Totem Barbarians
by Greg WeatherupFor Bear clan I immediately thought the Bear totem but after looking over the changes I'm wondering if the Ape totem would be better.
For the Elk clan I was undecided if the Eagle or Lion totems would be best, or just the default Jaguar.
For the Horse clan I was torn between the Horse or Wolf Totems, though the Lion totem might work as well.
For the Tiger Clan, Serpent Totem, or maybe Dragon Totem
For the Turtle Clan, I don't know maybe the Eagle totem
by Andrew Theisen
Interesting that you have been thinking about this, as I was wondering the very same about the Atruaghin barbarians recently.
For Bear clan I immediately thought the Bear totem but after looking over the changes I'm wondering if the Ape totem would be better.
Either could work, or perhaps some combination of the two (though I'd make sure it was still named Bear totem, regardless). I think I see where you're coming from with ape, insofar as it relates to climbing, and the Bear Clan are noted for their climbing ability. The more traditional tough bear concept of UA's Bear Totem would work, too, though.
For the Elk clan I was undecided if the Eagle or Lion totems would be best, or just the default Jaguar.
I'd say Eagle seems like a good fit, as does Wolf. Standard Jaguar could work, too.
For the Horse clan I was torn between the Horse or Wolf Totems, though the Lion totem might work as well.
Horse totem seems to be the best fit, IMO.
For the Tiger Clan, Serpent Totem, or maybe Dragon Totem
I'd probably to with the Lion Totem.
For the Turtle Clan, I don't know maybe the Eagle totem
That could work, though I think the Turtle might be better served with a brand new totem. Something like:
Turtle Totem
A barbarian dedicated to the turtle totem does not gain the standard fast movement, uncanny dodge, and improved uncanny dodge barbarian class features, and instead gains the following abilities.
* At 1st level, a turtle-totem barbarian gains a swim speed equal to one-half his base land speed (round down to the nearest 5-foot interval). For instance, a human, elf, half-elf, or half-orc turtle-totem barbarian has a swim speed of 15 feet, while a dwarf, gnome, or halfling turtle-totem barbarian has a swim speed of 10 feet.
* At 2nd level, a turtle-totem barbarian gains Endurance as a bonus feat.
* At 5th level, a turtle-totem barbarian's swim speed equals his base land speed.
For the Thracians of the hinterlands maybe the Boar Totem or maybe the Dragon Totem or just keep it Jaguar
Like the Atruaghin, I'd probably have a different totem for each group; my suggestions:
Jackal Clan: Probably the standard Jaguar, though Lion might work, too. (As an aside, I find it kind of weird that Lion loses its Fast Movement ability but gains Run as a Feat. Seems counterintuitive.)
Rhino Clan: Boar, possibly, though I'm tempted to make up something new.
Raven Clan: Eagle, probably.
Leopard Clan: Lion.
by Greg Weatherup
about the Mystaran Turtle Totem:
But does that swim speed count as a "racial swim" speed? thus opening the door to unwanted things like the characters being able to take the Swim-by Attack feat and the like? maybe instead give them the Master Swimmer feat (hmm... or perhaps not)or just a +2 bonus to swim checks (double - +4 - for Extra Breath checks) or can hold their breath underwater longer or something. There's also the Quick Swimmer movement skill trick. Or we need a feat for swimming that does the same for swimming as Steady Mountaineer does for climb (can always take 10 on Climb checks).
I like the Endurance bit.
maybe something like:
1st +2 to swim checks (+4 for Extra Breath swim checks)
2nd Endurance
3rd Quick Swimmer movement skill trick
5th can take 10 on an swim check
however- 1) Is that too powerful or too weak? Does it need an additional ability taken away (ie trap sense) or some abilitiy given back, & 2) is that too focused on the swim skill?, & 3) Is it even any good.
Another idea could be instead of the Quick Swimmer or the take 10 on swim checks, we could give the Rapid Swimming feat (even without meeting the prerequisites) so that a human would get 35' on a full round swim check.
About the Mystaran Bear Totem:
Bear Totem, Mystaran
A barbarian dedicated to the bear totem does not gain the standard fast movement, uncanny dodge, trap sense, and improved uncanny dodge barbarian class features, and instead gains the following abilities.
* At 1st level, a bear-totem barbarian gains a climb speed equal to one-half his base land speed (round down to the nearest 5-foot interval). For instance, a human bear-totem barbarian has a base climb speed of 15 feet.
* At 2nd level, a bear-totem barbarian gains Improved Grapple as a bonus feat, even if he doesn't meet the normal prerequisites.
* At 3rd level, a bear-totem barbarian barbarian gains a +2 bonus on Intimidate checks.
* At 5th level, , a bear-totem barbarian gains a +4 bonus on grapple checks when raging.