tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post3507031147586942919..comments2024-03-29T00:10:02.849-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: B/X BarbariansJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-77655602402737145132009-09-19T08:15:37.136-07:002009-09-19T08:15:37.136-07:00@ Pal: Hey, it's YOUR party man!@ Pal: Hey, it's YOUR party man!JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-91881420945187808642009-09-18T20:59:35.404-07:002009-09-18T20:59:35.404-07:00Sounds like a challenge. I'm game. It may ta...Sounds like a challenge. I'm game. It may take me several posts to present my case, i'm not good with long posts.Aaron E. Steelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789462075611254929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-78907477803186948422009-09-17T22:54:45.609-07:002009-09-17T22:54:45.609-07:00I'll be looking for your psionicist write-up.....I'll be looking for your psionicist write-up...I'm not going to make any judgments about it till I see it!<br />: )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-84389871009726326622009-09-17T14:14:45.810-07:002009-09-17T14:14:45.810-07:00The reason I would use Cha for a psionicist as I a...The reason I would use Cha for a psionicist as I always thought of Cha as "strength of character" and "powerful personality" not attractiveness or leadership. Therefore, people were attracted to people with hight Cha, due to that persons singleminded confidence in their chosen purpose. I translated this to mean the person is also in touch with their "inner strength" and could therefore tap into the powers of the mind.<br /><br />Of course, I have gone back to ground on D&D, so there are no original rules I will not bend or break if it suits me.<br /><br />That's why Con works for me, thought for a BX game you're probably better to sticking to your original idea!Aaron E. Steelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789462075611254929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-58048439827968815242009-09-15T21:57:18.092-07:002009-09-15T21:57:18.092-07:00Mmm...I considered Con, but in B/X prime requisite...Mmm...I considered Con, but in B/X prime requisites can be adjusted (it is the only way to have some determination over your ability scores) and Con and Cha can never be adjusted...thus, they can never be prime requisites. Just sticking with the B/X way.<br /><br />For a psionicist, I'd consider Int or Wis for the same reason. My gut reaction says Intelligence ("look at the big brain on THAT guy") but since two classes use Int already, and only one uses Wis, I might go with Wis for the sake of "fairness."<br /><br />Unless you're already using the Monk that is...<br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-22142842503542791732009-09-15T20:05:03.414-07:002009-09-15T20:05:03.414-07:00Con as the prime stat for a barbarian would be per...Con as the prime stat for a barbarian would be perfect in my mind. I might give him exp bonus for high Con or Cha though, rather than Str/Dex, but its all good.<br /><br />I'm debating the use of Cha as the prime stat for a psionicistAaron E. Steelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789462075611254929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-6049137058632493162009-09-15T16:11:24.510-07:002009-09-15T16:11:24.510-07:00@ D30: I’m glad you like it.
Conan (on whom this ...@ D30: I’m glad you like it.<br /><br />Conan (on whom this write-up is based) DOES share similarities with the ranger class, and I wanted to communicate that. He CAN track, he CAN evade tracking. But Ron Howard’s character was published looong before Tolkien ever set pen to paper regarding Aragorn and the rangers of Westernesse. As far as I’m concerned, the Dunedain are a rip-off of Howard’s “woodsmen,” not vice versa.<br /><br />I couldn’t help but throw the read languages bit into the character write-up as it is very Conan; I considered some kind of druidic empathy but skipped it…this is more of a decent Reaction roll with animals than any type of “beastmaster” skill (that’s a whole different B/X write-up!). Your campaign could certainly include some sort of “field language” as a possible language skill (available to barbarians…or anyone else…with an Intelligence of 13+).<br /><br />Climb/stealth SHOULD work in any environment as far as I can tell…why would it not? I see rock climbers scale viaducts and buildings as well as trees and boulders, after all. <br /><br />I think you’re right about the UA write-up typecasting this character (especially the most recent versions present in D&D 3+). To be fair, I think certain cinematic depictions of barbarians (with body-builder actors) have also contributed to the stereotype. <br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-40929808167602540062009-09-15T15:29:03.257-07:002009-09-15T15:29:03.257-07:00I like. Imagining a barbarian as a Celt or an abor...I like. Imagining a barbarian as a Celt or an aboriginal tribesman makes a big difference. He kind of bleeds into Ranger a bit much, and I'd call a Celt or Viking a Ranger, Thief, or Fighter instead. <br /><br />Actually, I'd like to see him lose the Read Languages, but gain an Emotive Speech skill instead. This reflects him dealing with people of many tribes with many languages, and also animals and such, and would let him communicate basic information (Good water here, or they say to leave because this place is holy). <br />And he could stand to choose either the attack bonus and self-sufficient survival, or survival for one person per level & tracking. This way he can be the Barbarian warrior or the Barbarian provider. <br /><br />I like the no chosen terrain for his skills, and making his climb / stealth work in all environments. Less rules, easier to play with, makes him useful everywhere. Wish you left out the desert/broken terrain part of the fast movement. <br /><br />Anwyay, minor suggestions and thoughts. I like this take on the Barbarian a lot. I think that picture in the Unearthed Arcana 1E and his d12 HP really typecast him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-52023580362566887562009-09-15T15:13:17.755-07:002009-09-15T15:13:17.755-07:00Anemic, huh?
One thing I think we ALL tend to for...Anemic, huh?<br /><br />One thing I think we ALL tend to forget is that Conan (for example) is MASSIVE, even compared to other “barbarians.” I’m currently reading the later (last) works of Howard, in which the Cimmerian is often fighting against alongside the civilized Aquilonians AGAINST the barbarous picts. The picts are tougher than the average civilized man due to their rugged lifestyle, but they ain’t THAT fantastic. Conan just happens to be the most rugged of all.<br /><br />I think it is a mistake to give barbarians a D12 hit dice, simply in order to recreate Conan clones. A barbarian could be a Viking or a Celt or a Mongol or even a Cherokee warrior. Bedouins, brigands, Gauls...all might be the basis for a barbarous type. And in B/X terms a 1D6 Hit Dice is a lot better than the Normal Man hit dice (1D4). <br /><br />Over time, of course, the +3 hit points per level WILL over-take all other character classes (a barbarian with average hit points and no Constitution bonus passes a fighter with average hit points at 19th level)…of course, this a simple reflection of how urban life over time just isn’t as healthy as that clean-living barbarous life-style.<br />: )<br /><br />I also think it’s important that the B/X fighter still be able to shine in the only area he can: fighting. Yes a barbarian with a high strength (um…Conan) is going to wail on any two-bit man-of-arms at low levels. But even Conan gets out-paced in the fighting department when it comes to true swordmasters. He’ll have to rely on his other skills (his barbarian fortitude, cunning, and special abilities) to out-last his opponent.<br /><br />Fighters are the knights in armor. Barbarians are NOT hulking meat shields. That’s a poor stereotype, and not one true to its literary (or historic!) roots.<br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-37372303872248542492009-09-15T14:35:47.133-07:002009-09-15T14:35:47.133-07:00Nice...Very reminiscent of Lieber's and Howard...Nice...Very reminiscent of Lieber's and Howard's work. The d6 hit points might be a bit anemic, but I "think" I understand why you did it.<br /><br />I also really like the "horde" rules you've instituted for 9th level.<br /><br />Consider this "appropriated". ;-) Thanks.Gamer Dudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006232842482959060noreply@blogger.com