Hello everyone, I maybe new to you, but I have been playing Dungeons & Dragons for about four years now. I do have quite a bit of experience playing the Barbarian class in general and would like to share some thoughts and opinions about the different subclasses that are offered.
Path of the Ancestral Guardian:
The Ancestral Guardian has its ups and downs for playing in campaigns. For example, if you were playing a spirit-based campaign, that would be an advantage for playing with this particular path, but using it in like a nature or religion-based campaign, it would be a disadvantage because sometimes there are no ancestral beings to protect from how I see it. This path can be found in Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Path of the Battlerager:
Typically made for Dwarves only, this path is made for war-based campaigns, knowing that there is the Spiked Armor ability. However, I do not know any campaign that will allow this feature and make it good for at least one other race. This path can be found in Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Path of the Beast:
This path defeats the purpose of a Barbarian being ... a Barbarian for the most part. I like that the tail and the bite dish out a very good amount of damage to enemies, but for weapon usage, it doesn't give you anything to choose from once the Barbarian enters its rage. Fortunately, this would be a great subclass for a gothic-based campaign, but if I were to use this subclass in this kind of campaign, for weapon options, I would go with a longsword and possibly two Javelins and/or Handaxes because you may need something to use in a combat situation if you don't want your character to rage. This path can be found in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.
Path of the Berserker:
Path of the Berserker is one that deals great amounts of damage with the Frenzy feature, but the downfall is one level of exhaustion. This path is very neutral in a lot of campaigns such as Icewind Dale, Storm King's Thunder, custom-made, and many more. This path can be found in the Player's Handbook.
Path of the Storm Herald:
This is a path you need to be careful with because you only have three different storm types to choose from due to certain campaign settings. Tundra would be good for winter-based settings. Sea would be good if you were along a coastline or out in the ocean. Desert would be good for ... desert-based settings. This path can be found in Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Path of Totem Warrior:
Path of the Totem Warrior is very neutral as well because you get to choose from three different totems, including the Bear, Eagle, and Wolf in the Player's Handbook. There are more options available in Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide also. You can basically play this path in almost any campaign, and it would neither affect the character nor the campaign. This path can be found in the Player's Handbook
Path of the Wild Magic:
This path also defeats the purpose of a Barbarian being a Barbarian too because the class itself is not spell-based. It has its ups and downs too. Unfortunately, I don't know very many campaigns that will allow this type of barbarian path. Just note, this is just my opinion. This path can be found in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.
Path of the Zealot:
Path of the Zealot is basically a path that you almost never die while paying the Barbarian class if you are at least fourteenth level. This path I would recommend playing through a religion-based campaign because a lot of the characters will be dealing with gods throughout it. This path can be found in Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
Note: You may share your thoughts/opinions with me if you would like to.
Well, there's a lot to unpack here but you seem to be under the impression that a barbarian has to take a barbarian path that's tied to the campaign, which is not remotely true. There's absolutely nothing that does (or should) restrict a barbarian from going Path of the Zealot if the game isn't a religious campaign, for example. The Ancestral Guardian path isn't about fighting spirits as you seem to think it is, it's about calling the spirits of your ancestors to aid you in battle by protecting your allies. Similarly, Path of the Storm Herald is about drawing on the power of different environments, it doesn't require you to be in them.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
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Hello everyone, I maybe new to you, but I have been playing Dungeons & Dragons for about four years now. I do have quite a bit of experience playing the Barbarian class in general and would like to share some thoughts and opinions about the different subclasses that are offered.
Note: You may share your thoughts/opinions with me if you would like to.
Well, there's a lot to unpack here but you seem to be under the impression that a barbarian has to take a barbarian path that's tied to the campaign, which is not remotely true. There's absolutely nothing that does (or should) restrict a barbarian from going Path of the Zealot if the game isn't a religious campaign, for example. The Ancestral Guardian path isn't about fighting spirits as you seem to think it is, it's about calling the spirits of your ancestors to aid you in battle by protecting your allies. Similarly, Path of the Storm Herald is about drawing on the power of different environments, it doesn't require you to be in them.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.