I'd need some ideas for those paths though; so get to it, community!

[Cornuto]

http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/UA:Barb...otem_Barbarian

Maybe as an inspiration point. (Barbarian variants/totems)

[Poltergeist]

Totems could be neat. Maybe open up the class skills list for barbarians, then give them a skill bonus equal to their class level, or half their class level to a single skill dependent on their totem.

I still need abilities/feats though. Maybe one per 3 levels, since Trap Sense isn't anything to get excited about. That would be 6 abilities per totem, though..

[Thief Of Navarre]

I like the core abilities. They just need to be reinforced! Fast movement - cool, DR - Cool, Rage - Cool, Unflankable - Cool, Skills - Cool, Huge HD - Cool.
Resistances or regen would follow the same direction or perhaps even a flat strength bonus for enough levels invested.

For my money a dwarf is the only realistic race choice because of their racial DR at the moment. Most other races will die very quickly as a barbarian without heavy FB investment (cause you can kill your opponents first)

(Dont bring Xzayne into this. I was generalising when I said only dwarves are tough enough)

[Doubtful]

I'd go a lot more excessive than the templates, they really don't add much to the class!

Ghost warriors that get a couple of MS/Hide bonuses with level 20 reward of HiPs.
Wolf Totem with polymorphirewolf at mid and Werewolf at 20. plus some other stuff.
Elk dudes with cold dr and a x per day special headbutt attack and additional cold damage (ala Icefuries) at 20.
Weave Eaters who get special dmg vs mage or dispelling, and maybe a hilarious aura at 20 that has a chance to dispell buffs (on friendly, hostile and neutral characters. All of them.) each round.

[Thief Of Navarre]

I'd go a lot more excessive than the templates, they really don't add much to the class!

Weave Eaters who get special dmg vs mage or dispelling, and maybe a hilarious aura at 20 that has a chance to dispell buffs (on friendly, hostile and neutral characters. All of them.) each round.

Totally behind this!

[ManUtd4Ever]

...rolling up a barb as we speak.

[Seheren]

I would also love to see Barbarians getting extra damage during Rage. I mean, we are talking about a supernatural ability, and staple of the class, that despite a max +8 STR still only manages the same bonus damage of Greater weapon Spec for fighters. Perhaps even something like a: +1-2 ((normal rage)) +3-4 ((greater rage)) +5-6((Mighty Rage)) Attack bonus during rage. I really like the ideas being tossed around though!