Barbarian/Cleric character viable?

[Carnifex]

So, I'm thinking up character concepts for a new game - it's going to be 3e, and the DM uses a very odd stat generation system by which (IIRC), you roll 4d6 6 times to get a set of stats, then you do 5 more sets, then pick one, then assign the individual rolls of that set to abilities. So chances are I'll get fairly decent ability scores

Anyway, I'm wanting to run a lizardman character (in this setting, they're generally TN, +0ECL, with +2 to Wis and -2 to Int, and a handful of skill bonuses - favoured class is any divine spellcaster), and was considering running a barbarian to multiclass into cleric.

SO, what I'm wondering is, is it possible to make a good barbarian/cleric character? What kind of distribution of each class should I aim for in levels, and any good feats or tricks I should consider as essential?

 

[Darklone]

I have a bbn1/clrX gnome in my group. He rocks. His spellcasting suffers a little bit, but he's a lot better at fighting than the other cleric. The extra hitpoints and martial weapon proficiency, combined with a twohanded weapon, Power Attack & Cleave, Rage + Bulls strength/Divine Power and/or Righteous Might really slices through the hordes of underlings I throw at them.

Since you want a lizardman.... you'll lose a lot of spellcasting. So I would think about 3 cleric levels, the rest barbarian.

 

[Fanog]

Hell yes. Every one of these I've seen so far (two of 'em) has been extremely effective, especially in combat.

I would normally say to combine them about evenly for the first few levels, aiming at Bbn3/Clr5 at level 8. Then, proceed full Barbarian.

Fanog

 

[Henry]

Warrior Cleric splits are quite popular, and very powerful. It depends on what you want to accomplish.

If you want to be a cleric mainly, but pack an extra punch, just take 1 Barbarian lvl and stay cleric for the rest. You've now become "the ragin' shaman."

If you want to be mroe combat monkey, take about 3 levels of cleric, and keep the rest as barbarian, or even fighter if so inclined. Then, use your spells to boost your stats and AC, and become a combat-monster - and I do mean monster! Things like shield of faith, entropic shield, bull's strength, cat's grace, and bear's endurance, not to mention some of the feats from defenders of the faith if the DM allows, can make you a very capable front line fighter.

 

[Henry]

I'm moving this to the D&D rules forum, because it seems more of a character-building question.

 

[hong]

I'm moving this to the D&D rules forum, because it seems more of a character-building question.

I take issue with that. General is a _far_ more character building forum than Rules.

Re the original question: the barbarian/shaman IMC consistently kicked more booty than any other character in the party. That may have something to do with how the _player_ is also the most tactically experienced in our group, but there's no question that barb/cleric is a very playable combo.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I have had some success with Barbarian / Druid builds. Take one level of Bbn up front for the HP and skill points, and the rest Drd. Your spellcasting progression suffers, obviously, but no worse than a core Sorcerer. The really neat trick is when you get to Bbn1/Drd5 and you can Wild Shape + Rage.

I also like the thematic element of a druid who sometimes gets so upset about the defilement of nature that he flies into a spit-spewing rage. But maybe that's just me.

 

[Darklone]

The only drawback this character suffers from: Not enough feats, even though I give more feats.

He has Power Attack, Cleave & Great Cleave, Brew potion and something else... so he lacks metamagics.

 

[Carnifex]

Since you want a lizardman.... you'll lose a lot of spellcasting. So I would think about 3 cleric levels, the rest barbarian.

Like I said, this version of the lizardman is an ECL +0 one, so no levels lost at all from racial stuff.

 

[Carnifex]

I have had some success with Barbarian / Druid builds. Take one level of Bbn up front for the HP and skill points, and the rest Drd. Your spellcasting progression suffers, obviously, but no worse than a core Sorcerer. The really neat trick is when you get to Bbn1/Drd5 and you can Wild Shape + Rage.

I also like the thematic element of a druid who sometimes gets so upset about the defilement of nature that he flies into a spit-spewing rage. But maybe that's just me.

I want cleric over druid because this is a 3e game - so a druid can't run around with a two-handed axe like a bard/cleric can And I've got this mental image of a hulking lizardman covered in charms and totems and wielding a huge, primitive axe