Usually, people say that DEX Build Barbarians who use finesse weapons instead of STR attacks are not a valid build. But the third level Zealot ability lets you deal additional damage regardless of your STR mod. Does this mean it's the first one where you can use DEX to attack?
Reason is I wanna create a Goblin Barbarian, but with no bonuses to STR, it's been proving a challenge.
DEX build barbarians, as compared to STR build barbarians, suffer from not dealing as much damage/round and not providing as attractive a target to enemies.
For the first point, the Zealot ability helps, but a STR build Zealot barbarian will still deal more damage because of better weapons, rage damage (STR exclusive), and attacking with advantage due to Reckless Attack (STR exclusive).
And for the second point, I cannot see how (mechanically) a DEX barbarian could be a more attractive target to enemies as compared to a STR barbarian. The DEX barbarian deals less damage, has higher AC (most likely), and is not providing advantage to the enemies' attacks.
All that being said, you could role-play your goblin being real annoying during battles, constantly insulting enemies, etc..., to overcome the second point's challenge.
Just because it's not as optimized as it could be does not mean it's bad. I'm not sure about your DM, but mine doesn't prioritize people based on how much damage they are doing. I've been playing since the 80s, and I have never seen a DM that did that. I'd definitely consider a dex-barb flavored as a foppish duellist rather than some tribal guy who struggles to compose a sentence. You could also multiclass rogue for sneak attack if you wanted to.
Is str better? Absolutely. Is dex a sin? Only at a min-maxxer table.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
It's not really prioritization based on "damage", but on whether or not it makes sense to. Things like "threat" and how hard you are to deal with (higher AC) will likely make enemies prioritize your allies that are more of a "threat" (because they do more damage, are healing the damage they've dealt, or are using control spells effectively) or are easier to kill. A DEX barbarian is none of those things and will likely be assessed as a lower priority target.
I'm just saying in 30 years of playing D&D that's never been an issue at any table I've played at. Maybe new fangled DMs actually care about that, but none that I've ever played with.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
True, most DMs will spread around the action, especially with unintelligent enemies.
But as to the question if the Path of the Zealot fixes the deficiencies of a DEX barbarian compared to a STR barbarian: Mechanically, it helps, but there's still a lot of ground to make up. Which is why I suggested role-playing away the mechanical deficiencies.
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Usually, people say that DEX Build Barbarians who use finesse weapons instead of STR attacks are not a valid build. But the third level Zealot ability lets you deal additional damage regardless of your STR mod. Does this mean it's the first one where you can use DEX to attack?
Reason is I wanna create a Goblin Barbarian, but with no bonuses to STR, it's been proving a challenge.
DEX build barbarians, as compared to STR build barbarians, suffer from not dealing as much damage/round and not providing as attractive a target to enemies.
For the first point, the Zealot ability helps, but a STR build Zealot barbarian will still deal more damage because of better weapons, rage damage (STR exclusive), and attacking with advantage due to Reckless Attack (STR exclusive).
And for the second point, I cannot see how (mechanically) a DEX barbarian could be a more attractive target to enemies as compared to a STR barbarian. The DEX barbarian deals less damage, has higher AC (most likely), and is not providing advantage to the enemies' attacks.
All that being said, you could role-play your goblin being real annoying during battles, constantly insulting enemies, etc..., to overcome the second point's challenge.
Just because it's not as optimized as it could be does not mean it's bad. I'm not sure about your DM, but mine doesn't prioritize people based on how much damage they are doing. I've been playing since the 80s, and I have never seen a DM that did that. I'd definitely consider a dex-barb flavored as a foppish duellist rather than some tribal guy who struggles to compose a sentence. You could also multiclass rogue for sneak attack if you wanted to.
Is str better? Absolutely. Is dex a sin? Only at a min-maxxer table.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
It's not really prioritization based on "damage", but on whether or not it makes sense to. Things like "threat" and how hard you are to deal with (higher AC) will likely make enemies prioritize your allies that are more of a "threat" (because they do more damage, are healing the damage they've dealt, or are using control spells effectively) or are easier to kill. A DEX barbarian is none of those things and will likely be assessed as a lower priority target.
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I'm just saying in 30 years of playing D&D that's never been an issue at any table I've played at. Maybe new fangled DMs actually care about that, but none that I've ever played with.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
True, most DMs will spread around the action, especially with unintelligent enemies.
But as to the question if the Path of the Zealot fixes the deficiencies of a DEX barbarian compared to a STR barbarian: Mechanically, it helps, but there's still a lot of ground to make up. Which is why I suggested role-playing away the mechanical deficiencies.