Path of the Protector

This is a path for barbarians who value loyalty and responsibility, with a background to match. As they level, they gain unique attacking abilities and advantages when someone else is in danger. Be it to a specific person or to the party as a whole, their rage is tied to their affection for something else. This path creates a more balanced barbarian (perhaps in keeping with a lawful alignment) while still allowing for a reckless abandonment of self-preservation when others are threatened.

Where Your Loyalty Lies

You have the option either to focus your protective ability on your party broadly, or on one specific person. Your abilities will be stronger if focused on one person, but can only be used in relation to them. You cannot change this decision as you level.

For All

You feel protective of your entire party. You will have the option to use abilities when members of your party are in danger or take damage.

For One

You are unflinchingly loyal and protective of just one person in your party. They may be a friend, family member or lover, or alternatively you may owe them a debt of protection, but they must be declared at this level and cannot be changed. You will gain powerful abilities when they are in danger or take damage.

Self Sacrifice

As a reaction to another player taking damage within melee distance, you may take half the damage yourself. 

Melee Reactions

Depending on your preference, you have the ability to use a reaction when either your chosen person or another party member takes damage in melee

Attack Reactions

When another party member takes damage in melee from an enemy you are also in melee with, you can take unarmed attack as a reaction. Once per round of combat.

Speedy Reactions

You have the ability to dash as a reaction, when your chosen person takes damage in melee combat within your range of movement

Protective Rage

Choosing when to rage is no longer required with this feature. Beef up your barbarian for however long is needed while your healer can deal with fallen party members.

Uncontrollable Rage

An uncontrollable rage will happen automatically if you are aware your chosen person is bleeding out. Continues until they are healed to at least 1 hp, does not gain exhaustion levels but cannot be ended voluntarily.

Unstoppable Rage

You are granted the option to rage as a reaction when any party members begins to bleed out in your line of sight. This continues until they are healed and cannot be ended, with a level of exhaustion taken after the rage ends for every 2 extra levels of combat through which rage continues.

Defensive Damage

When raging, you are able to roll double the damage dice for any attack on certain enemies

Revenge

While raging, roll double the usual damage dice on any attack against an an enemy which has previously dealt damage to your chosen person

Support

When raging, roll double the usual damage dice on melee attacks on enemies currently in melee with a member of your party