Barbarian Build Help

[codexgigas]

Alright, for the next campaign I'll be playing in, I've decided to play a melee character instead of a full-caster (yes, I know it's mechanically inferior, I want a change of pace). However, the only character I've ever played that wasn't a full-caster was an archery-based Ranger, so I don't have much experience in that regard.

I'm going to play a dwarven barbarian. Since the campaign has a Norse setting, I thought that it'd be fun to play a berserker, so I'll be prestige classing into Bear Warrior (CW). That's set in stone. The dm has agreed to modify the class so that I don't actually turn into a bear but channel a bear spirit; I'll give up some of the bonuses, but I get to keep my tricked-out greatspear. I dipped the level of Ranger for better skill points at first level, a favored enemy, and Track as a bonus feat. I don't plan on advancing as a Ranger.

I've come up with my basic build, and got dm approval to swap out my dwarven racial favored class (fighter to barbarian) and traded my weapon familiarity for greatspear proficiency. That said, I'm not sure where I'm going to take this after about level nine. Any suggestions are appreciated. Arcane magic is not available to any pcs (it's rare in the campaign world), and I wouldn't want it if it was, so refrain from suggesting anything of that sort. I'm also away from books at the moment, but if I remember correctly, Bear Warrior requires a BAB of 7. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Here's my character.

Dwarven Ranger 1/Barbarian 4

(Stats were generated 4d6 drop lowest, and I rolled well.)
STR 20 (18+2 (gloves of giant strength))
DEX 15
CON 20 (17+2 (racial) +1 (4th level))
INT 11
WIS 14
CHA 9 (11-2 (racial))

Proposed Build
Ranger 1- Power Attack, Track
Barb 1
Barb 2- Improved Bull Rush
Barb 3- +1 Con
Barb 4
Barb 5- Shock Trooper
Barb 6
Bear Warrior 1- +1 Con
BW 2- Leap Attack
BW 3
BW 4
BW 5- (Cleave or Improved Favored Enemy?), +1 Con
BW 6
BW 7
BW 8- ???
BW 9- +1 Con
BW 10
Barb 7- ???
Barb 8
Barb 9- +1 Con

Edit: I forgot to mention, allowed books are: Core, PHB 2, All Completes, Heroes of Battle, and Heroes of Horror.

[Spiryt]

I don't know if Improved favored enemy is good for such build (if you don't want more ranger levels).

What's your fauvorite enemy? Beacuse if your character must often fight with his specific enemy it can be better.

[blue_fenix]

Iron Will. Having the Greater-Rage-ing Power-Attack-ing Shock-Trooper-ing barbarian get Dominate-ed is not fun for the rest of the part.

[Bassetking]

Trade your first level of Barbarian for the Lion Totem Barbarian variant from Complete Champion. You lose Fast Movement, you gain Pounce.

Congrats, your leap-attacking Bear Warrior is now making a full-attack on every charge, and adding his Shocktrooper/Power attack bonus to each of the attacks he makes at the end of that charge.

[PinkysBrain]

Something like ranger 3/barbarian 2/fighter 2 would be a better entry into bearwarrior. The two extra feats you get you can spend on extra rage and steadfast determination.

[its_all_ogre]

fighter 2 yes, but ranger three? what for? i do not see what this adds to the build apart from skill points, you'll even gain fighting styles that you will never use!

[codexgigas]

Well, the character is set in stone through level 5. I've already submitted the character sheet to my DM. My favored enemy is monstrous humanoids, chosen per my DM's urging, so it's going to come into play quite a bit. Since I'm basically a one-trick pony when it comes to charging, I'm not sure how useful cleave would be.

I'll look at Lion Totem Barbarian (and ask for it if I like it), but I don't have access to Complete Champion at the moment (and won't until the game begins). However, since my charge needs to reach enemies, and I have reduced movement from being a dwarf, I tend to like fast movement.

[serow]

fighter 2 yes, but ranger three? what for? i do not see what this adds to the build apart from skill points, you'll even gain fighting styles that you will never use!

Endurance feat, a prereq to Steadfast Determination feat from PHB2.
Uses your Con modifier instead of Wis for bonus to Will saves.

[Matthew]

Since I'm basically a one-trick pony when it comes to charging, I'm not sure how useful cleave would be.

It would still probably be very useful, since if you successfully 'drop' the Monstrous Humanoid you Charged you can attack his companion with the same potential for a Kill. Basically, it turns one potential kill into two, even on a Charge.