The barbarian class in D&D version of Conan the Barbarian and call it a day. This isn't the fault of the player, as the barbarian class is more limited in scope than other classes, with the wandering rage-powered warrior only going so far. There are some unique character concepts for the barbarian class, for the players who wish to leave Conan and his ilk behind.
There are some D&D classes with an incredible amount of scope, allowing players to come up with all kinds of imaginative concepts for their characters. The fighter might be the best example of this, as a fighter is just someone who is really good at fighting, and this can manifest as anything from a mercenary who has survived a thousand battles by fighting dirty, to a flashy dervish whose combat moves resemble a dance, or a heavily-armored knight who will hold the line no matter what. The barbarian isn't quite as open in of concept, as it's a character who lives outside the boundaries of society and enters a rage in combat.
The barbarians in D&D just received a boost from the Path of the Giant subclass, which is still being playtested but offers them the chance to transform into a giant in combat. The Path of the Giant plays into the standard idea of the barbarian, but what ing a new approach for the class? The barbarian's Rage class feature can be interpreted in a number of different ways, in order to make a barbarian that is more unique than the other of the class.
A D&D Barbarian Can Be A Dr. Jekyll Who Becomes Mr. Hyde When They Rage
Eberron: Rising From the Last War introduced the artificer class to D&D, which was updated in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. It has an Alchemist subclass that can create magical potions on the fly. There is also a booming potion business in the D&D world, with healing potions bringing in a lot of cash in the big cities where adventurers gather. The D&D campaign worlds are filled with all kinds of magical ingredients and there should be plenty of amateur alchemists who are looking for new ways to create potions, especially those who are unable to cast spells on their own.
The idea of an alchemist barbarian is one that works in a similar manner to Dr. Jekyll or Bruce Banner. At some point in the past, they drank an experimental potion that allowed them to transform into a monstrous form. In mechanical , this means the character temporarily transforms when they use Rage, likely bringing out a different personality, which offers all kinds of interesting roleplaying opportunities in a D&D game, as the character's two sides battle for control, or must form an uneasy alliance, as they share the same body and don't want the other to lead to their death. As the character gains levels and their abilities become more powerful, their other side gains more of a foothold, which can lead to it taking over, or both sides merging into a new being that is at peace. The overall goal of the character could be to find a cure for their condition or possibly discover a means to recreate or refine the formula that they originally took. The idea of a ive and scholarly barbarian who transforms into a monster when in danger makes for a fresh take on the class, and is one that can fit in many D&D campaign settings.
D&D Barbarian Build: A Pro Wrestler Who Only Rages At The Most Theatrical Moment
There are D&D classes that know it's just as important to look good while fighting as it is to win, such as the Swashbuckler subclass for rogues in Xanathar's Guide to Everything. D&D 3e also had the Gladiator prestige class, who could make Perform skill checks to gain bonuses in battle, as they were used to fighting for the benefit of an audience. A theatrical fighter is something seen throughout fiction and the barbarians can have their own take on the concept, inspired by professional wrestling.
The barbarians are the most durable D&D class, so they will be the most confident in their ability to take the blows of enemies. They know that a fight is at its most entertaining when it looks like they're on the ropes, but they come back from the brink by tapping into their own energy reserves and deal the finishing blow. These barbarians are masters of selling enemy blows, in order to lull them into a false sense of security, before pulling a Hulk Hogan or Ultimate Warrior, and coming back for the victory. This concept can work well with the Path of the Totem Warrior, with their guardian spirit acting as a captive audience that is always cheering them on in battle.
D&D Barbarian Class: A Former Monk Who Traded Refined Skill For Pure Rage
A lot of D&D player characters have spent their whole lives training as part of one profession, as classes like the cleric, druid, and wizard require years of study in order to master a single spell. It's much rarer to see characters who are dropouts that decided to quit one profession to take up another. Some of the characters from the D&D novels made the transition to a new class, such as Drizzt Do'Urden shifting from fighter, to barbarian, to ranger, but that's because the authors can cover long periods of time and character development, and most D&D games never get that far.
The monk class is one that takes years to master and it's only natural that there will be many students who decide that it's not the life for them and abandon their training to take up another career. A barbarian that was once a monk is someone who thinks that they know better, as they have abandoned a refined fighting style for one that is fueled by anger. These barbarians have decided that precision and skill are no match for giving into rage in the middle of battle and not stopping until the enemy is destroyed.
The need to prove the viability of this fighting style, as well as the desire to master it, could be reason enough for the character to become an adventurer. They might also decide that the adventurer lifestyle is the easiest way to cause carnage and get away with it. The player will likely want to take the Tavern Brawler feat for this character concept, as Dungeons & Dragons heavily favors the monk class when it comes to fighting without a weapon, but a barbarian with a massive Strength bonus can offset these issues with a high guaranteed bonus and the ability to shrug off blows more easily in battle.
