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View Full Version : Beefing up Barbarian's Rage? (3.5/PF)



Tanuki Tales
2010-08-12, 07:42 PM
What feats other than Reckless Rage (Complete Warrior) and Ettercap Berzerker (Unapproachable East) increase the stat bonuses granted to a Barbarian while raging?

Ranos
2010-08-12, 07:44 PM
Maybe not quite what you're looking for, but whirling frenzy is pretty damn awesome.

Curmudgeon
2010-08-12, 07:48 PM
It's not rage, but you can layer frenzy on top of rage for increased effect. Frenzied Berserker is the most obvious class that gets you frenzy.

Urpriest
2010-08-12, 07:49 PM
It's not rage, but you can layer frenzy on top of rage for increased effect. Frenzied Berserker is the most obvious class that gets you frenzy.

Similarly, levels in Bear Warrior will increase the stat bonuses received in rage by turning you into a bear. I can't think of many feats with this kind of effect though.

Tanuki Tales
2010-08-12, 08:34 PM
So those feats are the only two?

TooManyBadgers
2010-08-12, 08:36 PM
Stone Rage and Reckless Rage from Races of Stone. They both suck, though.

Andion Isurand
2010-08-12, 09:59 PM
I think they should make feats for all of the variant rages that are out there.

Hirax
2010-08-12, 10:12 PM
You might also check out the berserk prestige class from Deities and Demigods. If you just want to start piling on classes that get temporary strength bonuses there's also the kensai, frenzied berserker, warshaper, and bear warrior. Waker of the beast will get you a non-magical permanent size increase at 5th level (with a couple strength bumps along the way) if that's of interest. A dip into psychic warrior for the ability to manifest expansion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/expansion.htm) might also be worth your consideration.

Tanuki Tales
2010-08-13, 08:38 AM
You might also check out the berserk prestige class from Deities and Demigods. If you just want to start piling on classes that get temporary strength bonuses there's also the kensai, frenzied berserker, warshaper, and bear warrior. Waker of the beast will get you a non-magical permanent size increase at 5th level (with a couple strength bumps along the way) if that's of interest. A dip into psychic warrior for the ability to manifest expansion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/expansion.htm) might also be worth your consideration.

I never said strength bonuses. And I did ask for feats. ^^;

Nick_mi
2010-08-13, 11:32 AM
Where is this waker of the beast?

Tanuki Tales
2010-08-13, 01:00 PM
Where is this waker of the beast?

Dragon 296 apparently.

Fitz10019
2010-08-13, 01:30 PM
Dragon 296 apparently.

That's not apparent.

Person_Man
2010-08-13, 01:45 PM
The Barbarian class in general and Rage in particular are quite weak, and you have a hard time keeping up with most other classes. But here are options I think you might want to look at:

Totem Rager PrC: Improves Barbarian and Totemist abilities. Magic of Incarnum.

Duskling Barbarian sub levels: Use d10 hit die instead of d12, lose Fast Movement, but you can use essentia to buff your Barbarian abilities. Magic of Incarnum.

Cobalt Rage feat: Add invested essentia to melee damage and Will Saves.

Shared Fury: Your Animal Companion Rages with you. Since both Animal Companion and Rage can be buffed a variety of ways, this is potentially useful for some very specific builds. Races of the Wild.

Blazing Berserker feat: Gives you the Fire subtype while Raging, which means you're immune to Fire damage and take 50% more damage from Cold. Useful when combined with Frostrager. Sandstorm.

Extra Rage feat: Gives you 2 extra Rage uses. Honestly, there's not much reason to take more then 1 or 2 levels of Barbarian because of this feat. Complete Warrior.

Intimidating Rage feat: Free Action Demoralize 1 per Rage, and the effects lasts for the duration of your Rage. Demoralize can be optimized in various ways, although Fear effects become less and less useful as you gain levels. Comp Warrior.

Mad Foam Rager feat: Once per Rage delay the effect of any single attack, spell, or ability for 1 round. I don't know about you, but in my group combat usually lasts 1-5 rounds. So being able to delay a spell by 1 round is actually a huge deal. PHBII.

Reckless Rage feat: When you Rage you gain an additional +2 Str +2 Con -2 AC. Races of Stone.

Righteous Wrath feat: Vaguely worded "allows you to maintain your mental abilities while Raging." Some DMs interpret this as allowing you to cast spells or use abilities that require concentration. Book of Exalted Deeds.

Bear Warrior PrC: Transforms you into a Bear when you Rage, greatly improving Str, giving you Improved Grab, and qualifying you for Warshaper (who's abilities only kick in when you Rage). Lots of dead levels though, so I'd only take 1 level, if that. Complete Warrior.

Frenzied Berserker PrC: Frenzy, really powerful, really really difficult to control.

Frostrager PrC: Allows you to be healed by Cold damage when in a Rage. Frostburn.

Fist of the Forest PrC: Con to AC when unarmored. 2/day buff to Dex as well.

Deepwarden PrC: Con to AC, replaces Dex. Races of Stone.

War Hulk PrC: Gives up BAB for Str bonuses and special abilities. Easy to abuse. Miniatures Handbook.

Hulking Hurler PrC: Slightly harder to abuse, but ends up being able to deal massive damage with thrown weapons. Complete Warrior.

Runescarred Berserker PrC: Excellent half-caster Rage PrC. Unapproachable East.

Fangshields Barbarian sub levels: Lose Trap Sense and Uncanny Dodge, gain faster movement on Charge and the ability to deliver an Awesome Blow on a Charge. Champions of Valor.

Goliath Barbarian sub levels: Add Knowledge Nature, Extra Size and Str while Raging. (Not that big of a deal, since you already had to spend +1 LA to get into Goliath). Races of Stone.

Spiritual Totem variant: Lose fast movement, gain Pounce or Improved Grab. Complete Champion.

Spell Sense variant: Lose trapsense. Gain AC bonus vs Spells. Complete Mage.

Ferocity variant: Lose normal rage, gain ferocity which boosts Str and Dex instead of Con. Complete Scoundrel Web.

Streetfighter variant: Lose damage reduction to gain special abilities and benefits while Charging. Complete Scoundrel Web.

Totem Barbarian variant: Trade various class features for Feats and a few other minor things. Boar gives Die Hard at 1st level (useful if you're only going to play at ECL 1-3ish), and Wolf gives Improved Trip, bypassing Combat Expertise and it's Int requirement. Unearthed Arcana.

Whirling Frenzy variant: Rage increases Strength, Ref saves and AC, and allows an extra attack each turn, instead of normal benefit. Unearthed Arcana.

Crafty Hunter variant: Gain favored enemy, archery combat style, improved archery combat style, and greater archery combat style. Lose rage and indomitable will. Favored Enemy can be sorta optimized a variety of ways. Unearthed Arcana.

Tanuki Tales
2010-08-13, 03:00 PM
That's not apparent.

Yes it is. The Waker of the Beast is in Dragon Magazine 296. That's pretty apparent.

IdleMuse
2010-08-13, 03:49 PM
Eberron-speaking, there's quite a lot of feats for Rage builds in Dragonmarked; if you can afford some Heir of Siberys levels late-build, all the better.

Curmudgeon
2010-08-13, 05:22 PM
That's not apparent.
That depends on what resources you know about. The DragonDex Index of Articles (http://www.aeolia.net/dragondex/articles-subject.html) is a pretty good thing to have bookmarked.