Timotheos55000
First Post
To me, the "intent" of the Tavern Brawler feat is very apparent when you look at the 'improvised weapons' entry on pages 147 and 148 of the PHB.
Improvised Weapons
Sometimes characters don’t have their weapon s and
have to attack with whatever is close at hand. An
improvised weapon includes any object you can wield
in one or two hands, such as broken glass, a table leg, a
frying pan, a wagon wheel, or a dead goblin.
In many cases, an improvised weapon is similar
to an actual weapon and can be treated as such. For
example, a table leg is akin to a club. At the DM’s option,
a character proficient with a weapon can use a similar
object as if it were that weapon and use his or her
proficiency bonus.
An object that bears no resemblance to a weapon
deals 1d4 damage (the DM assigns a damage type
appropriate to the object). If a character uses a ranged
weapon to make a melee attack, or throws a melee
weapon that does not have the thrown property, it also
deals 1d4 damage. An improvised thrown weapon has a
normal range o f 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet.
If a DM rules that a table leg is similar enough to a club, it IS a club. A dead goblin or some poor sap's severed arm though do not resemble any other weapons per the game rules and as such are considered improvised weapons and deal only 1d4. Tavern Brawler allows a character to apply their proficiency bonus to arms, bodies, and mugs.
Improvised Weapons
Sometimes characters don’t have their weapon s and
have to attack with whatever is close at hand. An
improvised weapon includes any object you can wield
in one or two hands, such as broken glass, a table leg, a
frying pan, a wagon wheel, or a dead goblin.
In many cases, an improvised weapon is similar
to an actual weapon and can be treated as such. For
example, a table leg is akin to a club. At the DM’s option,
a character proficient with a weapon can use a similar
object as if it were that weapon and use his or her
proficiency bonus.
An object that bears no resemblance to a weapon
deals 1d4 damage (the DM assigns a damage type
appropriate to the object). If a character uses a ranged
weapon to make a melee attack, or throws a melee
weapon that does not have the thrown property, it also
deals 1d4 damage. An improvised thrown weapon has a
normal range o f 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet.
If a DM rules that a table leg is similar enough to a club, it IS a club. A dead goblin or some poor sap's severed arm though do not resemble any other weapons per the game rules and as such are considered improvised weapons and deal only 1d4. Tavern Brawler allows a character to apply their proficiency bonus to arms, bodies, and mugs.