The frothing berserker gnaws upon his shield in expectation of a bloody battle and howls his rage. The scarred veteran raider stands upon the prow of his longship, eager to lead his men to spoils that await the warriors in the homes and hearths of soft city dwellers. The painted savage blends into the thick jungles, blowgun ready for the kill, tasting the air for the scent of his prey. The Amazon warrior, the arctic hunter, the swamp warrior, the town drunk, on and on goes the list of those who would be barbarians. The Quintessential Barbarian greatly expands the options for the barbarian class, elevating the barbarian from a killing machine to a fully realised character that functions as a viable alternative to the precise fighter, vainglorious paladin and the foe-slaughtering double-weapon wielding ranger.

The barbarian is a figure of absolute violence, his abilities largely centred on boosting his raw strength and endurance. When he enters a rage, he is harder to manipulate and is, most certainly, a figure that inspires fear in his enemies. The barbarian is the one who throws caution to the wind, flings himself through doorways, bathes in the blood of his foes and dares any to stand against him.