Non-Asian Martial Artists?

[Samloyal23]

I've been looking for some good monk variants with distinctly non-Oriental flavour, especially something more wrestling based, haven't seen any I like. How about you?

 

[Dandu]

Just say that you are a warrior who practices boxing and wrestling? I don't see why you need a specific variant for it when you can just select Improved Grapple and Improved Natural Attack on a monk and call it a day.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

There are a lot of variants out there- check the database in my sig- and most can be "de-Asianed." What features are you looking to do away with?

There is the eaping Mauler PrCl (CompWar p75), but AFAIK, no grappling base class.

I might go with a 3.5Ed updated OA Shaman (Ragon #318) for the build- you get unarmed combat almost like the monk's (it stacks), AND you're a full caster with access to buff spells. IOW, you could grapple after casting an extended Bull's Strength on yourself...

 

[Drowbane]

Fighter + SWd20's martial arts feats + improved grapple should get you into the ballpark.

 

[Samloyal23]

Right now I need something with a Celtic flavour, I was thinking something related to Oghma, the god of poets of and wrestlers. But it would be handy to have a list of go-to martial artists that are more warrior or cleric than monk...

 

[Jackinthegreen]

Stay away from Reaping Mauler if you actually want to be good at grapples and such. Clever Wrestling as a prerequisite means you can't get any larger than Medium and keep the benefits. Grappling is helped along quite nicely through size increases.

As far as a martial artist that isn't a Monk, Unarmed Swordsage could work but you'll probably think it's too oriental in this case. If you want a boxer, there's the Pugilist Fighter variant in Dragon 310. There's some TO to be had with it since one of the abilities is turning all lethal damage into non-lethal, then a Warforged can get Improved Resilience to negate the non-lethal damage.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Do you have Tome of Battle? Setting Sun Maneuvers may be something that would do what you're looking for.

 

[Samloyal23]

I kind of like the Brawler Brawler but I'm not up on 3.5 and it looks a little over-complicated. Also, I want something with a Celtic feel...

 

[gwyllgi]

The issue is that Asain martial arts are so varied they can make whole books on classes that do stuff like them.

western martial arts seem to be weapon based by my research and are presented just as accurately, the only instance of bad research comes in the form of the bastard sword, which should be treated as a double weapon capable of all three damage types and tripping (at a disadvantage of course). However that is up to the DM, however i had found a kennith hood document called Martial Arts System that used modern style MMA fighting that had Ancient Grome pragmatism element to it. I'd have to upload it somewhere though.

 

[Halivar]

The issue is that Asain martial arts are so varied they can make whole books on classes that do stuff like them.

western martial arts seem to be weapon based by my research and are presented just as accurately, the only instance of bad research comes in the form of the bastard sword, which should be treated as a double weapon capable of all three damage types and tripping (at a disadvantage of course).

The martial arts of the landsknechts also placed a heavy emphasis on "open hand" techniques remarkably similar to modern jiu jitsu. Swiss war meisters drilled militia in how to fight when disarmed, first to acquire a new weapon, and as a last resort to kill with lethal body throws. Swiss armies drilled in these techniques were so desired that they were called "double mercenaries" (because they were paid double) and provided the avant garde of every major army of the period.