You could simply be a straight-up lycanthrope via the Path of the Beast . . . kind of. The one caveat is that you'd only be able to have your default human/elf/dwarf/whatever form and a "hybrid" form—you can't transform into a fully bestial state. (E.g., a human werewolf could have a human form and a werewolf form, but not a wolf form.) Of course, one could simply state that one can actually transform into an animal—rather than just a humanoid-animal hybrid—without changing any stats. (If you get DM permission.) Or, you could multiclass a couple levels into Druid (likely with the Circle of the Moon) and use Wild Shape for your animal form.
Additionally, as written, the Path of the Beast allows one to change the natural weapon from Form of the Beast and the movement boon from Bestial Soul relatively frequently, whereas lycanthropes are traditionally limited to gaining a single animal's traits when they transform. (E.g., a Beast Barbarian could gain a Bite attack and have a swimming speed one day, and then gain Claws and a climbing speed the next.) You could simply always select the same options for these two traits, though.
What's more, the Bestial Soul feature is always active, not just active when one is Raging—i.e., "transformed." You could either accept this, or limit yourself to only using the feature while Raging, but that seems awfully restrictive.
Honestly, I think the best solution is to simply say that you're a non-traditional lycanthrope who works just a touch differently than most.
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Player Characters: Wes Wisetune, Halfling Bard; Zook Beren, Gnome Diviner; Cael, Eladrin Wild Mage; Sir Sammal, Kenku Cavalier; & Mitchell Giovanni, Human Conjuror.
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I personally find the wording is vague on path of the beast in description.
Could you flavour it into pure werebeast or is it not designed for that.
What is the best choices to make and what compliments the barbarian aspect best
You could simply be a straight-up lycanthrope via the Path of the Beast . . . kind of. The one caveat is that you'd only be able to have your default human/elf/dwarf/whatever form and a "hybrid" form—you can't transform into a fully bestial state. (E.g., a human werewolf could have a human form and a werewolf form, but not a wolf form.) Of course, one could simply state that one can actually transform into an animal—rather than just a humanoid-animal hybrid—without changing any stats. (If you get DM permission.) Or, you could multiclass a couple levels into Druid (likely with the Circle of the Moon) and use Wild Shape for your animal form.
Additionally, as written, the Path of the Beast allows one to change the natural weapon from Form of the Beast and the movement boon from Bestial Soul relatively frequently, whereas lycanthropes are traditionally limited to gaining a single animal's traits when they transform. (E.g., a Beast Barbarian could gain a Bite attack and have a swimming speed one day, and then gain Claws and a climbing speed the next.) You could simply always select the same options for these two traits, though.
What's more, the Bestial Soul feature is always active, not just active when one is Raging—i.e., "transformed." You could either accept this, or limit yourself to only using the feature while Raging, but that seems awfully restrictive.
Honestly, I think the best solution is to simply say that you're a non-traditional lycanthrope who works just a touch differently than most.
Player Characters: Wes Wisetune, Halfling Bard; Zook Beren, Gnome Diviner; Cael, Eladrin Wild Mage; Sir Sammal, Kenku Cavalier; & Mitchell Giovanni, Human Conjuror.