Making my first character

[Crothian]

It is about time I make a character and now I'm in a campaign I want some suggestions from you guys since you know this game better then I at this time.

We are using Goodman Games Punjar setting. If you don't know it it is a very rough and gritty city setting. I want to make a fighter that eventually (assuming the game goes that long) into a Pit Fighter. We are using method two to create abilities and I have not picked a race yet.

Is it possible to make a fighter that uses unarmed combat or are weapons just that much better?

I'm looking for general help or specific. Thanks!!

 

[Kordeth]

There's nothing stopping you from making a fighter who fights unarmed; unarmed strikes count as a weapon. However, by RAW, you're going to be hurting pretty bad on both attack bonus and damage.

You might want to check out the Character Conversion article for the Monk, which presents a means of making an unarmed warrior with a couple of small house rules, and see if your DM will allow that:Converting Your Character: PH

The article focuses on building a martial artist striker as a ranger, but it should be easy enough to take from that and make a pit fighter-style brawler.

EDIT: I think Adventurer's Vault has Spiked Gauntlets that might help for this, too.

 

[blargney the second]

What's the rest of your party look like?

 

[Crothian]

It is going to be PHB only with no house rules. I want to play the game as is before I suggest any changes.

I have no idea what the rest of them are playing and I don't want that to be a big factor in what I make.

Okay, so unarmed is weak. I guess I will go with something like a flail. I want something that is not too big and can have a little more versatility then just killing.

 

[Irda Ranger]

I'm looking for general help or specific. Thanks!!

Pay attention to the stat requirements of feats (at Heroic and Paragon Tiers) that boost the weapons you want to use. You need high Con for axes, high Dex for sword, etc. It's easy to stat-dump the wrong stat if you don't plan ahead at least on a little on this - I fell into that problem myself.

Enweaponed definitely beat unarmed.

 

[Kordeth]

It is going to be PHB only with no house rules. I want to play the game as is before I suggest any changes.

In that case, then, there's really no effective way to make an unarmed fighter.

I have no idea what the rest of them are playing and I don't want that to be a big factor in what I make.

You really should, at least a little bit. 4E is a lot more focused on the role each character plays in the group than previous editions of the game were. It's probably a good idea to get a feel for the composition of the party and make sure you aren't going to end up with, for example, three defenders and no leader.

Okay, so unarmed is weak. I guess I will go with something like a flail. I want something that is not too big and can have a little more versatility then just killing.

...Big spiky death balls on chains qualify as "not too big and can have a little more versatility than just killing?"

 

[blargney the second]

I have no idea what the rest of them are playing and I don't want that to be a big factor in what I make.

How come?

 

[Crothian]

How come?

Because they haven't made their characters yet, or at least communicated to me that they have a concept. I have told two of the players what I am doing that I can contact.

For my first character I want to just make something that appeals to me and not something that fills a hole.

So, I've given up on the unarmed part. No big deal. How easy is it to create a character that charges and moves around the battle field.

I was thinking about an elf with a high initiative bonus that strikes first by charging in. I think a character that does less damage but with higher defenses.

 

[Crothian]

Does the elven ability work on just ranged or any weapon?

 

[DracoSuave]

I'd suggest trying a spear and shield build. Rain of Blows is certainly not shabby (3 attacks), Silverstep keeps you mobile, Passing Attack, and that style of offense can govern your Encounter powers. Beyond that, Tide of Iron and Cleave are all round good, and your Dailys can include your heavy enemy downing blows.

As well, don't forget to consider Kensei which has attacks more geared towards the mobile style of combat. Not only that, enemies immune to fear aren't immune to your level 20 daily.