Non-monk unarmed combatants

[John Q. Mayhem]

With some new feat options opened up by Tome of Battle, I've once again been considering the idea of a non-monk unarmed combatant. Here is my proposed feat path, for a human fighter.

1 Improved Unarmed Strike
1h Flying Kick *1
1b Power Attack
2b Weapon Focus (unarmed strike)
3 Superior Unarmed Strike *2
4b Weapon Specialization (unarmed strike)
6 Powerful Charge *3
6b Snap Kick *4

*1: CW. +1d12 damage on an unarmed charge attack.
*2: ToB. Gives a monk-like unarmed damage progression based on BAB.
*3: Eberron. +1d8 damage on a charge.
*4: ToB. Gives an extra unarmed attack in any round you make another attack-including as a standard action, or a charge! But all attacks take a -2 penalty.

So, I'm looking at, at 6th level, being able to charge with two attacks. Assuming 18 Str, that's +11/+11, 1d6+1d8+1d12+6 each.

It's kinda gimmicky/specific, and very feat-expensive, but it looks like a lot of fun...If only I could get some skirmish in there...*ponders*

 

[Sound of Azure]

If you can get Versatile Unarmed Strike (PHB2) in there, you can deal piercing or slashing damage with your unarmed strike if you want to. It costs you a swift action to change the damage type.

It's excellent against creatures that have bludgeoning resistance, or for times when you really need to deal a different type of damage (such as chopping a rope, or cutting your way out of a dragon's belly).

Sounds like a fun character.

 

[atomn]

So, I'm looking at, at 6th level, being able to charge with two attacks. Assuming 18 Str, that's +11/+11, 1d6+1d8+1d12+6 each.

I could be wrong but I don't think you'll be able to make more than one attack on a charge. Although you could pick up the Two-Weapon Pounce from PHII which lets you full attack at the end of a charge. Another nice one might be Two-Weapon Rend (PHII) which lets you get extra rending damage if you hit with both of your weapons.

 

[Quartz]

Why not simply take a level or two of Monk for the feats and then levels in Fighter?

 

[blargney the second]

I was just thinking of making an equipmentless fighter by using unarmed attacks coupled with the Dragonscale Husk variant in Dragon Magic.

 

[pawsplay]

A straight up fighter using nothing but Weapon specialization and the like can actually keep up pretty well until high levels, at which point they can excel at delivering criticals or grapples.

 

[Goldmoon]

I was just thinking of making an equipmentless fighter by using unarmed attacks coupled with the Dragonscale Husk variant in Dragon Magic.

Throw in Vow of Poverty and youre a juggernaut!

 

[Zaruthustran]

Why not simply take a level or two of Monk for the feats and then levels in Fighter?

Agreed. Take two levels of Monk. You'll get Improved Unarmed Strike, two bonus feats, evasion, flurry of blows, skills, 1d6 base Unarmed Strike damage, Wis bonus to AC when unarmored, and +3 to all saves (vs. +3 to just Fortitude) all at the cost of 1 BAB.

A side benefit is that you'll wind up with more feats. Monk 2/Ftr 4 = 5 bonus feats, while Ftr 6 = 4 bonus feats.

Note that some of the cool unarmed feats (including, I think, some of the ones you mentioned) can be chosen as Monk bonus feats. You're not stuck with Stunning Fist/Improved Grapple & Combat Reflexes/Deflect Arrows.

Also consider the monk styles from Unearthed Arcana for even more flexibility in monk bonus feats. Though really, Improved Grapple and Combat Reflexes are pretty great.

-z

 

[atomn]

Agreed. Take two levels of Monk.

Or if you don't like the Lawful restriction that Monks have you can take two levels of Battledancer (from the Dragon Compendium) and get similar benefits (although their stuff is based on Charisma, not Wisdom).

 

[atomn]

I was just thinking of making an equipmentless fighter by using unarmed attacks coupled with the Dragonscale Husk variant in Dragon Magic.

Aw, that's a great idea! I'm going to steal it for my unarmed Fighter!