It is good so far, is it comparable to any of the mages though? Not really. I still want the martial characters to end up being comparable to the casters. And while I do understand that the mage class fantasy is different from the martial class fantasy, that doesn't excuse how useless martial characters become compared to caster characters at higher levels. I do think Weapon Mastery is a step in the right direction. Barbarian also seems to have gotten plenty of quality of life improvements like not having to worry too much about your rage ending because nobody is around to damage you or be damaged.
There are also really good utility buffs for the Barbarian, being able to use Strength for certain skills as long as you are raging can be really helpful. Especially since raging is easier to maintain and for up to 10 minutes no less. The new Barbarian still has issues with being slightly MAD in that you still need good Con, Dex, and Str. But this is less of an issue thanks to Primal Knowledge. Barbarians also just have a much better version of Feral Instinct/Danger Sense which is really nice. Indomitable Might is really strong but not overpowered. Or at least, it's overpowered in a good way. It allows the Barbarian to truly show off their skill, at higher levels a Barbarian just becomes unbeatable in contests of strength. And that's good! Level 20 mages can bend reality, this is the least they can give to Barbarians as they level. I also think Barbarian is lacking real tanking ability since it has no built-in way to keep an enemy's aggression on it. What's stopping enemies from just ignoring or incapacitating the Barbarian and focusing down their squishier teammates as is?
I can't tell if Brutal Critical has been nerfed or not. I haven't run the numbers on it and it being no longer dice based means you can't take advantage of it on crits in the same way. But it is much easier to keep track of for players and applies to unarmed strikes. Relentless Rage is an improvement, being able to gain a decent amount of hp is nice for when the DM is being extra harsh on the tank. Rage Resurgence is great and honestly better than what I had been hoping for (recharge 1 rage per short rest). And Primal Champion is great even with a slight nerf because it will stack with the Epic Boon you choose.
Speaking of Epic Boons, I think the ones that the Warrior group are allowed to choose from are so much weaker than the ones the Mage group can choose from for no real reason. These are epic boons. They should be more flavorful and allow some real versatility or power given that they are the feature you get at level cap. Something like allowing the Barbarian to deal massive siege damage so that they can destroy buildings with a swing would be pretty cool but that's just me spitballing. All in all this is a good start but only that, a start. Hopefully WotC will give the Barbarian even more to work with or at least try harder to bring the casters in line.
I'm playing the new barbarian at lvl9 and I am loving it so far. Having to use a rage for the skills from primal knowledge is kinda clunky though. I love the ability, but when those skill checks come, and I have to ask "can I take for this?" Breaks the flow of gaming, and really sucks when after 5 rolls we skip ahead some time and now to do those skill I have to burn another rage. I think primal knowledge should just always be on.
I like the thought behind the new brutal critical, but not the application of it. I think it makes it a worst experience during play. Here's the thing, I have spent hundreds of dollars on dice and I collect multiple sets, so when brutal critical makes it flat damage versus a die roll, I don't get to go goblin on it and roll lots of dice. Math wise it's better, play experience it's not. I want to be like this "Oh nice I crit, let me get my side together. That's 6d6 dice for frenzy, 2d12 for great ax, plus (insert brutal critical dice here). Now let me roll this!!!" Versus' "Oh nice I crit, let add up all my math bonuses get my calculator out to figure it out. This time that plus this divided by that, this to the third power....." I want to roll dice not go to algebra. Clicky clacky me roll the dicey!!! That's why sneak attack is so popular.
I'm ok with losing unlimited rages, but persistent rage is really weak now, even weaker then it was before. Relentless rage is fun always has been fun and even though it gets here I love that ability. I have a lvl20 barbarian that I played in AL and I loved getting that ability, but could they bring it sooner?
And then the 2 biggest issues I have with barbarians in general, DND one or 5e, there's very few exciting reasons to be momo classed barbarian at high levels. And there's no taunt ability. They need both of these.
Over all like the ideas, love the direction, hope to get something AMAZING!!!!!
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As the question says - looking for thoughts and comparisons from the pros.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
I like it a lot. They finally made the berserker functional.
It is good so far, is it comparable to any of the mages though? Not really. I still want the martial characters to end up being comparable to the casters. And while I do understand that the mage class fantasy is different from the martial class fantasy, that doesn't excuse how useless martial characters become compared to caster characters at higher levels. I do think Weapon Mastery is a step in the right direction. Barbarian also seems to have gotten plenty of quality of life improvements like not having to worry too much about your rage ending because nobody is around to damage you or be damaged.
There are also really good utility buffs for the Barbarian, being able to use Strength for certain skills as long as you are raging can be really helpful. Especially since raging is easier to maintain and for up to 10 minutes no less. The new Barbarian still has issues with being slightly MAD in that you still need good Con, Dex, and Str. But this is less of an issue thanks to Primal Knowledge. Barbarians also just have a much better version of Feral Instinct/Danger Sense which is really nice. Indomitable Might is really strong but not overpowered. Or at least, it's overpowered in a good way. It allows the Barbarian to truly show off their skill, at higher levels a Barbarian just becomes unbeatable in contests of strength. And that's good! Level 20 mages can bend reality, this is the least they can give to Barbarians as they level. I also think Barbarian is lacking real tanking ability since it has no built-in way to keep an enemy's aggression on it. What's stopping enemies from just ignoring or incapacitating the Barbarian and focusing down their squishier teammates as is?
I can't tell if Brutal Critical has been nerfed or not. I haven't run the numbers on it and it being no longer dice based means you can't take advantage of it on crits in the same way. But it is much easier to keep track of for players and applies to unarmed strikes. Relentless Rage is an improvement, being able to gain a decent amount of hp is nice for when the DM is being extra harsh on the tank. Rage Resurgence is great and honestly better than what I had been hoping for (recharge 1 rage per short rest). And Primal Champion is great even with a slight nerf because it will stack with the Epic Boon you choose.
Speaking of Epic Boons, I think the ones that the Warrior group are allowed to choose from are so much weaker than the ones the Mage group can choose from for no real reason. These are epic boons. They should be more flavorful and allow some real versatility or power given that they are the feature you get at level cap. Something like allowing the Barbarian to deal massive siege damage so that they can destroy buildings with a swing would be pretty cool but that's just me spitballing. All in all this is a good start but only that, a start. Hopefully WotC will give the Barbarian even more to work with or at least try harder to bring the casters in line.
I'm playing the new barbarian at lvl9 and I am loving it so far. Having to use a rage for the skills from primal knowledge is kinda clunky though. I love the ability, but when those skill checks come, and I have to ask "can I take for this?" Breaks the flow of gaming, and really sucks when after 5 rolls we skip ahead some time and now to do those skill I have to burn another rage. I think primal knowledge should just always be on.
I like the thought behind the new brutal critical, but not the application of it. I think it makes it a worst experience during play. Here's the thing, I have spent hundreds of dollars on dice and I collect multiple sets, so when brutal critical makes it flat damage versus a die roll, I don't get to go goblin on it and roll lots of dice. Math wise it's better, play experience it's not. I want to be like this "Oh nice I crit, let me get my side together. That's 6d6 dice for frenzy, 2d12 for great ax, plus (insert brutal critical dice here). Now let me roll this!!!" Versus' "Oh nice I crit, let add up all my math bonuses get my calculator out to figure it out. This time that plus this divided by that, this to the third power....." I want to roll dice not go to algebra. Clicky clacky me roll the dicey!!! That's why sneak attack is so popular.
I'm ok with losing unlimited rages, but persistent rage is really weak now, even weaker then it was before. Relentless rage is fun always has been fun and even though it gets here I love that ability. I have a lvl20 barbarian that I played in AL and I loved getting that ability, but could they bring it sooner?
And then the 2 biggest issues I have with barbarians in general, DND one or 5e, there's very few exciting reasons to be momo classed barbarian at high levels. And there's no taunt ability. They need both of these.
Over all like the ideas, love the direction, hope to get something AMAZING!!!!!