I wanted to explore Barbarians more after listening to an episode on them @ The Wandering DMs on my way to work this week. Today's topic is RAGE so its the perfect time to dig in!
What informs the Barbarian?
1. Cuchulainn (Irish Mythology): Maybe the original Incredible Hulk?
2. Hercules: Kills is family in a divine rage
3. Achilles: In The Iliad he kills basically everybody
4. Odin (The Furious One) and the Beserkers (Bear-shirts) of the Norse
5. Shakespear: Hamlet in Hamlet and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet
6. Comics: Obviously the Hulk, but Batman, Thor, & Wolverine are also prone to murderous episodes
What is super interesting as I go through the examples, they are all BAD things. The rage that seems to inform D&D's Barbarian is not a strength, it is a weakness of the hero/protagonist. To the point that a proneness to raging is used AGAINST people. Often it is a tactic in fiction to drive your enemy INTO a rage to take advantage of their blind fury.
Spell:
Berserker's Rage (MU 1)
Duration: 3 Turns
Range: 60'
This spell causes 1 creature with 4 HD or less to fly into a berserk rage. In this rage the target has a morale of 12, deals double damage, takes double damage, and will not die as long as the spell is in effect. The target will attack hostile targets first but in the absence of hostile targets it must succeed save vs. spells each round or attack non-hostile or friendly targets.
Magic Item:
Berserker's Rönd: A circular wood shield painted yellow with the blue motif of a bear head. It is shod and studded with iron. Around its rim it is worn and gnawed upon. Biting the Berserker's Rönd will cause the user to fly into a Berserk rage for 3 turns dealing double damage, taking double damage, and unable to die until the effect ends. This state ends if there is nothing to kill within line of sight. The user will target hostile targets first, however when there are no more hostile targets the user must succeed save vs. spells each turn to not attack non-hostile or friendly targets.