Other kits dealing with barbarians have appeared previously — there have even been a few kits for wizards from barbaric tribes! Previous treatments of the barbarian theme include:
- The Complete Fighter: Barbarian, Beast Rider, Berserker, Savage, Wilderness Warrior.
- The Complete Priest: Barbarian/Berserker Priest, Savage Priest.
- The Complete Wizard: Anagakok, Savage Wizard.
- The Complete Bard: Skald.
- The Complete Ranger: Feralan.
If any of these are considered for use, the DM should decide how and if they fit into the campaign setting.
Demihuman Barbarians[]
Although (according to Chapter 1) all barbarian characters must be human, the DM may wish to expand a campaign to include other races. Non-human races should be subject to strict limitations to avoid unbalancing the game. Barbarians based on demihuman races are generally known as demi-barbarians.
Only demihumans races for which an existing barbarian culture exists in the campaign can be demi-barbarians (other humanoid races are discussed in The Complete Book of Humanoids).
Barbarian elves tend to be wild elves or sylvan elves, such as the Kagonesti of the DRAGONLANCE" setting. Barbarian dwarves tend to be mountain dwarves. The relatively advanced gnomes and halflings won't usually have barbarian cultures, although there are feral halflings in the DARK SUN® game world.
Demi-barbarians will lack many of the special abilities associated with the human barbarian class. These include:
- No increased hit dice; demi-barbarians use the standard dice for their class and level;
- No increased movement; demi-barbarians retain their racial movement rates;
- No special abilities in leaping, springing, climbing, or back detection;
- Demi-barbarians must take character kits, and only those approved by the DM;
- Demi-barbarians are limited as to the maximum level they can achieve.
However demi-barbarians have several advantages:
- They retain their racial abilities;
- They have all special advantages associated with their homeland terrain (see Chapter 1).
| Race/Kit | Maximum Level |
|---|---|
| Dwarves | |
| Fighter kits: | |
| Brute | 15 |
| Wizard Slayer | 5 |
| Cleric Kits: | |
| Flamespeaker | 10 |
| Witchman | 10 |
| Elves | |
| Fighter kits: | |
| Brushrunner | 12 |
| Forest Lord | 12 |
| Islander | 12 |
| Cleric kits: | |
| Dreamwalker | 12 |
| Seer | 12 |
Possible kits from other sources include:
- Complete Book of Elves: Herbalist (priest); Archer, Wilderness Runner, Windrider (warrior);
- Complete Book of Dwarves: Battlerager (warrior);
- Complete Book of Humanoids: Shaman, Witchdoctor, Oracle, Wandering Mystic (priest); Tribal Defender, Wilderness Protector (warrior).
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