I think barbarian is fine as-is; they can do very solid damage (especially combining Great Weapon Master with Reckless Attacks to eat the -5 to hit penalty) but going that route also makes them easier to hit and while they can reduce certain types of damage they can still be wrecked by magic.
A barbarian and fighters greatest weakness is anything targeting Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma saves, because they're rarely good at these; in actual D&D I occasionally play a barbarian who's built to be super tough, she's bear totem so resistance to all damage except psychic when raging, but one encounter with a sea hag (iirc) and she's down in two rounds thanks to wisdom saving throws (one to be frightened, another to be dropped to 0 hp if frightened). Later on she got charmed and nearly attacked her own party if not for some damage and a lucky saving throw snapping her out of it.
Pure martial characters have definite strengths, but also very significant weaknesses as well. There aren't a tonne of enemy casters that target mental saves in the first area, which will work heavily in Lae'zel's and Karlach's favour, but that won't last into act 2 and 3 (or even the second half of act 1, depending upon which route you take and what choices you make). There's a reason Shadowheart has been my most selected party member thanks to Bless (and a staff I found that makes Bless absurdly powerful), because saving throw effects become absolutely brutal as you progress.
Last edited by Haravikk; 19/08/23 11:07 AM.
