Path of the Crusade

Path of the Crusade

Most barbarians are born to the wilds, learning to fight with all their rage and natural prowess. They allow their unbridled power to carry them to victory… or defeat… There are a few that have come to accept that they need more than their natural power can provide them; They need temperance, training, and purpose. Why let your fury control you? Why give your fate up to a part of yourself that you can’t control? These barbarians take their raw and untamed power and smelt it into a refined weapon of war.

When you become a crusader, you create a rallying standard which you carry into battle. This rallying standard takes the form of a flagpole and contains a special insignia that represents your people, family or master (whether it be god, king or country). The rallying standard must be noticeable and provides disadvantage to stealth for the bearer. This means that the flag is brightly colored, a flag post must be made of vibrant and/or reflective material.

This primal path is very well paired with a campaign in which factional conflict is common, as a faction, or banner to herald is the thematic drive behind this archetype.

 

Engine of War

When you select this primal path at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with heavy armor and may rage while wearing heavy armor. Additionally, when you gain your "Fast Movement" feature at 5th level, you can still benefit from your increased movement speed while wearing heavy armor.

Call of the Standard

Your presence is undeniable, and your rage is like a burning beacon. Starting at 6th level, while you are raging, hostile creatures within 20 feet of your banner must subtract your rage damage bonus from attack rolls targeting any creature other than you. The area of effect for this feature increases to 30 feet by 10th level, and 40 feet by 14th level.

Crusader's Shield

Your banner, much like your rage, makes you and your allies an unstoppable force of destruction. Starting at 10th level, you may use your bonus action to grant any one creature within the radius of your banner a number of temporary hit points equal to twice your barbarian level. These temporary hit points disappear at the beginning of the affected creature’s next turn. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses upon completion of a long or short rest.

Avatar of the Crusade

Your rage grants you a great degree of command, and you may use your rage to empower your allies. Starting at 14th level, while raging, you may use your bonus action to exude an aura of might from your banner until the beginning of your next turn. While this effect is active, you, and every friendly creature within 40 feet of your banner, are resistant to all forms of damage. You may use this feature once per a single use of your rage.