Amechra
2020-06-23, 03:17 AM
The goal here is to make a less-magical Barbarian subclass that encourages you to dual-wield. Critiques are welcome.
Path of the Howling Dervish
Grinning Lunatic
Your rage tends to lurk under the surface, which unsettles those around you.
At third level, you gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. If you already were proficient in Intimidation, you gain proficiency with another Barbarian class skill instead.
Thrashing Frenzy
Your fighting style is bestial, relying on multiple vicious attacks to destabilize and brutalize your opponents.
Starting at third level, melee weapon attacks you make against a creature you have attacked with a different weapon this round deal an extra 1d4 damage of the same type as the weapon, as you overwhelm your opponent's defenses. In addition, whenever you engage in two-weapon fighting, you may make an attack with your offhand weapon as part of the bonus action to enter Rage.
Howling Aggression
In life, just like on the battlefield, unmitigated aggression can easily disrupt carefully-laid plans.
At 6th level, you may make a Charisma (Intimidation) check in place of a Wisdom (Insight) check, as long as you immediately follow up this roll by threatening the creature that prompted the roll. Similarly, you may make a melee weapon attack against a suspected illusion in place of the normal Intelligence (Investigation) check.
Dance of Brutality
Just because your fighting style is brutal doesn't mean that it isn't elegant in its own way.
At 10th level, whenever you take the Attack action and attack two different creatures, you may make an additional attack with your offhand weapon against a third creature. Whenever you hit a creature with a weapon attack, they have disadvantage on any opportunity attacks they make against you until the beginning of your next turn.
Eye of the Storm
Your weapons rise to intercept every threat, leaving you untouched by the perils of combat.
At 14th level, as long as you engage in two-weapon fighting, ranged weapon attacks made against you have disadvantage. In addition, whenever you make an opportunity attack while Raging, you may make an additional offhand weapon attack as part of the same action.
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So, some notes:
• Other than the bonus damage, most of these features would still work if your off-hand weapon was a javelin or hand crossbow. I'm fine with this, since that's generally going to be less optimal than picking up another melee weapon.
• The bonus 1d4 damage is supposed to make up for the fact that you don't get to add your Strength bonus to off-hand attacks. The wording is set up so that you can "tag" a creature with your offhand weapon to deal the bonus damage on opportunity attacks against that creature.
• Howling Aggression is my favorite feature of the set. I wish it was less of a ribbon, but the mental images it gives me make me giggle.
• Eye of the Storm does let you make that offhand attack against a creature that didn't trigger the original opportunity attack. I stand by this decision.
Path of the Howling Dervish
Grinning Lunatic
Your rage tends to lurk under the surface, which unsettles those around you.
At third level, you gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. If you already were proficient in Intimidation, you gain proficiency with another Barbarian class skill instead.
Thrashing Frenzy
Your fighting style is bestial, relying on multiple vicious attacks to destabilize and brutalize your opponents.
Starting at third level, melee weapon attacks you make against a creature you have attacked with a different weapon this round deal an extra 1d4 damage of the same type as the weapon, as you overwhelm your opponent's defenses. In addition, whenever you engage in two-weapon fighting, you may make an attack with your offhand weapon as part of the bonus action to enter Rage.
Howling Aggression
In life, just like on the battlefield, unmitigated aggression can easily disrupt carefully-laid plans.
At 6th level, you may make a Charisma (Intimidation) check in place of a Wisdom (Insight) check, as long as you immediately follow up this roll by threatening the creature that prompted the roll. Similarly, you may make a melee weapon attack against a suspected illusion in place of the normal Intelligence (Investigation) check.
Dance of Brutality
Just because your fighting style is brutal doesn't mean that it isn't elegant in its own way.
At 10th level, whenever you take the Attack action and attack two different creatures, you may make an additional attack with your offhand weapon against a third creature. Whenever you hit a creature with a weapon attack, they have disadvantage on any opportunity attacks they make against you until the beginning of your next turn.
Eye of the Storm
Your weapons rise to intercept every threat, leaving you untouched by the perils of combat.
At 14th level, as long as you engage in two-weapon fighting, ranged weapon attacks made against you have disadvantage. In addition, whenever you make an opportunity attack while Raging, you may make an additional offhand weapon attack as part of the same action.
---
So, some notes:
• Other than the bonus damage, most of these features would still work if your off-hand weapon was a javelin or hand crossbow. I'm fine with this, since that's generally going to be less optimal than picking up another melee weapon.
• The bonus 1d4 damage is supposed to make up for the fact that you don't get to add your Strength bonus to off-hand attacks. The wording is set up so that you can "tag" a creature with your offhand weapon to deal the bonus damage on opportunity attacks against that creature.
• Howling Aggression is my favorite feature of the set. I wish it was less of a ribbon, but the mental images it gives me make me giggle.
• Eye of the Storm does let you make that offhand attack against a creature that didn't trigger the original opportunity attack. I stand by this decision.