Barbarian/Pit Fighter Build?

[Tensen01]

So, I'm not a big d20 fan and don't use it too often but in the Conan group I'm in if you're not gaming the system you're dead.

So, I need your help.

I'm trying to make a Barbarian Class character(nemedian race), who's a Pit Fighter specializing primarily in Unarmed combat.

He's probably gonna be starting at 6th level.

So far I'm got up to lvl 5 with the feats Brawl, Dodge, and Improved Unarmed. I think I get one more but I'm not sure what to choose.

Reccomendations?

 

[Tensen01]

The picture I drew of him... If it helps

 

[Trodax]

That's a beautiful picture! Wish I had your skill...

I'll start by saying that I think there is a multiclassing option called "Brawler" (barbarian/soldier multiclass) in one of the "Hyborias FFF" books. There are probably also a bunch of feats that could be useful to you scattered around in a number of the various sourcebooks. I don't use any of the crunch other than that in the core rulebook, though, so I don't really know that stuff. So keep in mind that this is advice from a guy who only uses the core book.

First of all, what are your stats? You will definitely want a high Strength score, but if you're set on being a barbarian you'll also need a high Dexterity (since the barbarians best defense is Dex-based dodge).

Second, are you absolutely set on being a barbarian? I think it's a good choice, but you could also build a pitfighter-type with the soldier class.

Feats. Well, as a 6th level Nemedian barbarian you'll get five feats (regular feats a levels 1, 3 and 6, and racial bonus feats at levels 1 and 5). I think Improved Unarmed, Dodge and Brawl is a good start. Some people will say that Brawl is a pointless feat since you can strap on a gauntlet (as your character clearly has in the picture!) and get the same effect and also a little armour piercing, but I still think it's a cool feat because it helps you when you're fighting completely naked (and what barbarian worth his salt doesn't want to fight completely naked? :wink: ).
I would also get Improved Grapple as it can be a quite useful feat if your group is ganging up on someone (you hold him, while your friends stick him to death). Improved Trip is also supposed to be a very good feat, although I haven't seen it used enough in play to really know.

What I would advice you against is specializing in unarmed combat 100%. It can be very useful to be good at fighting without a weapon, but in some situations it will simply not be all that effective (you'll have problems against opponents in armour, for example). Sometimes you will want to pick up that huge axe and go to town. It's therefore a good idea to get some more general feats that will always help you. Improved Initiative is useful, and Power Attack is a great choice for a warrior with high Str (and you can use it unarmed!).

If I got to pick five feats for this guy it would therefore probably be: Improved Unarmed, Improved Grapple, Brawl, Dodge and Power Attack.

Oh, and welcome to the forums!

 

[Trodax]

I'll add that I always thought Steely Gaze was a fun feat if you want to be an intimidating SOB (and your picture kind of gives me that impression!). It's probably not the most effective feat, though, and I can't remember right now what level you need to be to be able to get it.

 

[Tensen01]

Thanks for the Help...

His stats are:
STR: 18
DEX: 16
CON: 18
INT: 14
WIS: 12
CHA: 13

I'll hafta see if I can find that Brawler template when I get a chance to look at the FFF books, but I really don't want levelsof Soldier. Doesn't fit my image even if it gives me feats

As a Nemedian Barbarian(WHich normally doesn't make too much sense) they reccomend that he be a fighter raised in the Pits and Gladiatorial arenas, and as such He has a few different things. He has Power Attack instead of Track since he's not an outdoorsy type Barbarian. They also do a few things with his skills.

So I've got Power Attack right off the bat.

Now the nice thing about Barbarians is that versatility so |I can focus his feats on unarmed but he's not boned if I just hafta pick up a weapon.

I need to look at the Fiercest book when we game tonight because my friend said something aboyut a feat that lets you, when making a two-weapon attack, combine the damages from both attacks into a single sum so that it affects the possibility of "Massive Damage". That might be cool. That's also something. Does Two-Weapon Combat work unarmed?

Anyone know of any feat that gives you DR though? That's my main problem is that if this guy does get hit he's kinda boned because he wears little, if any, armor.

 

[Se Chris]

I'd be inclined to pick up Combat Expertise, which you can use to boost his Defence if you need to, and then go with Improved Trip and Improved Disarm. Improved Trip is brutal if you use a weapon, especially with Strength 18, but I don't know how effective it is unarmed. Improved Disarm lets you disarm effectively while unarmed, which lets you force the enemy to fight you barehanded - which you're specialised for and he, presumably, isn't - or just take his sword away and chop him up with it.

And yes, Two-Weapon Combat works normally with unarmed attacks. Your unarmed attacks count as light and barbarians are automatically proficient with TWC, so you basically get the extra attack for no penalties. Hell, with Improved Unarmed Strike if you ever happen to be using a one-handed weapon you can use TWC with the weapon and your free hand.

 

[Krushnak]

there is a feat from hyboria's finest that gives you dr against a damage type(piercing, bludgeoning or slashing) equal to your con mod but reduces your dodge defense by 2 each time you take the feat, so -6 if you want the dr against all 3 types. if you want this i would suggest heavily multiclassing in soldier. also the brawler variant is in hyborias finest.

as for feats: imp unarmed, brawl, imp grapple, imp trip, combat expertise.

steely gaze and menacing aura are cool aswell especially if you combine them with roaring rage from hyborias finest, you cause fear.

some handy feats you might also consider, imp overrun, iron will, imp tw defence and tough as nails.

 

[Ralph]

Roaring Rage?
Can you give me a page number for this one please? I don't see it.

 

[Tensen01]

there is a feat from hyboria's finest that gives you dr against a damage type(piercing, bludgeoning or slashing) equal to your con mod but reduces your dodge defense by 2 each time you take the feat, so -6 if you want the dr against all 3 types. if you want this i would suggest heavily multiclassing in soldier. also the brawler variant is in hyborias finest.

Hmmm doesn't sound like an even trade off... I'd rather be just damn hard to hit. I might hafta get combat expertise just to give me more dodge... Wish there were a few more options.

Lotsa great suggestions. I'll hafta look at the Fiercest and Finest books before I totally decide.

I'm really considering a level of Thief for the sneak attack... And I can see it in his background... After he becomes free takes up thievery to eat.

hmmmmmm

 

[Tensen01]

So, I think I'm going to give him a couple levels of "Martial Desciple" from the Signs & Portents.

It kinda does exactly what I was trying to.

so Barbarian 4/Martial Desciple 2

MD 2 gives me Improed Unarmed so I have an Extra feat. And I took Discipline Flesh Of Mountains so I don't hafta wear armor for to have a DR.

So I've got Dodge & Brawl with space for 2 more. Sadly I miss a favoured since I'm not 5th in either class.

Might hafta change around his Stats so I can take advantage of Disciplined Defence when I hit MD 3.

Very glad to see that Mongoose took the time to say "Look, it isn't all Swords and Axes... Fists can be just as useful and here's how"

 

[Yogah of Yag]

So, I think I'm going to give him a couple levels of "Martial Desciple" from the Signs & Portents.

It kinda does exactly what I was trying to.

so Barbarian 4/Martial Desciple 2

MD 2 gives me Improed Unarmed so I have an Extra feat. And I took Discipline Flesh Of Mountains so I don't hafta wear armor for to have a DR.

So I've got Dodge & Brawl with space for 2 more. Sadly I miss a favoured since I'm not 5th in either class.

Might hafta change around his Stats so I can take advantage of Disciplined Defence when I hit MD 3.

Very glad to see that Mongoose took the time to say "Look, it isn't all Swords and Axes... Fists can be just as useful and here's how"

The concensus here seems to be that Martial Disciple from S&P is WAY overpowered. If it were trimmed down drastically it may work better as a PC class. I think it was intended as a one-shot encounter with an NPC, though.

 

[Tensen01]

The concensus here seems to be that Martial Disciple from S&P is WAY overpowered. If it were trimmed down drastically it may work better as a PC class. I think it was intended as a one-shot encounter with an NPC, though.

Well, my GM seemed fine with it so I'm gonna go for it And I'm not sure just how overpowered it is... you only ever get ONE discipline.

Plus, he doesn't pull any punches unless you've maximized your character you'll be dead pretty quick.

 

[Tensen01]

So, I'm going Barbarian 3/Martial Disciple 3

Picked the "Flesh Of The Mountains" discipline to get the DR

Picked feats:
Brawl
Dodge
Improved Grapple
Improved Critical(In a modified version as per GM changes)
Toughness

he may change when I get a copy of 2e (Which is okay since I probably won't start playing him until after I get the book)

WIP colors:

Quick Sketch: