|
|
Loopy's NPC Series:
[size=+1]The Barbarian[/size]
Barbarians as NPCs can be a really fun, terrifying and startling experience for players. Let me explain this in detail following these three simple points.
Fun:
Before I really get into it, I think it best if I note a few role-playing aspects of the Barbarian. Although this series is more about building survivable and memorable NPCs, it'll do you (and me) to do so. It's easy to get stuck in the assumption that the Barbarian is just a class that we can just DUMP onto a character and say it's just like any other class. It really isn't. I think that background and upbringing have alot to do with the building of a Barbarian character. Those of you who have read the Hickman and Weiss Dragonlance novels know exactly what I'm talking about and you likely can proceed directly to the crunchy bits.
Barbarians come from areas that give birth to tough individuals. These people are not stupid. Not inherently, anyways. They know less about modern society than us. Make sure your role-playing indicates this. A Barbarian with an average or higher intelligence has just as high a chance as everyone else of figuring things out. For instance, let's say that it's the Barbarian prisoner's first time in the big city of Panaecia. Here's some decent flavour-text for you:
Green-Eyes Sharpteeth is staring around with wonder and suspicion in his eyes. Those of you who passed your Sense Motive checks get the feeling that he's probably going to kill you if he can get his hands on you. He grunts and says, "Well, I never thought of that. Folding the steel like that man is doing over there. I could do this easily." He eyes each of you in turn, "And I will do it. Once I've killed every one of you and have escaped this stinkhole place." It's then that you notice that the huge man has undone his bonds and is wheeling on your spellcaster with big, hairy hands.
The Barbarian is ignorant, if you will, but not stupid. Keep this in mind. Another thing is that the Barbarian is impulsive. All Barbarians are chaotic. They get frustrated rather easily and are quick to anger. I know there's large group of people out there whose rallying cry is "The Barbarian is Chaotic Good, not Chaotic Stupid." This is a noble cause, but sometimes your best intentions can be overwhelmed by your emotions. I don't think there's a one of you out there who hasn't let your love, fear or anger get the best of you at one time or another. It can be the same way with the Barbarian (or the Paladin for that matter, but that's a whole nother thread).
Honour is not synonymous with Lawful. Barbarians can have a sense of honour. Love especially sparks this honour and causes the character to make impulsive decisions. An evil BBEG might even have a good Barbarian wrapped around her finger. This may be a great plot-hook.
With the Ranger out there, it's easy to think of the Barbarian as just another tank, but he's firmly entrenched in nature. You should play this up in not only your role-playing and skill use, but also your descriptions.
It's not that Barbarians don't know any social graces, they just don't know this society's social graces. Some things the Barbarian NPC do or don't do may seem savage to the common man. However, he may think the same of them. Any who have read the Wheel of Time, just think of the behaviour of the Aiel.
All of these parts of the Barbarian mentality can be great fun to play. With all those startling insights and that ferocious sense of honour you can be sure it's one of thiose things that'll make you glad you're a DM and you get to play all those characters instead of being stuck with just the one.
Terrifying:
Now on to the things about Barbarians that'll make sure that your players will get to play a multitude of characters as well. Barbarians can be a true terror in combat. I've seen quite a few Barbarian Character builds in my time, but I'll only mention the ones that you, as a DM will be interested in.
The First Round of Combat: This is where the Barbarian shines. As I will repeat later, probably more than once, a Barbarian can set the tone for the rest of the encounter. His charge/power attack/rage in the first round can be real horrorshow. If your Barbarian NPC kills the Wizard character with the first shot in the encounter, you'll hurt not only the morale of the characters, but the players as well. Remember: If your Barbarian is smart, he has a rank or two in Knowledge: Arcana (know your enemy) so he can pick out the spellcaster's spell component pouches and such parafanalia. If it's the first round of combat, then he won't incur attacks of opportunity on characters between him and that caster. Hopefully, he'll have a clean charge line and it's not too far-fetched to think the Barbarian would set up his waiting-spot so that he may get one. Think of the lengths hunters go through to get their quarry.
Two-handed weapons: This is kind of a no-brainer, but it really bore mentioning. Alot of people use intelligence and wisdom as dump stats for the poor Barbarian, so that kind of character will not be following any fancy feat chains very often. Doing as much damage with a single swing should be your main priority, here. Weapon focus and your main stat in Strength is a good deal. The greataxe or the greatsword is a real no-brainer, but my second point is one that touches on this a bit.
The Longspear: I know this weapon is simple, but it's one that the common Barbarian would undoubtedly wield (and a weapon he can fashion from just about any common branch if need be). It's a good weapon overall. The reach is a great way to get that Barbarian in there making Wizards wish they never knew how to cast spells and the players of those Wizards poring over crappy third party supplements looking for feats that allow them to make 10' adjustments. Which, I hope you will deny them from taking.
Setting for a charge and attacks of opportunity on charging characters are a great benefit from this weapon as well. I still can't stress enough the importance of that first, mighty blow that the Barbarian deals. It can set the tone for the rest of the adventure. It might be a good idea to give a longspear-wielding Barbarian the Combat Reflexes feat. It really couldn't hurt and the O of surprise on the face of the Sorcerer who doesn't cast on the defensive because he thinks the fighter already incurred the Barb's only attack of opportunity will be priceless.
Two-Weapon Fighting: Now I'll completely go against what I said earlier about two-handed fighting. A Human Barbarian can wield the Orcish Double-Axe at optimum efficiency as a level one character. This can be a sickening thing for a paryt of adventurers to see. They know the beastly thing probably has 14 hit points. They know the dude'll probably do an average of 7 hit points per hit with two +2 attack rolls (18 damage, +4/+4 attack when raging). The same NPC advanced to 6th level will lay a horrifying swath of carnage on the battlefield. With Power Attack and Cleave at third and sixth levels, this thing is a terror. Advanced to nineth, it should have Great Cleave or Combat Reflexes. I would suggest Great Cleave if your NPC is a BBEG whose level is higher than the PCs and Combat Reflexes if he's even or lower than the PCs.
Let's take a look at this 9th-level horrorshow, Inga of the Far-Sky Tribe: +9 BAB. Conservative Strength score of 20. We'll give her a +1/+1 Double-Axe. She has the feats Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, Power Attack, Cleave, and Combat Reflexes: That's +13/+8/+13 for normal two-weapon attacks that deal 1d8+6/+6/+3 damage with a x3 crit. She has more attacks than that, though. She can get more than one attack of opportunity per round and she can also get an extra attack with her Cleave ability. A couple of these girls can be deadly for PCs.
Let's be real here' though. It's an NPC. She will be Raging. Inga's attacks are thus: +15/+10/+15 dealing 1d8+8/+8/+4. Depending on who you're facing you can adjust this with Power Attack. A pair can flank (and not be flanked by the PCs.
Fighter Multiclassing: Multiclassing with the Fighter class does not have the impact it used to , but even though it has really hampered the Ftr/Brb PC, not so for the NPC. Ftr/Brb NPCs of level 10 or less are really nasty. Both the two-handed Barbarian and the two-weapon Barbarian can be greatly improved with the Weapon Specialization feat. However, if Sneak Attacks have been a problem in your party, I suggest keeping them straight Barbarians to match their levels with that of the PC rogue (or rogues ::shudder:: ) in your party. This will insure their Uncanny Dodge ability is matched against the Sneak attacks of the party. This isn't as important with your nickel-and-dime low-level punks, but it's extremely important if you're making a BBEG out of it.
Startling:
People have alot of preconceived notions about the Barbarian. This can seriously work to your advantage. It's that big O of surprise rearing its ugly head again.
BBEG Barbarians: This could totally blow away players that are expecting a "great warrior from far away to took control of the land." A Fighter, Blackguard or even Samurai is probably what's expected. When a hulking beast of a man steps before the PCs gripping a spear or lance the size of a flagpole who is essentially unsneakable and has more hit points than Carter has liver pills, they are screwed.
Rogue Multiclassing: This is an amazing combination. Both classes have Uncanny Dodge. Rage combined with sneak attack is nasty. A sneak attack from a greataxe during a Barbarian Rage can really make a player think twice about standing and fighting. Remember: these are NPCs. It really doen't matter how many times per day you Rage, they're only there for one fight anyways.
Use Magic Device: With the magic of 3.5 we can now give our Barbarians the Use Magic Device skill. Imagine the looks on their faces when that group of big, nasty Barbarians start curing each other in battle with wands.
Druids and Clerics: BBEG Barbarians should be accompanied by a wise man from her tribe. This is EXTREMELY important. They need to be there to counter the enchantments and illusions that will be easy to effect your Barbarian. Even Iron Will isn't very helpful for your Barb NPC... not as helpful as counterspells or buff spells anyways.
Monster Races: Centaurs, Bugbears, Ogres, Giants and Minotaurs all go very well with the Barbarian class. The Centaur in particular is very nice, especially when you give him a lance and a composite (str 18) longbow. That lance dealing double damage on the first round with Rage and Power attack and a charge bonus is NASTY!!
In conclusion:
Once again, if anyone has anything to add or refute, please do so. This repository (EW!) is a place where we can discuss things like adults. Look for my suppo... er... I mean REpository thread on Bards before too long. Thanks!
|
