Having an 18 for your primary combat stat is still not bad at 8th level. If the GM is routinely throwing enemies at you that have over 18 AC, it might be time to have a discussion about how difficult this campaign is intended to be for the players.
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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.
Having an 18 for your primary combat stat is still not bad at 8th level. If the GM is routinely throwing enemies at you that have over 18 AC, it might be time to have a discussion about how difficult this campaign is intended to be for the players.
It has only been rough for me. everyone else has spells that they use to heal themselves and give themselves other magic assistance.
Ironically, your Polearm Master feat is making things rough for you. Without that feat, you could fully justify wearing armor and a shield, then just grabbing whatever 1d8 single-handed weapon catches your fancy so you can carry a shield. With Polearm Master, you're basically wasting a full ASI if you don't take a reach weapon that qualifies, which I believe are all two-handed. For a Gritty Realism game, I would say that Shield Master is going to be a lot more valuable... it also gives you a valuable bonus action ability to use each round, but also boosts your defenses to reduce damage to preserve your precious HP.
Sorry that I don't really have any useful advice, but reading about your woes just got me thinking about how I would have addressed the problem if I was jumping into a gritty realism game.
PAM actually is great for shield+spear or shield+quarterstaff, by letting you get a bonus action attack without Two Weapon Fighting. Spears can even be thrown in a pinch, so yeah, that would be a good way to boost your AC while only sacrificing 1 or 2 damage per hit compared against the Halberd (assuming, of course, that he hasn't yet invested in GWM which is the real option blocker)
Good point! I was caught up in the range option of carrying a reach weapon, but Shield/Spear has a lot of bonuses as well. Plus Spear is still versatile, so in those moments where they just need to land as much damage as possible they could drop the shield and go two-handed with the spear.
I don't allow polearm master with a one-handed weapon, but RAW it does work.
Oh, another option for a pinch: take one level of fighter. This gets you a fighting style (e.g. Defense) and a use of second wind (1d10+1 healing every short rest), at a cost of slowing down progression with barbarian features. All four of the first fighter levels have pretty appealing features. There's other multiclass options but they're more likely to interfere with your character concept.
Also, if other PCs are healing themselves with spells, is there some reason they aren't healing you?
PAM actually is great for shield+spear or shield+quarterstaff, by letting you get a bonus action attack without Two Weapon Fighting. Spears can even be thrown in a pinch, so yeah, that would be a good way to boost your AC while only sacrificing 1 or 2 damage per hit compared against the Halberd (assuming, of course, that he hasn't yet invested in GWM which is the real option blocker)
I have thought about this. One of the house rules is that two handed str weapons get a damage boost of {1.5 x str mod} vs the normal 1 x str mod} so the polearm is a great option for damage. but yeah, quarterstaff and javelins/handaxes might be my go to for the smaller fights
I don't allow polearm master with a one-handed weapon, but RAW it does work.
Oh, another option for a pinch: take one level of fighter. This gets you a fighting style (e.g. Defense) and a use of second wind (1d10+1 healing every short rest), at a cost of slowing down progression with barbarian features. All four of the first fighter levels have pretty appealing features. There's other multiclass options but they're more likely to interfere with your character concept.
Also, if other PCs are healing themselves with spells, is there some reason they aren't healing you?
polearm master works one handed only with quarterstaff, and you don't get reach. I like the idea of the fighter option, over a week i could heal several times with second wind before using hit dice. I have wondered and HINTED, more like said it straight, I cant endlessly tank for you guys without healing. the really seldom heal themselves. but then they do heal. its themselves. usually they burn slots on damage spells and when i ask for healing, they say they cant afford it with the slots they have.... :/
Also, do you have a magic weapon? At 8th level a melee character really ought to have one.
No. this is a very low magic setting. using magic openly arouses suspicion, hence why in some cases i haven't used my Aasimar transformation because i'm not sure i'm high enough level to fend off the attention that would bring.
Also, do you have a magic weapon? At 8th level a melee character really ought to have one.
No. this is a very low magic setting. using magic openly arouses suspicion, hence why in some cases i haven't used my Aasimar transformation because i'm not sure i'm high enough level to fend off the attention that would bring.
But the other party members are able to use magic in fights?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.
Also, do you have a magic weapon? At 8th level a melee character really ought to have one.
No. this is a very low magic setting. using magic openly arouses suspicion, hence why in some cases i haven't used my Aasimar transformation because i'm not sure i'm high enough level to fend off the attention that would bring.
But the other party members are able to use magic in fights?
Okay, now that's a problem. If the world is "low magic" then they should be similarly restricted in their ability to cast spells. They should not be able to freely use magic in every fight. That's creating a severe power imbalance.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.
Okay, now that's a problem. If the world is "low magic" then they should be similarly restricted in their ability to cast spells. They should not be able to freely use magic in every fight. That's creating a severe power imbalance.
I don't see what you mean. we all are bound by the same resting rules. and if they are too flashy in public it can cause problems. and as far as a power unbalance that is to be expected. Barbarian isn't a very powerful class at later levels. later levels in most every case favor the caster. the non magic types just become more of a wall and aid to casters. even with normal rules that applies.
Things are getting harder to hit. I figured upping str was essential.
Scale Mail (Medium Armor for 50gc) is still one more AC then you would get unarmored at the moment.
Attack: [roll]3d20dl2+6[/roll] Damage: [roll](if([roll:-1:critical], =0, 1d8, 2{1d8}.expand()))+4[/roll] Sneakattack: [roll](if([roll:-2:critical], =0, 2d6, 2{2d6}.expand()))[/roll]Having an 18 for your primary combat stat is still not bad at 8th level. If the GM is routinely throwing enemies at you that have over 18 AC, it might be time to have a discussion about how difficult this campaign is intended to be for the players.
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.
It has only been rough for me. everyone else has spells that they use to heal themselves and give themselves other magic assistance.
as much as i want to, i won't be able to use rage.
You can use rage while wearing light or medium armor. It's only heavy armor that blocks barbarian abilities.
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.
Also, do you have a magic weapon? At 8th level a melee character really ought to have one.
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.
Get a shield and warhammer for when you are low on health and avoid attacking recklessly.
Ironically, your Polearm Master feat is making things rough for you. Without that feat, you could fully justify wearing armor and a shield, then just grabbing whatever 1d8 single-handed weapon catches your fancy so you can carry a shield. With Polearm Master, you're basically wasting a full ASI if you don't take a reach weapon that qualifies, which I believe are all two-handed. For a Gritty Realism game, I would say that Shield Master is going to be a lot more valuable... it also gives you a valuable bonus action ability to use each round, but also boosts your defenses to reduce damage to preserve your precious HP.
Sorry that I don't really have any useful advice, but reading about your woes just got me thinking about how I would have addressed the problem if I was jumping into a gritty realism game.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
PAM actually is great for shield+spear or shield+quarterstaff, by letting you get a bonus action attack without Two Weapon Fighting. Spears can even be thrown in a pinch, so yeah, that would be a good way to boost your AC while only sacrificing 1 or 2 damage per hit compared against the Halberd (assuming, of course, that he hasn't yet invested in GWM which is the real option blocker)
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Good point! I was caught up in the range option of carrying a reach weapon, but Shield/Spear has a lot of bonuses as well. Plus Spear is still versatile, so in those moments where they just need to land as much damage as possible they could drop the shield and go two-handed with the spear.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
I don't allow polearm master with a one-handed weapon, but RAW it does work.
Oh, another option for a pinch: take one level of fighter. This gets you a fighting style (e.g. Defense) and a use of second wind (1d10+1 healing every short rest), at a cost of slowing down progression with barbarian features. All four of the first fighter levels have pretty appealing features. There's other multiclass options but they're more likely to interfere with your character concept.
Also, if other PCs are healing themselves with spells, is there some reason they aren't healing you?
I have thought about this. One of the house rules is that two handed str weapons get a damage boost of {1.5 x str mod} vs the normal 1 x str mod} so the polearm is a great option for damage. but yeah, quarterstaff and javelins/handaxes might be my go to for the smaller fights
polearm master works one handed only with quarterstaff, and you don't get reach. I like the idea of the fighter option, over a week i could heal several times with second wind before using hit dice. I have wondered and HINTED, more like said it straight, I cant endlessly tank for you guys without healing. the really seldom heal themselves. but then they do heal. its themselves. usually they burn slots on damage spells and when i ask for healing, they say they cant afford it with the slots they have.... :/
No. this is a very low magic setting. using magic openly arouses suspicion, hence why in some cases i haven't used my Aasimar transformation because i'm not sure i'm high enough level to fend off the attention that would bring.
Oh then i read it wrong. If i can get the gold i will.
But the other party members are able to use magic in fights?
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.
Well yes. they use magic. they have spell slots
Okay, now that's a problem. If the world is "low magic" then they should be similarly restricted in their ability to cast spells. They should not be able to freely use magic in every fight. That's creating a severe power imbalance.
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.
I don't see what you mean. we all are bound by the same resting rules. and if they are too flashy in public it can cause problems. and as far as a power unbalance that is to be expected. Barbarian isn't a very powerful class at later levels. later levels in most every case favor the caster. the non magic types just become more of a wall and aid to casters. even with normal rules that applies.
May i ask what the other characters play?
Attack: [roll]3d20dl2+6[/roll] Damage: [roll](if([roll:-1:critical], =0, 1d8, 2{1d8}.expand()))+4[/roll] Sneakattack: [roll](if([roll:-2:critical], =0, 2d6, 2{2d6}.expand()))[/roll]