Ok, now, having never played a barbarian, nor seen one played, nor DMed an npc barbarian in combat, i had no idea how they worked. I think i figured it out, though, through the trick mentioned above. As it stands, my 17 str give me +3 to hit and damage and such. Weapon focus gives a +1, and my BAB is 3. Here's how it breaks down...
On a normal attack: +7 tohit for 1d12+5 (strength and a half rounded up due to 2handedness).
Power attacking: +4 tohit for 1d12+11 (power attack gives double on two handers).
Raging and power attacking: +6 tohit for 1d12+14
this is at level 3. None of this includes flanking bonuses or anything like that. I can drop most beasts in a good hit. Now the real trick comes to fruition at level 6. Knockdown.
At 4 i'll up my strength to 18, so my attacks will be +11/+6tohit for 1d12+6. Raging and power attacking can make it so that on a successful hit, even if i roll 1 damage, i'll still do above 10. This activates knockdown. i get a free trip attempt, followed by a free attack. Now, tally this up. Raging with improved trip, i'd be at +12 to on the strength check to trip. Now add a +4 to hit due to them being prone and remove a number of theit ac modifiers because they're prone, let's say -4. I'm at, when raging and power attacking a guy i just tripped, +15/+10 tohit this particular prone opponent for 1d12+22.
Ouch.
WARNING: I had surgery today, and as i write this, i am high on codine. I also haven't played D&D in about a year. Someone correct me if i am wrong on this stuff. I think i messed up the rounding (do you round str bonuses to 2handers up or down?). Still, even if the numbers are a little fuzzy, i think i found something effective.