Barbarian



Obsidian has confirmed that the barbarian base class will be included in NWN2.

DnD 3.5 Barbarian
Description: Barbarians are brave, even reckless warriors, and their great strength and heartiness makes them well suited for adventure. Barbarians scornfully reject the fighter traditions of arms training and discipline, instead tapping into a powerful rage that makes them stronger, tougher, and better able to withstand attacks. They only have the energy for a few such displays per day, but it is usually sufficient. Constant exposure to danger also gives barbarians a sort of "sixth sense," a preternatural ability to sense danger and dodge attacks, and their running stamina is legendary.

Alignment restrictions: Any non-lawful

Fast movement
A barbarian’s land speed is faster than the norm for his race by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when he is wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load. Apply this bonus before modifying the barbarian’s speed because of any load carried or armor worn.

Illiteracy
Barbarians are the only characters who do not automatically know how to read and write. A barbarian may spend 2 skill points to gain the ability to read and write all languages he is able to speak.

A barbarian who gains a level in any other class automatically gains literacy. Any other character who gains a barbarian level does not lose the literacy he or she already had.

Ex-barbarians
A barbarian who becomes lawful loses the ability to rage and cannot gain more levels as a barbarian. He retains all the other benefits of the class (damage reduction, fast movement, trap sense, and uncanny dodge).

Pre-release notes

 * The skills climb, jump and swim have been confirmed as not being implemented in NWN2.

NWN comparison

 * The discipline skill that was created for NWN was removed in NWN2 and combat feats relating to it now function closer to 3.5 rules.
 * NWN did not include languages, so it's possible that NWN2 might exclude barbarian illiteracy for the same reasons.
 * NWN allowed barbarians to use tower shields as it made no distinction other than size. In NWN2 the class decription shown at Gen Con distinguishes between shield types in this  NWN2 forum topic
 * A barbarian who became lawful in NWN could not gain more barbarian levels. However they did retain all class features including rage.

3.5 Rules Comparison

 * The parry skill was created by NWN and is not a feature of DnD 3.5. It has returned in NWN2 for the same reasons it was in NWN.

External resources

 * NWNWiki:Barbarian