One of the problems I’ve discovered with the 3.5 barbarian is the first level class ability of Fast Movement, where any barbarian gains a +10’ bonus to their base move. In Dark Sun it seems to fly in the face of part of the established genre – a human barbarian should not be able to, in the short haul, run as fast as an elf or a kreen. Besides, I’ve never been one to see barbarians as sprinters: marathon runners I’m OK with; all-terrain travelers without abandon – that’s more like it.


So to that I offer an idea – thoughts and/or improvements welcome.


Variant to the Barbarian’s Fast Movement (Ex) ability:
While wearing no armor, light armor or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load a barbarian treats ‘off road’ terrain modifiers as one category better than the standard, listed movement penalty.


Example: A barbarian traveling across trackless rocky badlands move at x1/2 base movement rather than the standard x1/4 rate listed.


This movement bonus grants NO benefit to movement on terrain with a modifier of “x1”, such as salt flats or “highway” entries for terrain.

I think this is a great idea!
And I agree with you that having barbarians move as fast as elves and thri-kreen takes away from the cachet of those races.

Thanks laric, any one else have input?

I like this a lot, and will be using this. How’s this for specific wording?
Variant Barbarian:
The Athasian Barbarian does not gain Fast Movement (Ex). Instead he gains the following:
Terrain Fleetness (Ex):
While wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load, a barbarian treats Trackless terrain multiplier increased by 1/4 to a maximum of x1.
ie: The modifier for trackless sandy desert to movement would be x3/4 instead of x1/2.

Not bad, but it should apply to more than just trackless terrain, the ability would still be applied to the Road/Trail modifiers as well.

I do like the name, Terrain Fleetness, has a ring to it.

I wouldn’t worry about it to be honest. Both the Kreen and Elf will outrun the human barbarian and a human barbarian is an exceptional human, not exactly a standard one. How about a Kreen or elf barbarian, Scout or any other class that moves fast. Might wanna nerf spells like haste as well or longstrider.

No edit function. Fast movement generally only matters in tactical combat. Very few PCs will likely scout out ahead by themselves in D&D so the barbarian loses a good class ability for a relativly crap class ability. maybe replace with a bonus feat from a selected list- endurance, tougness, imroved tougness or something like that.

True, but the barbarian also looses the illerate weakness built in to the class (as all characters now have this). Plus if any one follows the rules, like they should, terrain mods affect tactical movement also.

Kreen barbarian, now that’s an ugly thought 4 limbs o’ death, venom, AND rage – some elf is gonna die!

Kreen Barbarian probably isn’t as bad as a Mul or Half Giant Barbarian (+12-16 strength) or if you want to add prestige classes like Frenzied Berzerker or Hulking Hurler. I have no issue with some individuals of slower races being able to move as fast as an average Kreen or Elf.

I agree why cant an exceptional Human be as fast as an elf.. an elf can easily take a feat to speed them up too if they a a Psionic character and in Dark Sun who isn’t..