So we rolled for stats and i got the worst of the group. 12.11.10.10.9.8. Thankfully the DM let me reroll and keep the highest 2 numbers. So I ended up with : 16.14.10.10.9.8.

I chose a mountain dwarf barbarian (because who doesnt like dwarfs with big hammers?) So I ended up with STR 18 DEX 10 CON 16 INT 8 WIS 10 CHA 9. Because of the rerolls i ended up a lot better but my problem is the AC. I am starting with an AC of 13 and without DEX modifiers i am not getting this up a lot. 

Can someone advice me about the path to take? BTW my roll in the team is the TANK so probably going for bear totem.

Quote from Snowtiger88 >>

So we rolled for stats and i got the worst of the group. 12.11.10.10.9.8. Thankfully the DM let me reroll and keep the highest 2 numbers. So I ended up with : 16.14.10.10.9.8.

I chose a mountain dwarf barbarian (because who doesnt like dwarfs with big hammers?) So I ended up with STR 18 DEX 10 CON 16 INT 8 WIS 10 CHA 9. Because of the rerolls i ended up a lot better but my problem is the AC. I am starting with an AC of 13 and without DEX modifiers i am not getting this up a lot. 

Can someone advice me about the path to take? BTW my roll in the team is the TANK so probably going for bear totem.

 Normally... even when rolling. Most DMs will let you take standard array of your total rolls =less than 75tsp.

bear would mitigate the low dex and being hit a lot by reducing more damage types...

but realistically, since with low dex you’re going to be hit more no matter what... you should go for a more OFFENSE tank. To deal more and take them down quicker while your HP pool and limited resistances hold up.

zealot, Berserker.

a berserker’s “frenzy” extra attack. Plus being reckless all the time. Can go a long way to killing stuff quicker which can be just as or more effective than the bear totem with low dex idea.

Honestly, don't stress too much. Loads of people with the same problem. If you leave your AC alone, you can deal out +4 damage and if you have a warhammer, you will deal on average 9 damage. Things like goblins are dead. Does your party have a high dex character like a ranger or rogue? If they fight with you, you won't be fighting for long. Just focus on fighting, and pull out if needs be. For subclass, Path of Beast 'Bite' action gives you more hit points, so you can take hits. Plus, 14th level and you gain 5 temp hp for each creature equal to con modifier so 20-25 extra hp. The wolf option from totem warrior helps your party finish fights, reducing time fighting. Eagle allows you not to get hit, while bear allows you to withstand hits. Ancestral guardians lets you protect yourself, while storm herald lets you either damage or heal (of your choice, so you could heal yourself), and Zealot lets you come back if you die. So, there you go, and good luck.     

So here's an unconventional approach:  Drop STR and go all out DEX.

Choose Variant Human, selecting Resilient WIS as your starting feat.  Your ability scores spread would be:

• STR = 10
• DEX = 16 + 1 (Variant Human)
• CON = 14 + 1 (Variant Human)
• INT = 8
• WIS = 9 + 1 (Resilient WIS)
• CHA = 10

At level 3, choose the Path of the Ancestral Guardian, and at level 4, bump DEX and CON.

Since you'll be attacking with DEX, the bonus damage from Rage and the barbarian's Reckless Attack will be worthless to you, so ignore them (but not the other benefits of Rage).

At level 4 and wielding a shield, your AC will be 19.  Enemies normally should not be able to achieve advantage against you (since you're not Recklessly Attacking), so you'll be quite 'tanky' with a high AC, high HP, and resistance against slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning.

How do you convince enemies not to just ignore you?  This is where you'll be relying on Ancestral Protectors and, at level 6, Spirit Shield.  And at level 8, you can pick Sentinel to further increase your 'stickiness'.

One last note:  Ancestral Protectors does not require a melee attack.  So it is perfectly viable to shoot an enemy with a longbow, thus marking it with your Ancestral Protectors.

Quote from Jesse_DND >>

So here's an unconventional approach:  Drop STR and go all out DEX.

Choose Variant Human, selecting Resilient WIS as your starting feat.  Your ability scores spread would be:

• STR = 10
• DEX = 16 + 1 (Variant Human)
• CON = 14 + 1 (Variant Human)
• INT = 8
• WIS = 9 + 1 (Resilient WIS)
• CHA = 10

At level 3, choose the Path of the Ancestral Guardian, and at level 4, bump DEX and CON.

Since you'll be attacking with DEX, the bonus damage from Rage and the barbarian's Reckless Attack will be worthless to you, so ignore them (but not the other benefits of Rage).

At level 4 and wielding a shield, your AC will be 19.  Enemies normally should not be able to achieve advantage against you (since you're not Recklessly Attacking), so you'll be quite 'tanky' with a high AC, high HP, and resistance against slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning.

How do you convince enemies not to just ignore you?  This is where you'll be relying on Ancestral Protectors and, at level 6, Spirit Shield.  And at level 8, you can pick Sentinel to further increase your 'stickiness'.

One last note:  Ancestral Protectors does not require a melee attack.  So it is perfectly viable to shoot an enemy with a longbow, thus marking it with your Ancestral Protectors.

 But they've made their character?!?  The main role of tank is to take damage and gain advantage for party (at least in DnD, though tank can refer to ridiculous damage/health). So though not bad, doesn't really match brief.

Quote from Jesse_DND >>

So here's an unconventional approach:  Drop STR and go all out DEX.

Choose Variant Human, selecting Resilient WIS as your starting feat.  Your ability scores spread would be:

• STR = 10
• DEX = 16 + 1 (Variant Human)
• CON = 14 + 1 (Variant Human)
• INT = 8
• WIS = 9 + 1 (Resilient WIS)
• CHA = 10

At level 3, choose the Path of the Ancestral Guardian, and at level 4, bump DEX and CON.

Since you'll be attacking with DEX, the bonus damage from Rage and the barbarian's Reckless Attack will be worthless to you, so ignore them (but not the other benefits of Rage).

At level 4 and wielding a shield, your AC will be 19.  Enemies normally should not be able to achieve advantage against you (since you're not Recklessly Attacking), so you'll be quite 'tanky' with a high AC, high HP, and resistance against slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning.

How do you convince enemies not to just ignore you?  This is where you'll be relying on Ancestral Protectors and, at level 6, Spirit Shield.  And at level 8, you can pick Sentinel to further increase your 'stickiness'.

One last note:  Ancestral Protectors does not require a melee attack.  So it is perfectly viable to shoot an enemy with a longbow, thus marking it with your Ancestral Protectors.

a better option than that unconventional approach is drop STR. Drop Barbarian, go Fighter. Go for archery fighting style. Use longbow. Wear platemail. Have better AC than the barb. Have action surge. Etc etc.

🤷🏼‍♂️ I mean. If we change the OPs char completely from what he wants... and what was already made... might as well do it right right?

KaoshiElder29 and EightPackKilla,

Points well taken.

So to answer this again, I'd suggest the Path of the Zealot.  Bear resistances are nice, but standard rage resistances cover a lot of the damage you'll take, especially at lower levels.  Path of the Zealot gives you a nice damage boost while taking some of the sting (and stress) of dying out of your play style.

if not wearing armor why not put your big # on Con,   you can add your Con to your AC and use a shield.   Just a thought

Thanks for all the advice. I'm still thinking what way to go if I get to lvl 3.

I allready chose mountain dwarf barbarian so becoming a human was not an option

Quote from Stormknight >>

I'd just go with wearing armor to be honest.

Barbarians can use medium armor and some of it is pretty reasonable.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/equipment#MediumArmor

You don't get armor at 1st level as a Barbarian, but you should be able to pick some up fairly soon!

Second this.  Once you can get half-plate do it.  Your AC will be  15 which is better

Unless you have +3 con, +1 dex and a shield, in which case it isn't.

Grab a shield and get some medium armor as soon as you can would probably be enough.

Heck, you can go Path of the Battlerager to make wearing armor part of your deal.

Quote from KaoshiElder29 >>

Unless you have +3 con, +1 dex and a shield, in which case it isn't.

 To be fair, medium armor can still use a shield.

To the OP, 50 g gets you Scale Mail which will bump you to 14 AC but give you disadvantage on stealth rolls. 400 g nets you Breastplate which is Scale Mail without the Disadvantage. 750 g for Half Plate 15 AC + disadvantage on stealth rolls. All of which can be worn while using a shield.

Mountain Dwarf probably means that you have 18 Strength and 16 Constitution. If you want to prioritize staying alive while maintaining stealth and not spending a ton in gold early, grab a shield and go +2 con at 4. 50 g for scale prior to that will stiffen you up for the interim. +2 con at 8 will max out your AC with unarmored defense and equal the beast you'll get with medium armor without disadvantage on stealth.

Of course, with a +0 dex modifier (that doesn't sound like it'll be increased) disadvantage on stealth rolls may not matter at all. This would mean that you can focus on feats or strength with 2 of your first three ASIs, possibly putting a +2 in con with the other for a larger hp pool if needed. Scale mail is all you'll need for medium armor until you can find your Half Plate or save enough to buy it.

As an aside, I'm wondering why the DM didn't let you swap the 10s or the 9 and a 10. The stats aren't significantly better as 16 14 12 11 10 8 but they're closer to standard array. I'd be tempted to ask if I could just go with the 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 from point buy. Oh well...

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

Grab a shield and get some medium armor as soon as you can would probably be enough.

Heck, you can go Path of the Battlerager to make wearing armor part of your deal.

 I second the part with the shield aswell.

Ask the DM if he lets you sell some of the Background Gear for a Shield +1h. Just wait a few levels and switch to your 2h later, maybe at lvl 3, when you get to choose your path. You will have a more forgiving healthpool by then. And maybe your first Ability Score Improvement at lvl 4 could be DEX to bump AC by 1 and strengthen your saves further.

Cheers and have fun with your game!!

I would say that Totem Warrior and path of the bear is probably you best option, just because of the amount of resistance you gain.  Also playing smarter and not just being a meat shield. I played a barbarian for the better part of a year and I learned that being a meat shield isn't fun and you can do some really cool/fun tactical stuff by moving around and doing damage instead of just standing in one spot. I would also say that communicating and planning combos and such with the other players will help with not having a super high AC.

I would switch the dex and con tbh.  you'll lose a couple of hp, sure, but you'll gain AC, init, and a quality save.

Barbarians add their Con modifier to AC unless they're wearing armor.  And at 2nd level they get advantage on Dex saves vs effects they can see.  So AC doesn't change and their Dex Saves aren't that bad- init is really the thing they're gaining and that's probably not worth the reduction in Con saves and HP.

Putting the AC into dex allows you to wear medium armor and buff up your AC more than what you will get form your con mod.  When you're trying to play with crappy stats, you have to use the tools you still have open to you.

They could still use medium armor with the 14 in con. They'd lose two AC but have more HP and better Con Saves. Whether that trade off is worth it or not is up to the individual player. I could see arguments for either way be very persuasive.