D&D 5e Tweaks & Fixes
Barbarian Revised v1.5
By KireExion (a.k.a, u/Kire-Ikasu)
Preface
This document contains homebrew material that has been developed from my own observations as well as common player criticisms and suggested fixes made by various players and dungeon masters alike. However, this material has not been completely play-tested and should be carefully considered before implementing it into your own game. My hopes are simply to address features and traits that are considered lackluster and poorly balanced by the community and help by offering alternatives so that Players will suffer less frustration and gain more enjoyment out of the game.
Use as many or as little of these revisions as you like while keeping the overall balance of your game in mind. The Dungeon Master has final say on whether or not any of this material can be implemented into your game.
Base Class Features
Source: Player's Handbook.
- Fast Movement: Improved
- Relentless Rage: Improved
- Persistant Rage: Improved
Fast Movement
(Improved 5th level feature)
Starting at 5th level, your speed increases by 10 feet and your jump distance is doubled while you aren't wearing heavy armor.
Relentless Rage
(Improved 11th level feature)
Starting at 11th level, your Rage can keep you fighting despite grievous wounds.
You ignore the Poisoned condition and the effects of Exhaustion while raging.
Additionally, if you drop to 0 hit points while you're raging and don't die outright, you can make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. If you succeed, you drop to 1 hit point instead.
Each time you use this feature after the first, the DC increases by 5. When you finish a short or long rest, the DC resets to 10.
Persistant Rage
(Improved 15th level feature)
Beginning at 15th level, your Rage is so fierce that it ends early only if you fall Unconscious or if you choose to end it.
Additionally, when you fail a saving throw, you can choose to either spend one use of your rage feature or end your current rage early to re-roll the saving throw and must use the new roll (no action required). You do not spend or end the rage on a failed saving throw.
Path of the Berzerker
Source: Player's Handbook.
- Frenzy: Re-Written & Re-located
- Mindless Rage: Unchanged
- Intimidating Presence: Re-written
- Retaliation: Re-Written & Re-located
Battle Frenzy
(Re-written relocated 14th level "Retaliation" feature to 3rd level)
Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level, while you are raging and take damage from a creature that you can see, you can use your reaction to do one of the following:
- Make a melee weapon attack against that creature if it is within reach.
- Move up to half your speed, moving only towards that creature.
At 14th level, you can use this reaction even while you're not raging. If you are raging when you use this reaction, you can move up to your full movement speed towards the creature that triggered the reaction, instead of half.
Intimidating Presence
(Reworked 10th level feature)
Beginning at 10th level, your attacks inflict terror upon your enemies, granting you the following traits:
Frightening Strength
You gain a bonus to Charisma (Intimidation) checks equal to your Strength modifer (minimum of +1).
Menacing Blow
Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can force it to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC equals 8 + your PB + your Strength modifier) or be Frightened of you until the end of your next turn. Alternatively, you can force a creature to make this saving throw in place of an attack to avoid dealing damage to it.
You can extend the duration of this effect on the frightened creature by using this feature again on it during subsequent turns. The effect ends if the creature ends its turn out of line of sight or more than 60 feet away from you.
If the creature succeeds on its saving throw, you can't use this feature on that creature again for 24 hours.
Frenzied Assault
(Re-written and relocated 3rd level "Frenzy" feature moved to 14th level)
Starting at 14th level, when you take the attack action while you are raging and have advantage on an attack roll against one of the targets, you can forgo the advantage for that roll to make an additional melee weapon attack against that target, as part of the same action. You can do so no more than once per turn.
Path of the Storm Herald
Source: Xanather's Guide to Everything.
- Storm Aura: Re-Written
- Storm Soul: Unchanged
- Shielding Storm: Replaced
- Raging Storm: Re-Written
Storm Aura
(Re-written 3rd level feature)
Starting at 3rd level, you emanate a stormy, magical aura while you rage. The aura extends 10 feet from you in every direction, but not through total cover.
Your aura has an effect that activates when you enter your rage, and you can activate the effect again on each of your turns as a bonus action. Choose desert, sea, or tundra. Your aura's effect depends on that chosen environment, as detailed below.
You can change your environment choice whenever you finish a short or long rest. If your aura's effects require a saving throw, the DC equals 8 + your PB + your Constitution modifier.
Desert
When this effect is activated, each creature of your choice within your aura take fire damage equal to half your barbarian level (rounded up) at the end of each of your turns.
Sea
When this effect is activated, once on each of your turns you can use a bonus action to choose one other creature you can see in your aura and force them to make a Dexterity saving throw. The target takes 2d6 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases when you reach certain levels in this class, increasing to 3d6 at 5th level, 4d6 at 10th level, 5d6 at 15th level, and 6d6 at 20th level.
Tundra
When this effect is activated, each creature of your choice in your aura gains a number of temporary hit points equal to half your barbarian level (rounded up), as icy spirits protect it from suffering.
Power of the Storm
(Re-written 10th level feature)
At 10th level, the power of the storm you channel grows mightier, granting you the following benefits while raging:
-
Each creature of your choice has the damage resistance you gained from the Storm Soul feature while the creature is in your Storm Aura.
-
As a bonus action, you can gain a flying speed equal to your current walking speed until the end of your turn.
Raging Storm
(Re-written 14th level feature)
At 14th level, you have gained mastery over the storm.
As a bonus action, which can be a part of the same bonus action you use to enter your rage, you can choose to become immune to the damage type you gained resistance to from your Storm Soul feature for the duration of your rage. Once you do so, you can't become immune to that damage type again until you finish a long rest.
Furthermore, you gain an additional effect based on the environment you chose for your Storm Aura.
Scorching Desert
Immediately after a creature in your aura hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to force that creature to make a Dexterity saving throw against your Aura save DC. On a failed save, the creature is blinded until the start of it's next turn as its vision fills with hot sand.
Crashing Sea
Once per turn when you hit a creature in your aura with an attack, you can force that creature to make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is knocked prone, as if struck by a wave.
Freezing Tundra
Whenever you use a bonus action to activate the effect of your Storm Aura, you can choose one creature you can see in the aura. That creature must succeed on a Strength saving throw against your Aura save DC, or it has its speed reduced to 0 and can not take reactions until the start of your next turn, as magical frost covers it.
Path of the Totem Warrior
Source: Player's Handbook.
- Spirit Seeker: Unchanged
- Spirit Totem: Re-Written
- Aspect of the Beast: Re-Written
- Spirit Walker: Unchanged
- Totemic Attunement: Re-Written
Spirit Totem
(Re-written and Re-arranged progression)
At 3rd level, when you adopt this path, you choose a totem spirit and gain its feature. You must make or acquire a physical totem object – an amulet or similar adornment – that incorporates fur or feathers, claws, teeth, or bones of the totem animal. At your option, you also gain minor physical attributes that are reminiscent of your totem spirit. For example, if you have a bear totem spirit, you might be unusually hairy and thick-skinned, or if your totem is the eagle, your eyes turn bright yellow.
Your totem animal might be an animal related to those listed here but more appropriate to your homeland. For example, you could choose a hawk or vulture in place of an eagle.
Bear
While you're raging, any creature within 5 feet of you that's hostile to you has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you or another character with this feature. An enemy is immune to this effect if it can't see or hear you or if it can't be frightened. The spirit of the bear makes you a fearsome protector.
Elk
While you're raging and aren't wearing heavy armor, your walking speed increases by 15 feet. Additionally, you can't be knocked prone unless you choose to be. The spirit of the elk makes you extraordinarily sure-footed and swift.
Tiger
While you're raging, you can use a bonus action to grapple a target. While a target is grappled by you, you can use a bonus action on each of your turns to crush it, dealing bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your strength modifier. The spirit of the tiger makes you a deadly predator in close quarters.
Wolf
Once per turn while raging, when you damage a creature with a melee attack, you can force the target to make a Strength saving throw (DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a failed save, the creature is knocked prone. The spirit of the wolf gives you the tenacity to force your enemies to the ground.
Aspect of the Beast
(Re-written 6th level feature)
At 6th level, you gain a magical benefit based on the totem animal of your choice. You can choose the same animal you selected at 3rd level or a different one.
Elk
You attain the swift stride of an elk. Whether mounted or on foot, your travel pace is doubled, as is the travel pace of up to ten companions while they're within 60 feet of you and you're not incapacitated. Additionally, non-magical difficult terrain doesn’t cost any additional movement for you.
Tiger
You attain the deft and agile movements of a tiger. You gain a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. Additionally, you can move stealthily while traveling at a normal pace and so can up to ten companions while they're within 60 feet of you and you're not incapacitated (see chapter 8 "Adventuring" for rules on travel pace).
Wolf
You attain the hunting sensibilities of a wolf. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track creatures you have encountered in the past month. Additionally, you can track other creatures while traveling at a fast pace (see chapter 8 "Adventuring" for rules on travel pace).
Totemic Attunement
(Re-written 14th level feature)
At 14th level, you gain a magical benefit based on a totem animal of your choice. You can choose the same animal you selected previously or a different one.
Bear
(Re-arranged from 3rd level to 14th level)
While raging, you have resistance to all damage except psychic.
Elk
While raging, you can move freely through the space of a Large or smaller creature. Additionally, when you decide to shove a creature, you can push it up to 10 feet away from you and knock it prone, dealing bludgeoning damage equal to 1d12 + your Strength modifier.
Tiger
While you're raging, if you move at least 10 feet in a straight line toward a target and hit it with a melee weapon attack, you can use a bonus action to make an additional melee weapon attack against it.
Wolf
(Re-arranged from 3rd level to 14th level)
While you're raging, any allies within 10 feet of you have advantage on attack rolls against any creature within 5 feet of you that is hostile to you.
Path of the Zealot
Source: Xanather's Guide to Everything.
- Divine Fury: Unchanged
- Warrior of the Gods: Unchanged
- Fanatical Focus: Unchanged
- Zealous Presence: Re-Written
- Rage Beyond Death: Unchanged
Zealous Presence
(Re-written 10th level feature)
At 10th level, you learn to channel divine power to inspire zealotry in others. As a bonus action, you unleash a battle cry infused with divine energy. You and a number of creatures equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1) of your choice within 60 feet of you that can hear you gain advantage on attack rolls and saving throws until the start of your next turn.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short rest.
Path of the Ravager
(Rewritten "Path of the Battlerager")
Source: The Sword Coast's Adventuring Guide.
- Battlerager Armor: Replaced
- Reckless Abandon: Re-written
- Battlerager Charge: Replaced
- Spiked Retribution: Replaced
Spiked Armor Training
(Replaces 3rd level "Battlerager Armor" feature)
When you choose this path at 3rd level, your training allows you to utilize your armor into a weapon.
You gain proficiency in smith's tools in addition to spiked armor, a variant set of light or medium armor covered in spikes, barbs or similar features.
You can modify a set of medium or light armor into spiked armor during a long rest using smith’s tools. If the armor is magical, then the damage from your spiked armor becomes magical.
The spiked variant of a set of armor weighs 5 pounds more and has the following traits when worn with proficiency:
- Armor Spikes. Your unarmed strikes deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier on a hit. If you aren't wielding any weapons or a shield when you make the attack roll, the d6 becomes a d8.
- Retribution. At the start of each of your turns, you deal 1d4 piercing damage to one creature that has you grappled or is grappled by you.
- Climbing Hooks. You have a climbing speed of 30 feet as the armor spikes allow you to hook into vertical surfaces.
Reckless Abandon
(Re-written 6th level feature)
Beginning at 6th level, when you use Reckless Attack while raging, you also gain temporary hit points equal to half your Barbarian level (rounded up). They vanish if any of them are left when your rage ends.
Barbed Charge
(Replaces 10th level "Battlerager Charge" feature)
At 10th level, you have learned how to capitalize on your momentum. While you are raging and aren’t wearing heavy armor, you can dash as a bonus action.
Additionally, if you move towards a creature and make an unarmed attack while wearing spiked armor, you deal an additional 1d6 piercing damage for every 10 feet you spend moving in a straight line towards the target of your attack (up to a maximum of 4d6).
If you reduce a medium or small creature to 0 hit points with this attack, it is impaled upon your spikes until the start of your next turn, providing you with cover. A medium creature grants three quarters cover and a small creature grants half cover.
Piercing Grasp
(Replaces 14th level "Spiked Retribution" feature)
At 14th level, if you are raging and take damage from a creature that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against that creature. If this attack hits while you are wearing spiked armor and you have an open hand, you can choose to automatically grapple the creature by hooking your spikes into it.
Furthermore, you can add your rage damage bonus to the damage you deal with the retribution trait from your spiked armor.
Change log
- Added base class feature improvements for "Fast Movement" and "Persistant Rage".
- Removed skill proficiencies from "Berserker" and "Totem Warrior" Subclasses.
- Removed doubled jump distance from "Spirit Totem: Elk" feature and added it to "Fast Movement" instead.
- Swapped 3rd and 14th level "Totem Warrior" Bear and wolf features.
- Swapped 3rd and 14th level "Berserker" features.
- Moved reaction movement from "Berserker's" "Retaliation" feature to "Frenzy" feature.
- Added changes to 10th and 14th level "Storm Herald" features.
- Added climbing speed to "Ravager's" Spiked Armor traits.
- Improved "Relentless Rage" to ignore the effects of Exhaustion and the Poisoned condition.
- Improved "Persistent Rage" to allow the Barbarian to reroll saves against being Incapacitated by spending rages.
v1.5
- Changed "Frenzy" feature to "Frenzied Strike" to grant an additional attack in exchange for losing advantage on an attack, adding a risk vs reward element into the subclass in place of the exhaustion penalty from frenzy by encouraging the use of reckless attacks for more attacks. Renamed to "Frenzied Assualt"
- Changed "Persistant Rage" feature to re-roll any failed saving throws by spending rages, not just against being incapacitated.
- Improved Storm Herald's Fire storm aura to deal fire damage to chosen targets instead of all creatures within the aura.
- Improved "Intimidating Presence" to grant the Berzerker a bonus to Charisma (Intimidation) checks equal to strength modifier.
- Improved "Retaliation" to allow a choice between moving or attack on a reaction. Rebalanced to still provoke opportunity attacks but grant additional movement while raging at 14th level. Renamed to "Battle Frenzy".
Credits
- "Path of the Ravager" Inspired by and adapted from Battlerager interpretations made by Torchbearergaming, Nerd Immersion and Homebrew Barcana.
- Made with GM Binder