BARBARIANS: Triggering Your Rage

The usual Barbarian character in D&D tends to look and act like they belong in a Conan story. But the big muscle-bound figure in a loincloth who uses Intelligence as their dump stat isn’t the only way to play a Barbarian. Don’t get me wrong; if that’s precisely what you’re looking for, then go for it. But in case you want a little extra flavor, here are some suggestions in creating an unconventional Barbarian.

“I would like to RAGE!”

- Grog Strongjaw from CRITICAL ROLE

ALL THE RAGE!

The main aspect separating the Barbarian Class from all others is their ability to RAGE! They can do it a certain amount of times per long rest based on their level, and its the key feature of their fighting style. It gives them advantage on Strength checks and saves, a bonus to melee attack damage, and resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage. This obviously makes them ideal for a frontline warrior, drawing attention from the more squishy members of the party. So now, let’s talk about how to roleplay those moments to give your character an interesting appeal. The questions are: What triggers your rage, and how is your personality different when not raging? 

Even Conan the Barbarian had a backstory explaining WHY he fights like he does. So what’s your story? What pushed you over the edge? It could be a loss of loved one(s), a whole tribe/race, or even a precious object of yours. Maybe it’s social atrocities that make you see red. Do you lose it every time you confront a killer or a rapist? There are many possibilities out there that make for some fun roleplay moments.

Finally, is your personality different when you’re not raging? Perhaps you have a Hulk complex where you’re perfectly calm and kind when not raging. Although it’s fun to be the dumb brute, don’t feel like you’re stuck with that personality if you want to play a Barbarian. You can also take it a step further by making this story a part of your aesthetic. Imagine carving your giant wooden maul from the remains of your family’s burned down home. Or how about wrapping yourself in the chains you wore while you were wrongfully imprisoned for 10 years, and that’s what you use for medium armor. These are small details that add layers to your character you can reveal half-way through the campaign if you’d like. Just make sure to talk it through with your DM to get their permission.

EXAMPLES

Here are some ideas I came up with for an Unconventional Barbarian. Feel free to use them, or let them spark your own creativity:

• A Halfling cook who didn’t actively fight back until marauders had already killed most of his community. When they entered his home and slayed his wife, he hit the point of no return and struck out with immense force with his wooden spoon. Now garbed in armor made from his old pots and pans, he seeks to avenge any acts of injustice against the little guy. He feels empowered, and hopes to spread that spirit to any other Halfling he meets.

• An Elf Scholar who witnessed her library burn down by the hands of an Orcish cult intent on destroying her culture. Now wearing the skull of the Orc leader as a helmet, she loses her cool over ignorance or bullying. She travels to wipe this cult completely off the map, and writes her people’s histories in her downtime in hopes to reopen her library one day.

• A Triton is tired of the pollution of the surface dwellers living in the coastal towns. One day, he picks up his ancestral sword carved from the bones of a spiny fish and takes to the surface to teach everyone some manners. He doesn’t care if he has to fight each and every being in order to gain respect for the sea.

• A Tabaxi is aptly named “Wilde.” Unlike others of their tribe, they can’t seem to tame their base instincts. Larger and much stronger than most, they were kicked out for using their claws in a ferocious attack in an argument. Now Wilde is forced to find their own path in a much larger world. They’re blood runs hot, especially when they feel they’ve been insulted. They also have a habit of wearing the hide of what they feel is their latest big accomplishment.

Hopefully, your creativity is sparked by this content! Have fun, and let me know how you like to play a Barbarian down in the comments.