Because most primitive societies lack the tec nology to mine ore and produce metal (with a few exceptions, discussed in Chapter 6), barbarians rely on weapons and equipment made of wood, stone, and other natural materials. Their ignorance of sophisticated craft skills-carpentry, cobbling, and engineering-limits the quality and variety of their goods.
This chapter describes the armor, weapons, clothing, and transportation available to barbarians, along with some new magical items. Most barbarians have access to all this equipment, though the DM may impose restrictions. An arctic barbarian may be forbidden from using flint weapons if flint isn't available in his homeland. A desert barbarian may be banned from wearing armor made of fur.
Tools and household goods aren't discussed here. It may be assumed, however, that most barbarian societies have a reasonable number of common items, such as torches, scrapers, and bowls. Of course, many items listed in the Player's Handbook are unavailable in any form, including those made of silk, paper, or glass.
In the outworld, a barbarian continues to favor items similar to those in his homeland. He uses daggers of bone, not steel. He prefers a lizard-skin loincloth to one made of velvet. He would rather drink from a monkey-skull bowl than a crystal goblet. He is baffled, even intimidated, by mirrors, girdles, merchant's scales, and other outworld inventions.
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