One of the little quirks I remember from 3e D&D was that barbarians start off as illiterate, unless you spent a couple of skill points to learn how to read and write. What other minor but flavorful quirks could a barbarian have, preferably not dice related? Could other classes have similar quirks?
One of the little quirks I remember from 3e D&D was that barbarians start off as illiterate, unless you spent a…
One of the little quirks I remember from 3e D&D was that barbarians start off as illiterate, unless you spent a…
In a game where I played a barbarian I decided that cause he comes from a nomadic tribe. They wouldn’t have words like Rebellion, or Revolution. So he spent the whole game conspiring to steal Rebellion and Usurper, cause he thought they were the names of a sword and dagger; due to no one explaining to him what they actually were.
A barbarian may not understand the notion of “private space” as we understand it, living in a more communal type of society. Private space only for intimacy while the rest is social. E.g. no private houses or rooms.
Barbarians might not necessarily be “uncultured”, but with a drastically different culture than the game is set. (I call them outsiders below as a result, as it also works well for the Flag “outsider”.) Take a look at international cultures for seed ideas, maybe some cautionary fairy tales, and then go from there.
Not finishing a meal could be seen as an insult, in that you did not like the host’s food. On the contrary, finishing a meal could mean that you want more, and not receiving it could be seen as an insult.
An outsider could be literate, but in a different language than the common tongues for the races.
An outsider may have superstitions around any number of things, including iron (due to fey), salt (due to demons), mirrors, running water, weapons, etc. For example, if a weapon is drawn, so must blood, even if it is your own. Always camp on the east side of a stream. Do not approach a mirror within arm’s reach, or a mirror near the entrance of a building means it is a safe place.
A specific style of clothing may set them apart. Or maybe a religious ritual that has become more cultural than religious. (Aligning a tent facing a certain cardinal direction. Quiet meditation after a meal as prayer or simply to combat the “food coma”.)
(Stolen from Wise Man’s Fear): An outsider may see emotion as uncultured, and seek to hide it. Since music evokes emotion, listening to music would be seen as a very private event.
I love this list very “flavorful” list of Barbarian Delicacies coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com – OSR: 1d100 Barbarian Delicacies
Some other suggestions:
Belching (or farting) to show appreciation for a meal.
Different attitudes toward modesty in clothing — either comfort wearing less than everyone or insisting it scandalous unless every part is covered. Or alternatively always insisting some body part exposed (or covered) such as the elbows or knees.
Different types of “sport”. One that sticks out in my mind from the Mitchner novel Caravan is a game played on horseback that was a cross between rugby and polo that used a goat as a ball that usually had several participants dying.
There can also be different preferences of smells. Either using heavy perfumes or going full grunge the stinker the better. Imagine a culture that uses ogre sweat as a cologne.