Thanks for your well thought out answer! You brought up some good points and I really like the “being a human shield” angle and I might just use it all together!
To answer your first question: at first it would be an extra subclass feat. But having an extra bonus on top of the rage damage bonus and the extra “1d6 + half of barbarian level” would be a bit too much bonus damage.
Today at work I came up with a different approach: the Devine Fury feature will be replaced with the bonus damage on missing health. It would follow a table with hard set tresholds. Something like the cantrip intervals:
- At third level, gain an extra 1d4 damage at 50% health or an extra 1d6 damage at 25% health.
- At fifth level, a 1d6 @ 50% and a 1d8 @ 25%.
- etc
What are your thoughts on this? I think it feels a bit better balancing wise, but the bonus difference between the tresholds does seem a bit flat: being at 25% health and only getting 2 potentional damage more is not that great of a tradeoff.
Again, great points and thank you! I have not talked to the player yet; I wanted to have some suggestions first.
I think I’ll skip the Devine Fury replacement and propose the magic axe and interpose feature. I believe it makes for more interesting combat scenarios than just “keep smashing untill they stop moving”.
This is a good one! Will remember this with future encounters.