[D&D] Revise Barbarian Class Features for 2024 PHB

Hello All, Former D&D 3rd and 4th edition writer saying, "Hello!" You can see an incomplete list of what I've done here: [https://index.rpg.net/display-search.phtml?key=contributor&value=Joseph+Miller](https://index.rpg.net/display-search.phtml?key=contributor&value=Joseph+Miller) Anyway, I just started playing around with the 5.5 ruleset and was looking for some feedback on a few modifications to the base classes to address some of the issues I've seen raised by various reviews (Treantmonk, Dungeon Dudes, RPGbot, etc.). This is meant just as a mental exercise for myself since I haven't been game designing for awhile. I plan on putting together a few ideas on how to address certain perceived imbalances in the classes/subclasses. *Design Note:* I don't have time to playtest everything myself, so that's why I'm seeking feedback here. I don't plan on publishing anything for profit since I have a day job that keeps me busy, but I've been feeling the game design itch for a while and wanted to give class redesigns a go. Anyway, enough about me, here's my revision of the Barbarian class. Anything unmentioned remains the same as the 2024 PHB. **Alternative Barbarian Class Features:** **Core Barbarian Trait:** You also gain proficiency with one of the following tools: Brewer's Supplies, Cobbler's Tools, Cook's Utensils, Carpenter's Tools, Leatherworker's Tools, Mason's Tools, Potter's Tools, Smith's Tools, Weaver's Tools, Woodcarver's Tools, Gaming Set, or Musical Instrument. *Design Note:* Barbarians get very few skills to choose from and no tool proficiencies and this is meant to be a minor boost to provide a little more flavor to Barbarians outside of combat. **Rage:** Same, but with the additional text: **Thrown Weapon Distance:** When you make an attack using Strength with a thrown weapon, you can double its range. For example, a javelin would have a range of 60/240. *Design Note:* Barbarians class weak point in reviews I read is its lack of good range options to deal with spell casters, especially at higher levels. This is meant to give them a tool to use in those situations. Plus the idea of chucking javelins and hand axes at those distances hits the rule of cool for me. **Unarmored Defense:** Same, but with the additional text: Your base Armor Class while you aren't wearing any armor increases by +1 at level 5, +2 at level 11, and +3 at level 17. *Design Note:* This is meant to address the issue of the magical armor that Barbarians give up by choosing to use this class feature. It better allows for the fantasy of an unarmored Barbarian without sacrificing their AC compared to armored combatants. They still don't get to wear the best armor, but now this class feature remains relevant through all tiers of play. **Subclass Features:** **Path of the Berserker:** **Intimidating Presence:** Change the first sentence to read: When you activate your Rage or as a Bonus Action while your Rage is active, you can strike terror into others with your menacing presence and primal power. *Design Note:* Although a strong subclass, I wanted to give a tiny boost to Intimidating Presence by imitating how the World Tree's Travel Along the Tree is worded. However, I'm open to dropping this completely since this is a solid subclass, but my personal design aesthetics are pushing me for this change. **Path of the Wild Heart:** **Aspect of the Wild (Salmon):** Same, but with the additional text: Instead of taking a swim speed when you choose this aspect, you can choose to gain the ability to jump 30 ft. by expending 10 ft. of movement. You can use this feature once per round. *Design Note:* Although considered a relatively strong subclass, the Salmon Aspect of the Wilds seemed very situational compared to the other choices so I gave it a little extra to help with movement on land if a campaign is landlocked. Could've just as easily made another Aspect to choose from, but I like when class features aren't as campaign dependent. **Nature Speaker:** Same, but with the additional text: When you use *Commune with Nature* to locate a Challenge Rating 10+ creature that is Celestial, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, or Undead, you can discern certain strengths and weaknesses of the creature. You know whether that creature has any Immunities, Resistances, or Vulnerabilities, and if the creature has any, you know what they are. Once you use this additional benefit to the *Commune with Nature* spell, you can’t do so again until you finish a Long Rest. *Design Note:* This is another relatively situational class feature and so I felt it needed a little extra and the Battle Master's Know Your Enemy class feature fit here, but in a limited way (only the listed creature types and you can't use it repeatedly). Overall, I don't think these changes break Path of the Wild Heart, but I'm open to cutting these if people think the Wild Heart is good enough compared to the other Barbarians subclasses. **Path of the World Tree:** No changes. *Design Note:* World Tree didn't get any changes since it was considered to be the strongest subclasses by all of the sources I referenced. I decided it was best to add to the weaker subclasses rather than to take away from the stronger. **Path of the Zealot:** **Warrior of the Gods:** Same, but with the additional text: When you expend dice from your Warrior of the Gods pool, you gain the benefits of the *Bless* spell until the start of your next turn. *Design Note:* This gives the Zealot a divine flavor that self-healing alone doesn't currently grant. This could be too good considering they also get Divine Fury at this level, so I could be talked out of this, but the Zealot consistently got the lowest ratings of all the Barbarian subclasses and may need the additional help. **Zealous Presence:** Change the first sentence to read: When you activate your Rage or as a Bonus Action while your Rage is active, you unleash a battle cry infused with divine energy. Also add the following text to the end of this feature: Until the Start of your next turn, you may do one of the following as a reaction: *Zealous Attack:* When an ally within 60 ft of you makes an attack on a target, you many move your speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. If your movement brings the target within your weapon or Unarmed Strike reach, you may immediately make an Opportunity Attack against the target as part of this reaction. This attack deals an extra 2d8 necrotic or radiant damage on a hit (3d8 vs. Fiends or Undead). *Warding Bond:* When an ally within 60 ft of you is hit with an attack or spell that deals damage, it gains Resistance to all damage. Also, each time it takes damage before the start of your next turn, you take the same amount of damage. This effect ends if you drop to 0 Hit Points, if you and the target become separated by more than 60 feet, or at the start of your next turn. *Design Note:* I tried to think of subclass features that would make Zealots unique in some way and settled on adding to Zealous Presence in such a way that it allowed the Zealot to choose to not only aid allies with advantage and saving throws in a passive way, but also allowed for the Zealot to do something reactive (but cool) during that round that they normally couldn't do, but felt divine in nature. **Overall Design Notes:** My main goal with these redesigns is to bring all the classes and subclasses into the same general power level with each other. Not an easy goal, but that's why this type of thing is fun to think about. I'm sure there are things I've written that might be broken in the right build, but that's what playtesting is for and if anyone want to take these ideas and put them through the ringer at their table and provide practical feedback than that's great! If you want me to continue this experiment, then let me know and I'll put out a revised class each week or so... depending on how much time and energy I've got. Thanks and hope you all enjoy the games you're playing in! **Edit:** reposted from [r/DnD](https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/)