My party and I include one Barbarian who, as usual, has a nasty habit of failing Wisdom and Int Saves. Even with the Paladin nearby, our faithful Saint has spent way too many turns being Confused or whatever. My character is an Artificer and we have quite a pile of cash on hand so anything I can't make, we may be able to buy.
I need advice on ways to help our Barb with his Wis and Int Saves. Btw, he already has an item of Protection so that's out.
Well, the obvious next thing would be an item to boost his Wis. Or a Ring of Free Action, which is propably better.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Ring of Free Action is good for countering paralysis there is also a consumable: Oil of Slipperiness which I think does the same thing, there is a Mantle of Spell Resistance though you'd probably need to ask your DM about it.
Beacon of Hope gives Adv on Wis saves so that could be a good option if someone in the party has access to it. Intellect Fortress is even better.
Bless is fantastic just all around - your paladin could cast it or I think Bards and Clerics have access as well or you could buy a bunch of Potion of Heroism which gives the same benefit but concentration-free.
The Heroism spell is widely available to paladins, bards, and clerics that gives immunity to being frightened, and with their rage, the temp hit points go pretty far on a Barb too.
If you've got a monk in the party try to convince them to swap to Mercy as they get some really great features for removing conditions.
You could also ask your DM about making earplugs that might offer protection from charming songs/words - this is HB though.
Or last recourse - grab a Wand of Magic Missile and just pummel them with darts until you break the charm.
To a certain degree they just have to roll with it; the saving throw system of 5e was deliberately designed so that pretty much every class would have more weak points than not, especially in early play. Even magic items will only do so much, given that pretty much everything that helps with saves will require attunement, which will cap you out fast. Honestly, my advice for this situation would be looking into getting Feywrought Armor for them so they've got advantage against Charmed, which is what a lot of the WIS saves make use of for their effects, and beyond that just accept that the class that's specifically made to be one of the best at tanking physical attacks and effects is not going to be so effective against mental effects as a trade-off. Also talk with the DM if it feels like the Barbarian is specifically getting shut down too often, it's possible their ability to tank damage felt like too much early on and the DM overcompensated in attempting to keep the Barbarian from sweeping through encounters.
Also, let's be honest ..... he dumped Wis - and Int - didn't he? So he's getting his just desserts. So there's that. Although I always allow barbarians to expend a Rage use to break just such things. But that's just me.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Also, let's be honest ..... he dumped Wis - and Int - didn't he? So he's getting his just desserts. So there's that. Although I always allow barbarians to expend a Rage use to break just such things. But that's just me.
The Berserker subclass specifically gets immunity to Charm/Frighten while Raging and suspends any instances of those conditions that were already up, so I'd argue it's a bit much to add that subclass ability to all Barbarians. But then I'm more the "work with what's in front of you" type for class features.
The Berserker subclass specifically gets immunity to Charm/Frighten while Raging and suspends any instances of those conditions that were already up, so I'd argue it's a bit much to add that subclass ability to all Barbarians. But then I'm more the "work with what's in front of you" type for class features.
Ah, but burning a Rage use also let's you burst out of Hold Person, or Web, or ... basically, it's a Stop Being CC'd ability. And I do this not to boost Barbarians, but to nerf Wizards. Or ... full casters, I suppose.
But ... you're completely right, it's a bit much. But is it a bit much compared to full casters? =)
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
The Berserker subclass specifically gets immunity to Charm/Frighten while Raging and suspends any instances of those conditions that were already up, so I'd argue it's a bit much to add that subclass ability to all Barbarians. But then I'm more the "work with what's in front of you" type for class features.
Ah, but burning a Rage use also let's you burst out of Hold Person, or Web, or ... basically, it's a Stop Being CC'd ability. And I do this not to boost Barbarians, but to nerf Wizards. Or ... full casters, I suppose.
But ... you're completely right, it's a bit much. But is it a bit much compared to full casters? =)
Imo, yeah; we've got a Barbarian played by my cousin who is very much not an optimizer in the same group as a Wizard being played by a veteran player- probably not an optimized build but definitely handles well- and even as we get into tier 3 she's pretty good at shredding through enemies. I won't say the martial/caster divide doesn't exist, but it's significantly more pronounced in white room scenarios than in actual play in my experience. Plus, as I previously said, being vulnerable to stuff like Hold Person is pretty clearly a deliberate design point to offset their ability to shrug off weapon damage.
Imo, yeah; we've got a Barbarian played by my cousin who is very much not an optimizer in the same group as a Wizard being played by a veteran player- probably not an optimized build but definitely handles well- and even as we get into tier 3 she's pretty good at shredding through enemies. I won't say the martial/caster divide doesn't exist, but it's significantly more pronounced in white room scenarios than in actual play in my experience. Plus, as I previously said, being vulnerable to stuff like Hold Person is pretty clearly a deliberate design point to offset their ability to shrug off weapon damage.
Eh - I mostly agree. But see, it's also a theoretical thing. Across the many games I've played over the last, say, 5 years - not a single barbarian. None.
So I inform players that this is a thing: Barbarians are stupidly good at not getting CC'd. And no one plays them anyhow. But it affects how full casters are played, too. Overall, it improves my games.
What I really want is to play a barbarian in my own games. Sadly, that is impossible. And I've yet to convince any other GM that this is such a great idea!
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
The Berserker subclass specifically gets immunity to Charm/Frighten while Raging and suspends any instances of those conditions that were already up, so I'd argue it's a bit much to add that subclass ability to all Barbarians. But then I'm more the "work with what's in front of you" type for class features.
Ah, but burning a Rage use also let's you burst out of Hold Person, or Web, or ... basically, it's a Stop Being CC'd ability. And I do this not to boost Barbarians, but to nerf Wizards. Or ... full casters, I suppose.
But ... you're completely right, it's a bit much. But is it a bit much compared to full casters? =)
Imo, yeah; we've got a Barbarian played by my cousin who is very much not an optimizer in the same group as a Wizard being played by a veteran player- probably not an optimized build but definitely handles well- and even as we get into tier 3 she's pretty good at shredding through enemies. I won't say the martial/caster divide doesn't exist, but it's significantly more pronounced in white room scenarios than in actual play in my experience. Plus, as I previously said, being vulnerable to stuff like Hold Person is pretty clearly a deliberate design point to offset their ability to shrug off weapon damage.
I largely agree, however, I will note that WotC have been adding tons of new spells that impose crowd control effects that aren't a named condition so don't have any way to really defend against them, that are INT/WIS save - e.g. Tasha's Mind Whip, Psychic Lance, Synaptic Static, Dissonant Whispers, etc... so if the DM is designing enemies with Character levels then I could see there now being a problem with martials getting debuffed all the time. But that's more of a DM problem - that they shouldn't be designing enemies like PCs or to deliberately counter the PCs. RAW from the monster manual there really aren't that many enemies with really strong CC.
My party and I include one Barbarian who, as usual, has a nasty habit of failing Wisdom and Int Saves. Even with the Paladin nearby, our faithful Saint has spent way too many turns being Confused or whatever. My character is an Artificer and we have quite a pile of cash on hand so anything I can't make, we may be able to buy.
I need advice on ways to help our Barb with his Wis and Int Saves. Btw, he already has an item of Protection so that's out.
Thanks in advance.
Well, the obvious next thing would be an item to boost his Wis. Or a Ring of Free Action, which is propably better.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Ring of Free Action is good for countering paralysis there is also a consumable: Oil of Slipperiness which I think does the same thing, there is a Mantle of Spell Resistance though you'd probably need to ask your DM about it.
Beacon of Hope gives Adv on Wis saves so that could be a good option if someone in the party has access to it. Intellect Fortress is even better.
Bless is fantastic just all around - your paladin could cast it or I think Bards and Clerics have access as well or you could buy a bunch of Potion of Heroism which gives the same benefit but concentration-free.
The Heroism spell is widely available to paladins, bards, and clerics that gives immunity to being frightened, and with their rage, the temp hit points go pretty far on a Barb too.
If you've got a monk in the party try to convince them to swap to Mercy as they get some really great features for removing conditions.
You could also ask your DM about making earplugs that might offer protection from charming songs/words - this is HB though.
Or last recourse - grab a Wand of Magic Missile and just pummel them with darts until you break the charm.
If he uses a shield, a Spellguard Shield gives advantage on saves against all spells and magical effects.
To a certain degree they just have to roll with it; the saving throw system of 5e was deliberately designed so that pretty much every class would have more weak points than not, especially in early play. Even magic items will only do so much, given that pretty much everything that helps with saves will require attunement, which will cap you out fast. Honestly, my advice for this situation would be looking into getting Feywrought Armor for them so they've got advantage against Charmed, which is what a lot of the WIS saves make use of for their effects, and beyond that just accept that the class that's specifically made to be one of the best at tanking physical attacks and effects is not going to be so effective against mental effects as a trade-off. Also talk with the DM if it feels like the Barbarian is specifically getting shut down too often, it's possible their ability to tank damage felt like too much early on and the DM overcompensated in attempting to keep the Barbarian from sweeping through encounters.
Also, let's be honest ..... he dumped Wis - and Int - didn't he? So he's getting his just desserts. So there's that. Although I always allow barbarians to expend a Rage use to break just such things. But that's just me.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
The Berserker subclass specifically gets immunity to Charm/Frighten while Raging and suspends any instances of those conditions that were already up, so I'd argue it's a bit much to add that subclass ability to all Barbarians. But then I'm more the "work with what's in front of you" type for class features.
Ah, but burning a Rage use also let's you burst out of Hold Person, or Web, or ... basically, it's a Stop Being CC'd ability. And I do this not to boost Barbarians, but to nerf Wizards. Or ... full casters, I suppose.
But ... you're completely right, it's a bit much. But is it a bit much compared to full casters? =)
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Imo, yeah; we've got a Barbarian played by my cousin who is very much not an optimizer in the same group as a Wizard being played by a veteran player- probably not an optimized build but definitely handles well- and even as we get into tier 3 she's pretty good at shredding through enemies. I won't say the martial/caster divide doesn't exist, but it's significantly more pronounced in white room scenarios than in actual play in my experience. Plus, as I previously said, being vulnerable to stuff like Hold Person is pretty clearly a deliberate design point to offset their ability to shrug off weapon damage.
Eh - I mostly agree. But see, it's also a theoretical thing. Across the many games I've played over the last, say, 5 years - not a single barbarian. None.
So I inform players that this is a thing: Barbarians are stupidly good at not getting CC'd. And no one plays them anyhow. But it affects how full casters are played, too. Overall, it improves my games.
What I really want is to play a barbarian in my own games. Sadly, that is impossible. And I've yet to convince any other GM that this is such a great idea!
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
How close to an ASI level is the Barbarian? Resilience can work wonders in these kind of scenarios and gets better at higher levels.
I largely agree, however, I will note that WotC have been adding tons of new spells that impose crowd control effects that aren't a named condition so don't have any way to really defend against them, that are INT/WIS save - e.g. Tasha's Mind Whip, Psychic Lance, Synaptic Static, Dissonant Whispers, etc... so if the DM is designing enemies with Character levels then I could see there now being a problem with martials getting debuffed all the time. But that's more of a DM problem - that they shouldn't be designing enemies like PCs or to deliberately counter the PCs. RAW from the monster manual there really aren't that many enemies with really strong CC.
May I ask what your party comp looks like?