RPGs with the best Barbarian experience?

[Louis_Cypher]

Say that you wanted to play a character like Conan. Smart but also capable of solving things through incredible brawn and mental fortitude of will. Waking up one day inside an academy for gifted students might not be the best way to start out his campaign. Which RPGs offer the best barbarian experience, of a pastoralist who lifts, lacks martial training but makes up for it with sheer physicality, built like a tank, who perhaps laughs at your four winds?

 

[GaelicVigil]

 

[Infinitron]

ERYFKRAD

 

[0sacred]

I don't like the idea of smart barbarians apart from things like having a low reaction time. Smells of Mary Sue-ism

 

[SixDead]

King of Dragon Pass, Six Ages
Not Conan-like, but actual barbarians

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Which RPGs offer the best barbarian experience, of a pastoralist who lifts, lacks martial training but makes up for it with sheer physicality, built like a tank, who perhaps laughs at your four winds?

I find 5e's implementation of barbarian pretty fun, so Solasta does ok by me. BG3 has it sure, but I like Solasta better.
As far as purely action games go Severance Blade of Darkness has a barbarian as a playable character and he's one of the better options in that game.
You got Mount and Blade: warband: Viking Conquest and Expeditions: Viking if you want a little more historically grounded setting to go with your barbarians.

Pathfinder games have good options but I'm not a fan of +40 to AC and other nutso stat bloat.

Of course, the Conan Chronicles for Nwn2 are also a good pick, hews very close to the literature, and is good at multiple options for multiple classes.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

I don't like the idea of smart barbarians apart from things like having a low reaction time. Smells of Mary Sue-ism

Remembering something, the Cimmerian drew forth the roll of parchment he had taken from the mummy and unrolled it carefully, as it seemed ready to fall to pieces with age. He scowled over the dim characters with which it was covered. In his roaming about the world the giant adventurer had picked up a wide smattering of knowledge, particularly including the speaking and reading of many alien tongues. Many a sheltered scholar would have been astonished at the Cimmerian's linguistic abilities, for he had experienced many adventures where knowledge of a strange language had meant the difference between life and death.

 

[Serus]

On the other hand - Conan is not A barbarian. He is THE barbarian.

 

[Robber Baron]

Aren't Dark Sun games essentially barbarian core

 

[mediocrepoet]

Which RPGs offer the best barbarian experience, of a pastoralist who lifts, lacks martial training but makes up for it with sheer physicality, built like a tank, who perhaps laughs at your four winds?

I find 5e's implementation of barbarian pretty fun, so Solasta does ok by me. BG3 has it sure, but I like Solasta better.
As far as purely action games go Severance Blade of Darkness has a barbarian as a playable character and he's one of the better options in that game.
You got Mount and Blade: warband: Viking Conquest and Expeditions: Viking if you want a little more historically grounded setting to go with your barbarians.

Pathfinder games have good options but I'm not a fan of +40 to AC and other nutso stat bloat.

Of course, the Conan Chronicles for Nwn2 are also a good pick, hews very close to the literature, and is good at multiple options for multiple classes.

*ahem* Realms of Arkania HD.

Solasta barbarians are pretty great.

 

[Butter]

Aren't Dark Sun games essentially barbarian core

Make a Half-Giant Gladiator with 24 STR and watch him demolish everything in the game. He even has the best character sprite.

 

[lukaszek]

I find 5e's implementation of barbarian pretty fun, so Solasta does ok by me. BG3 has it sure, but I like Solasta better.

i cant imagine playing bg3 without throwing barbarian

 

[Louis_Cypher]

I don't like the idea of smart barbarians apart from things like having a low reaction time. Smells of Mary Sue-ism

Smart doesn't mean educated.

 

[0sacred]

If your barbarian was smart he would be a shaman or chief rather than an adventurer.

 

[octavius]

Evil's Doom

 

[d1r]

Baldur's Gate 2

 

[Gandalf]

Realms of Arkania HD


I'm joking.

 

[lightbane]

These two. Second one is incoming:

 

[ERYFKRAD]

If your barbarian was smart he would be a shaman or chief rather than an adventurer.

No

 

[Cat Headed Eagle]

Shamans aren't smarter, they just get high by eating shrooms while the actual barbarian chases the mad gainz

 

[Tyranicon]

I find 5e's implementation of barbarian pretty fun,

I am surprised by this, as I find Barbarians in 5e mechanically very boring except for some high level features (not being able to die/knocked out because you're RAAAAAGED is pretty lolzy).

 

[Late Bloomer]

Ax Battler (he uses a sword)

Diablo 2

Conan Exiles

 

[ghostdog]

Conan The Cimmerian for Amiga/DOS. Action RPG. 100% Conan game, but very clunky.

Got to love the intro though:

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Thread theme:

 

[Odoryuk]

1999's Revenant main hero reminded me of Conan a lot