Building an Indestructible Dwarf Barbarian [PF]

[Tokuhara]

I know that Barbarian got beaten silly with the nerf bat when Pathfinder came out, but now, I think the Barbarian can step back to its higher ranking.

I'm thinking of building one to be more tank-y by going Magic Resistant Dwarf (drops Minor bonus vs. Spells and Poison for SR) Invulnerable Rager.

Definitely looking to take the Guarded Life line, Flesh Wound, and Increased DR powers, but beside these, I'm stumped.

Extra Rage Power will be a go-to feat past 2 and Ironhide pretty early, but again, I want to do enough damage to force the enemies to hit me.

Gear-wise, I plan on using the Earth Breaker from Inner Sea World Guide and wearing limited armor to minimize the penalty to my Flesh Wound DC.

Here's the rules for the build:

Anything on PFSRD that is Paizo-made
Ability Scores are determined by 4d6 drop the lowest
Standard WBL +300 gold
Starting at Level 3

If anyone on the forums can help, I'd really appreciate it.

[Slipperychicken]

Here are two PF Barbarian (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233032) Handbooks (http://www.enworld.org/forum/pathfinder-rpg-discussion/312912-barbarian-handbook.html).

[Tokuhara]

Looking at taking the Dragon Totem line, and the Increased DR power (requires 1 Extra Rage Power Feat), so now for gear and more feat selections.

[Slipperychicken]

Typically, 2-handed Greatswords are a weapon of choice for many stabby-types, since they're mechanically very solid.

Be sure to keep a backup ranged weapon (and a good amount of ammo), in case something decides to harass you from the skies, or is otherwise unreachable. Your ranged attack will suck, but it's better than asking your DM if there are any suitable rocks lying around, then dealing with a 10ft range increment and improvised weapon penalties on top of your terrible ranged attack modifier. Some good ideas might include a Composite Longbow and Acid Flasks.

Tanglefoot Bags are good for keeping enemies from moving around too much, especially if someone's trying to run away.

[Wagadodo]

I would consider raging vitality as a feat. Adding two points con while you are raging is a very good benefit plus you will not lose out on the hit points raging gives if brought below zero so you will not have a insta death.

I would consider a high crit range weapon. I am currently playing a high crit barbarian you would be surprised how effective it is since most of your damage will be coming off of strength additions and power attack. I would also look at the beast totem since you get pounce at 10th level.

[Metahuman1]

If you can tap Stormwrack form 3.5, there is a material called Riverine in it.

Use that to make a suit of armor with some traps of Greater Disspell Magic and Anti Magic Field built in that trigger if any of the 3-4 things that can destroy Riverine are being used against you. Then take that PRC from Pathfinder that turns you into your armor, only living and animated.

Guess what? Your totally indestructible!



I have zero idea how helpful that was, but it was worth a shot.

[grarrrg]

I'm thinking of building one to be more tank-y by going Magic Resistant Dwarf (drops Minor bonus vs. Spells and Poison for SR)

Alternatively go Half-Orc and grab the Superstition (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/rage-powers/paizo---rage-powers/superstition-ex) Rage power.
This also opens up the Eater of Magic (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/rage-powers/paizo---rage-powers/eater-of-magic-su) Rage power, which gives you an extra chance at a Failed save.
AND the Ghost Rager (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/rage-powers/paizo---rage-powers/ghost-rager-su) power, which gives a TOUCH AC bonus equal to your Superstition bonus.

Half-Orc also opens up a feat or two that fit your build.


Invulnerable Rager.

You can trade away Fast Movement and stack Drunken Brute (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/archetypes/paizo---barbarian-archetypes/drunken-brute) on top of that. It's not that great on its own, but it gives a boost to the Good for What Ails You (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/rage-powers/paizo---rage-powers/good-for-what-ails-you-ex) and Staggering Drunk (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/rage-powers/paizo---rage-powers/staggering-drunk-ex) rage powers.


Definitely looking to take the Guarded Life line, Flesh Wound, and Increased DR powers, but beside these, I'm stumped.

The Ferocious Tenacity (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/ferocious-tenacity-combat) feat is a solid alternative to Guarded Life.
Pair this with the Raging Vitality (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/raging-vitality) feat for even more Toughness/Fun!


Extra Rage Power will be a go-to feat past 2 and Ironhide pretty early, but again, I want to do enough damage to force the enemies to hit me.

Ironhide? No... See feat suggestions above (some are Half-Orc only, some are allowable with Dwarf).

[Slipperychicken]

Use that to make a suit of armor with some traps of Greater Disspell Magic and Anti Magic Field built in that trigger if any of the 3-4 things that can destroy Riverine are being used against you. Then take that PRC from Pathfinder that turns you into your armor, only living and animated.


Not only does that greatly exceed level 3 WBL, but the Armor Bonded PrC does not make Armor Bonded entirely into the armor's material: it merely fuses the armor to the skin and reduces penalties for wearing it, along with some other benefits.

[Metahuman1]

It does? Huh, ok, my goof then. I could have sworn this trick would have worked if you could get access to the armor + Traps + PrC.

And I realized it wouldn't work at 3rd lvl, but I figured it was something to point him at to built up towards. Again, assuming that getting all ten PrC levels would give you the whole "Nothing except wxyz hurts me, and I have traps built into me to counter anyone using wxy-or-z." thing. )

[Renegade Paladin]

I'm actually doing this, though since it's an urban campaign he got demoted to cohort for his rogue cousin. Even as a cohort, a magic-resistant dwarf with DR pouring out of his ears is tough as nails to the point of having survived running into the middle of a room full of rogues to smash their caster buddy in the face. And that's with cohort gear.

[Tokuhara]

Dwarf just seemed like a better alternative originally, since the Magic Resistant racial trait is powerful. I can see Half-Orc being a nasty tripper (Chain Fighter as a free Spiked Chain proficiency), but really, dwarf seems to me to be the greater option (more HP, spell resistance, thematics of the massive hammer), unless I'm missing something major here.

[grarrrg]

Dwarf just seemed like a better alternative originally, since the Magic Resistant racial trait is powerful. I can see Half-Orc being a nasty tripper (Chain Fighter as a free Spiked Chain proficiency), but really, dwarf seems to me to be the greater option (more HP, spell resistance, thematics of the massive hammer), unless I'm missing something major here.

Meh. Dwarf/Half-Orc are pretty close as far as Barbarians go.
For HP you 'could' just put the Half-Orc's +2 into CON and call it even (I will give Dwarf a slight nod for +WIS/-CHA, something a Barb does/doesn't need).

Generally Half-Orcs make overall better Barbarians due to "Orc/Half-Orc ONLY" feats.

And while I agree that Spell Resistance can be handy to have, 5+level is quite low and will rarely stop an equivalent level caster (about 25% chance to fail). So it partly depends on what you are fighting. If you think you'll face a lot of weak(er) spell casters, then Dwarf is a good call. If you are facing equivalent spell casters and/or NO spell casters, then SR is fairly worthless.

_If_ you do go with Half-Orc than Superstition Rage power is a fair substitute, adding +2-to-+7 to your saving throws (and with Ghost Rager power adding that same number to your _touch_AC).

Take a look at the "Orc Only" feats, if you see something you just can't live without, then you're set. If you don't see much worth having, then Dwarf all the way.

[Tokuhara]

It seems Half-Orc has 3 feats (one of which is also available to Dwarf) that would be a blessing: Destroyer's Blessing (Sunder to regain 1 round of Rage), Fight On (Temporary HP if I fall to 0), and Gore Fiend (Confirm a Critical Hit or get Critical Hit to regain one round of Rage).

Plus, free chained weapon proficiencies are great, if at a cost of their wider proficiencies (Axes and Orc Weapons).

Perhaps I could go with a flail and skin it as a ball and chain attached to his wrist.

And Superstition/Witch Hunter/Ghost Rager/Eater of Magic/Sunder Spell could be nice, if only as Extra Rage Power feats. This, Indestructible Rager, the Dragon Totem Line (Probably the opposite of his Endure Elements) and the Guarded Life (Converting to Nonlethal is lovely) and Flesh Wound (see former) is a pretty balanced Barbarian, though thanks to Destroyer's Blessing I need to spend feats on the Sunder line...

[Novawurmson]

One of the biggest "must-have" Barbarian feats is Raging Vitality (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/raging-vitality). It reverses the most painful PF Barbarian nerf and increases your Con bonus in rage by +2. How's that for a steal?

[Tokuhara]

One of the biggest "must-have" Barbarian feats is Raging Vitality (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/raging-vitality). It reverses the most painful PF Barbarian nerf and increases your Con bonus in rage by +2. How's that for a steal?

It's sweet, but has one of those weird RP clashes

[Novawurmson]

...it clashes...with your roleplaying...of...what? Your character is an angry guy who doesn't die easy? It feels perfect.

[Tokuhara]

...it clashes...with your roleplaying...of...what? Your character is an angry guy who doesn't die easy? It feels perfect.

I meant I'm unconscious, but still so MAD!!!

[Dr.Epic]

Well, I was gonna suggest Frenzied Berserker until I saw this was Path Finder. I don't know enough about that to really say (unless you could convert the class).