Classic Character Classes

Barbarian

When one thinks of the classic melee styled roleplaying character, many would say "

Barbarian

". The

Barbarian

is the role that strikes first, think about it later... though in many cases they don't think at all. Barbarians are known for their brute strength and ferocious approach to battle. Typically they are seen wielding two-handed weapons such as greatswords and battleaxes, able to deal heavy blows to their enemies.

In classic medieval fantasy RPGs, the Barbarian is not known for their intelligence.. at all. They trade their wisdom and intelligence for physical strength and athleticism. You can trust your companion Barbarian to hurl boulders, crack skulls and leap difficult to reach ledges without much strain.

"

Barbarian

" as a term, was first used in ancient Greece and was a not-so-kind word to address anyone that didn't speak Greek. Barbarian is an extension of the word "bárbaros," which essentially meant "babbler," since they thought other languages sounded like unintelligible babbling. Sanskrit had a similar meaning of the word. Not much has changed in history, has it?

Ancient Romans redefined the meaning of the word Barbarian many years later, though still had similarities in the use of the word. They used Barbarian when referring to any foreigner that did not follow the traditions of Greece and Rome. Barbarian was most commonly used to the tribal communities across Europe that threatened the borders of the Roman Empire.

Barbarian tribes included the Goths, Saxons, Picts, Huns, Vandals and a variety of Celtic tribes. Barbarian never referred to a united group, only a general term for those who fought against the Romans. The term warped slightly through the years and became more related to savagery and communities that lacked civil behaviour. "Barbaric" is now used as a word to describe something that is cruel, savage and primal.

In modern media, the Barbarian has been a returning class of character in film, television and video games. They appear in different forms but often with characteristics in common. The easiest ways to identify a Barbarian is through their weaponry and choice of combat. Most will choose close melee range with two-handed weapons. Barbarians are also often recognised for their Rage, this Rage fuels their strength like a burning blaze in their heart. Saying that, there are some trends of Barbarian that differ from each other.

Tribal Barbarian - A Barbarian that follows the ancient traditions of their tribe. They feel bolstered in battle due to the belief that their ancestors watch over them.

The Berserker - An Unrelenting force of primal rage and terrifying bloodlust. Berserkers can drive themselves into a frenzy, unleashing their fury on those around them in wild attacks.

The Zealot - Some clergies are home to Barbarians that defend their beliefs with ferocity. They channel the will of their deity in battle. On World of Legends, Zealots are most commonly found in communities that worship Helios. The love for chaos and debauchery aligns with the primal nature of Barbarians.

Barbarian

s are fuelled by Rage. The more fury they gain, the stronger they get. This rage seems to act as some sort of natural power. In some cases, the Rage taps into an unstable form of magic, unleashing random sparks of wild magic as they charge into battle.

For more detailed sources of information, see the following links:
Where did the word “barbarian” come from?
Britannica: Barbarian
Forgotten Realms: Barbarian