Im building a Tankbarbarian for a leaguesystem (Oneshots). The character starts with lv 2, fixed hitpoints, one free feat, pointbuysystem, reaching lv 11 grants a free rare magic item. Furthermore organizing a Oneshot as Dm grants special coins. This coins are a currency for magic items like ring of prot., flame tongue, shield +2 e.g.
My Opinion: Path of the Ancestral Guardian (lv3)
Race: Goliath
Feat: Resilient (Dexterity)
Stats: Str 16 Con 16 Dex 16 Int/Wis 8 Cha 10
I want to max. Dex and con to get an AC of 20 + bracers of defense (lv11). My question: Is a Strength of 16 and reckless attack enough?
It looks pretty standard to me so should work fine. I will say, consider Resilient (Wis) instead of Dex. Not necessarily better but with maxing Dex and advantage on a lot of Dex saves from Danger Sense you may get more milage out of shoring up your weaknesses instead of doubling down on strengths. One bad Wis. save will often take you out of action for at least a round putting you at risk of dropping rage since you can't attack.
Str 16 and reckless attack is enough, but don't overbuild personal survivability. Take Sentinel so that things actually have to stay near you. You don't really need the AC because you have Rage, which is way more effective than AC stacking, and a high AC does nothing to keep things actually fighting you. If the monsters figure you're hard to hit, they may just bypass you and go for the back line and then you aren't tanking.
Str 16 and reckless attack is enough, but don't overbuild personal survivability. Take Sentinel so that things actually have to stay near you. You don't really need the AC because you have Rage, which is way more effective than AC stacking, and a high AC does nothing to keep things actually fighting you. If the monsters figure you're hard to hit, they may just bypass you and go for the back line and then you aren't tanking.
I'll vouch for this. I'd recommend putting Dex at 14 and maximizing Strength and Constitution. Unless you're absolutely wanting to do well with Stealth Checks, this will allow you to have a superior AC with medium armor that you can give up when you get to 18 constitution (or max con if you manage half plate earlier). Getting your strength up will help you deal more damage, causing you to be a significant threat and usually increasing your stickiness. Rage will cover for your lower AC and increased hits taken due to reckless attacks. I'll second taking resilient (wisdom) over resilient (dexterity).
I did play a zealot barbarian for LMoP and was the tank by default since everyone else usually played ranged. I had Great Weapon Master and would toggle between my great axe and Hew for levels 4 & 5 depending on whether I wanted to hit more frequently/act more defensively or deal more damage. You will periodically miss the higher strength, but it's not as critical if you are using Reckless attacks.
The other advantage of high STR for a tank Barbarian is that you can grapple more effectively. That owl bear’s not going to be a threat to your squishy wizard when you punch it then restrain it. An occasional grapple can be an alternative to Sentinel.
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Hello,
Im building a Tankbarbarian for a leaguesystem (Oneshots). The character starts with lv 2, fixed hitpoints, one free feat, pointbuysystem, reaching lv 11 grants a free rare magic item. Furthermore organizing a Oneshot as Dm grants special coins. This coins are a currency for magic items like ring of prot., flame tongue, shield +2 e.g.
My Opinion: Path of the Ancestral Guardian (lv3)
Race: Goliath
Feat: Resilient (Dexterity)
Stats: Str 16 Con 16 Dex 16 Int/Wis 8 Cha 10
I want to max. Dex and con to get an AC of 20 + bracers of defense (lv11). My question: Is a Strength of 16 and reckless attack enough?
Yeah probably. You can always get a belt of giant strength or gauntlets of ogre power later with your magic item if you'd want.
You are also not going to be super good as far as mental saves go, so that is something to keep in mind.
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It looks pretty standard to me so should work fine. I will say, consider Resilient (Wis) instead of Dex. Not necessarily better but with maxing Dex and advantage on a lot of Dex saves from Danger Sense you may get more milage out of shoring up your weaknesses instead of doubling down on strengths. One bad Wis. save will often take you out of action for at least a round putting you at risk of dropping rage since you can't attack.
Str 16 and reckless attack is enough, but don't overbuild personal survivability. Take Sentinel so that things actually have to stay near you. You don't really need the AC because you have Rage, which is way more effective than AC stacking, and a high AC does nothing to keep things actually fighting you. If the monsters figure you're hard to hit, they may just bypass you and go for the back line and then you aren't tanking.
I'll vouch for this. I'd recommend putting Dex at 14 and maximizing Strength and Constitution. Unless you're absolutely wanting to do well with Stealth Checks, this will allow you to have a superior AC with medium armor that you can give up when you get to 18 constitution (or max con if you manage half plate earlier). Getting your strength up will help you deal more damage, causing you to be a significant threat and usually increasing your stickiness. Rage will cover for your lower AC and increased hits taken due to reckless attacks. I'll second taking resilient (wisdom) over resilient (dexterity).
I did play a zealot barbarian for LMoP and was the tank by default since everyone else usually played ranged. I had Great Weapon Master and would toggle between my great axe and Hew for levels 4 & 5 depending on whether I wanted to hit more frequently/act more defensively or deal more damage. You will periodically miss the higher strength, but it's not as critical if you are using Reckless attacks.
The other advantage of high STR for a tank Barbarian is that you can grapple more effectively. That owl bear’s not going to be a threat to your squishy wizard when you punch it then restrain it. An occasional grapple can be an alternative to Sentinel.