At 3rd level, a barbarian gains the Primal Path feature. The Path of Ooze option is available to a barbarian, in addition to those offered in the Player’s Handbook.
This is playtest material and not official. Please feel free to leave any comments and constructive criticisms down in the comments section.
Path of Ooze
Not all barbarians are raging outcasts that live on the surface world. There are those that live and operate underground, in the Underdark or other expansive below-surface ecologies. And often, the barbarians in this environment learn to live with the creatures that lurk there, especially oozes and slimes.
Seeing value in their slimy way of life, a barbarian that lives in close proximity to oozes starts to take on aspects of the creatures. Some ooze path barbarians willing choose to become hosts for ooze symbiotes (similar to the oozemancer class). Working with their gooey, internal companion, these barbarians are just as dangerous as any other barbarian, albeit a bit grimier.
| Barbarian Level | Feature |
| 3rd |
Ally to Oozes, Pseudopod (1d6)
|
| 6th |
Primordial Power
|
| 10th | Gelatinous Shell |
| 14th |
Pseudopod (2d6), Corrosive Skin
|
Ally to Oozes
Beginning at 3rd level, you have the ability to comprehend and verbally communicate with oozes. The knowledge and awareness of many oozes are limited by their intelligence, but at a minimum, oozes can give you information about nearby locations and monsters, including whatever they can perceive or have perceived within the past day. You might be able to persuade an ooze to perform a small favor for you, at the DM’s discretion.
Pseudopod
Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level you can sprout an oozy pseudopod that helps you in combat while you are raging. You can use your bonus action on each of your turns to make a single melee weapon attack with this pseudopod that deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage on a successful hit. You can use your Dexterity or Strength modifier for your attack or damage rolls (your choice). At 14th level, this damage increases by 1d6 (2d6).
Primordial Power
Starting at 6th level, you can tap into the oozing might of your primordial ancestors. Your pseudopod attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. In addition, you gain resistance to acid and poison damage.
Gelatinous Shell
At 10th level, you can expand your internal ooze to form a protective bubble around you and your fellow adventurers while you rest. You can cast the Leomund’s tiny hut spell.
Corrosive Skin
By 14th level, when you are raging, your body is coated in an acidic substance that helps protect you. Any creature that touches you or hits you with a melee weapon attack while within 5 feet of you takes 1d6 acid damage.
Thanks for reading!
Looking for the fully functional version of the oozemancer class? Be sure to read up on the new playable class by clicking here: Oozemancer for Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons.
Coming next: Bard College of Ooze.
Art by Tomás Giorello for Conan the Barbarian (Del Ray).
It’s a little strange, but I liked it 🙂
Where is the Bard Ooze??
Not a bad concept for a class, but underwhelming in practice. The 3rd level skills of communicating with oozes has a sort of ranger syndrome where it’s situationally useful than generally, and the skills at later levels are rather inconcsiquential compared to what other classes could offer. The leomund’s magic hut is interesting, but abit of a reach as far as a natura ability goes. I