The Woods Warden (Barbarian)
This content can now be found at its most updated version in The Elements and Beyond, a free 246-page compendium that you can download right here, filled with 23 subclasses, 8 spellcasting feats, 134 spells, 213 spell variants, 85 monsters, 30 magic items, 4 races plus 12 new subraces each with racial feats, and even more goodies for both players and DMs!
Who doesn't want to be like Groot sometimes?
Art Credit: https://www.deviantart.com/yonaz/art/Forest-Knight-349496634
This week The Benevolent Evil will be previewing content from one of the three upcoming compendiums I have planned, this one focused on not just the classic four elements, but the powers of the natural world and the planes surrounding it -- called The Elements and Beyond, it will contain not just dozens of new spells, but spellcaster specialization feats, new subclasses, and even races like the Pixie!
Today we're starting with one of my favorites from The Elements and Beyond, the Barbarian subclass Path of the Woods Warden. This subclass transforms the normal barbarian into a warrior of the forest, whose rage represents a primal infusion of arboreal power. Each time you rage, you can choose between three different options for battlefield control, meaning that not only is the subclass geared toward defense over offense more than the average barbarian, it provides dynamic and flexible gameplay that players shouldn't tire of as easily as other barbarians. The 6th level feature helps the barbarian PC feel even more like a person who is slowly becoming a tree, and the 10th level feature enables the barbarian to regularly swing around on jungle vines like Tarzan! The final feature at 14th level is reminiscent of the final feature of the Champion fighter, enabling the PC to withstand even more pain, although it is limited to when the barbarian is raging, and only reaches full power in sunlight.
Back during the heyday of 4th Edition D&D, one of my favorite classes was the PHB2's Primal Defender class, The Warden, which had special abilities enabling it to take on the physical attributes of a force of nature for a fight a few times per day. I even played a character for some time that was a Warforged Warden, and I relished in the mysterious enigma that was a metal-and-wooden automaton transforming into a treant-like warrior in the heat of battle.
While some character concepts like the certain forms of the 4th Edition Warden can be achieved in 5th Edition by building a ranger, oath of ancients paladin, or even totem or storm barbarians, it seemed that many of the tougher, less-refined warden concepts lacked an outlet, especially if you just wanted to transform into a half-treant and smash those foolish tree-cutters! My hope is that the Path of the Woods Warden alleviates that. And if you're really missing the feel of the 4e Warden, try multiclassing this subclass with ranger or oath of ancients paladin!
