Rage as a 1/encounter ability with additional daily uses

[gkathellar]

What kind of unforeseen problems would it cause if a barbarian were allowed to enter a rage once automatically in every fight, and had a smaller number of uses per long rest besides that? At mid-to-high levels it wouldn't change much, I think, so the main impact would be at low levels. Would it actually be problematic to allow a barbarian to do their primary schtick in every fight at those levels?

[Dalebert]

But they have to pay to be ready for those higher levels by more barbarian levels to keep up. It would make them very front-loaded and incentivize taking a small dip in barbarian for a massive benefit while multi-classing into something else. Raging is a powerful effect and thus it's intended not to be usable every fight. It seems like you're expecting to save it for when it's needed.

We were ambushed by a single zombie a week ago. Would be silly if our barbarian has wasted a rage on that.

[gfishfunk]

It could be useful as a level 6 or level 11 class feature, making it only accessible for a big investment.

[Dalebert]

It could be useful as a level 6 or level 11 class feature, making it only accessible for a big investment.

Now we're brainstorming. It could perhaps be an optional class feature at high levels, something like if you rage less than three rounds, you recover the use of that rage. It should remain a resource that has to be managed but it would give you more options and versatility.

[Tanarii]

So basically, rage the entirely of every fight, unless they somehow can't make a melee attack or are not attacks?

Then have the additional ability to restart the rage is they ARE somehow knocked out, several times a day?

It would be insanely overpowered.

[Fflewddur Fflam]

So basically, rage the entirely of every fight, unless they somehow can't make a melee attack or are not attacks?

Then have the additional ability to restart the rage is they ARE somehow knocked out, several times a day?

It would be insanely overpowered.

This. Rage is perfectly set-up as is. If you are having a lot of encounters per day, then you are not going to be able to rage every encounter, you just have to pick and choose. Making a player make tactical decisions based on resource management is one of the hallmarks of D&D, it doesn't just apply to spellcasters.

[MaxWilson]

What kind of unforeseen problems would it cause if a barbarian were allowed to enter a rage once automatically in every fight, and had a smaller number of uses per long rest besides that? At mid-to-high levels it wouldn't change much, I think, so the main impact would be at low levels. Would it actually be problematic to allow a barbarian to do their primary schtick in every fight at those levels?

Biggest impact would be that single-class Barbarians would be even less compelling than they are today. The Unlimited Rages aspect is at least half the attraction of Barbarian 20.

[uraniumrooster]

What kind of unforeseen problems would it cause if a barbarian were allowed to enter a rage once automatically in every fight, and had a smaller number of uses per long rest besides that? At mid-to-high levels it wouldn't change much, I think, so the main impact would be at low levels. Would it actually be problematic to allow a barbarian to do their primary schtick in every fight at those levels?

DMs could kill Frenzy barbarians by just throwing lots of short fights in a row at them. Exhaust them to death... muahahah.

[Innocent_bystan]

What about exchanging HD for extra Rages while short resting? At a 3HD to 1 Rage ratio? You could specify it would have to be Barbarian HD's, to prevent dipping.

[Zman]

I basically supercharges the Barbarian at early levels and devalues later continued progression in the class.

If you want to see the rough implications as far as DPR is concerned, check out the spreadsheet linked in my signature. Essentially you are letting the Barbarian halve most incoming damage and deal solid boosted damage. This means essentially always on reckless raging, if they combine this with something like PAM or GWM we are talking about some very considerable damage output which most encounters aren't built to handle, worse with Frenzy if you are making any changes to exhaustion.

May I ask why you are looking at making this change which frontloads a significant portion of the Barbarian's progression?

[MaxWilson]

DMs could kill Frenzy barbarians by just throwing lots of short fights in a row at them. Exhaust them to death... muahahah.

Unfortunately(?), this doesn't work. Frenzy is not mandatory for a Berserker when she rages.

[uraniumrooster]

Unfortunately(?), this doesn't work. Frenzy is not mandatory for a Berserker when she rages.

Ah, that's right. Shame... no automatic death by exhaustion after all.

[Safety Sword]

You really want rage use to be a choice a barbarian has to make. It is the feature that supercharges the class. If you are allowed to have it all the time barbarians are too strong.

It's about the only choice most barbarians will make except for Reckless Attack...