Summary
Dungeons and Dragons' upcoming 2024 rulebooks have been making the rounds, with a series of videos about each revised class slowly being unveiled. However, the new barbarian class that will arrive withDungeons and Dragons' 2024Player’sHandbookis still missing one vital component.
Wizards of the Coast has entered a new marketing phase for itsupcomingD&Drevision, a sensible decision considering that the 2024Player’s Handbookwill be released in a matter of months. That book will hit shelves on September 17, and it will contain remastered rules and character options forD&D 5e. Part of this content has already been made public, with videos available on YouTube and D&D Beyond that detail certain changes. More specific revisions, such as specific subclasses, are being shown off by YouTubers and other community figures.
D&D 2024’s Barbarian Still Falls Short Of Being A True Tank
The barbarian class is no exception to these reveals, with overhauls aplenty being announced. Some of this information is very similar to what was detailed in playtest material, such as weapon masteries, while others are recent developments. However, it’s clear that the class is still missing an improvement many wanted to seeduringD&D 2024’s playtest phase—that being proper tank abilities. Alongside the paladin and (to an extent) the fighter, barbarians are the premier tanking class ofD&D5e, sporting the biggest health pool and a rage that halves non-magical damage. Despite this, more needs to be done to support this playstyle.
Barbarians Have No Way To Force Foes To Fight Them
In a video game context, a tank character can simply stand in front of the backline to take the punishment from enemy combatants. Some titles even give tanks an increased likelihood of being targeted by enemy AI, cementing their role. However, no such AI exists inDungeons and Dragons, with monsters being controlled by the dungeon master. Therefore, save for exceptional circumstances where a barbarian can block off a tight area, the barbarian player relies on the DM sending foes their way, andthe currentD&Dbarbariancan’t punish foes for avoiding them.
There are solutions to this problem withinthe vein ofD&D 5e’s barbarian, much of which involves a lot of investment. The barbarian is a great grappler, but it’ll take some feats and proficiencies to make this sing. Sentinel and Polearm Master can stop enemies from running away, though they’re somewhat unreliable when it comes to ranged attackers. A player could even take paladin levels, investing in spells like Compelled Duel, but this would really play against the class’s rage ability.
5e’s Barbarian Should Take Cues From 4e And Third-Party Publishers
One wayD&D 2024could fix this barbarian issue, allowing players to indulge in a tank fantasy, is by taking a leaf fromD&D 4e. In the fourth edition, classes in the ‘defender’ role can ‘mark’ enemies. Marked enemies suffer a penalty to their attack rolls if they try to fight creatures other than the one who marked them. This makes it strategically sensible to target the tank, encouraging the DM to heap pain on the player who built their character to withstand it. Perhaps a barbarian’s rage should allow them to mark foes, or marking could be made a separate ability.
Thechanges made inD&D 2024should also take heed of the unique approach taken to marking by third-party publishers. In particular,Flee Mortals!by MCDM expands on the concept greatly with its ‘soldier’ class of monsters. Most of these troopers have a marking ability, but the debuff is different every time. From imparting disadvantage to flaying flesh with molten blood, this variety could work well with the barbarian and its many subclasses.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
