The best non-monk unarmed combatant

[Dannyalcatraz]

If you don't want to use a PsyWar like I detailed above, you could also go with a naturally psionic race of LA +0 or +1 and just go straight fighter- you'd still get to use the nifty Psionic Feats.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Well it looks like you're decided, but I still want to add my vote for the psywar as the best unarmed combatant, even including the monk. Of course that's only if you want to stay in a normal form and just focus on unarmed melee combat. Otherwise, a wild shaping druid is easily superior to either.

 

[Herobizkit]

Drop the Lawful restriction on Monks.

I fully endorse the Psywar option. It gives you that extra "Matrix"-esque feel when you can take cool psionic feats, especially Up The Walls and Psionic Fist.

But if ya wanna be boring, you can go plain ol' Fighter. Its massive amount of feats should cover the monk style you wish.

Good call on Dwarf for race. Dwarven Monks/Unarmed Combatants are teh r0xx0rz.

 

[atomn]

The PsyWarrior and a grappling Druid are great suggestions but they're going outside of the mundane streetfighter feel I was looking for. And the non-lawful monk goes against the GM's vision of the monk. Which is why I started to look into making an unarmed combatant that works within the RAW.

On a side note, what do you all think of the Combat Feats from PHBII? I was thinking the Combat Vigor (once you enter your Combat Focus, you get Fast Healing 2. With 3 or more Combat Feats, it increases to Fast Healing 4. Once you successfully hit a foe during an encounter Combat Focus begins and lasts for 10 rounds plus the number of Combat Feats that you have. And it's once per encounter.) Using 3 feats, I could get Fast Healing 4 for 13 rounds (so 52 hp total). Three feats seems pretty expensive, but maybe it's worth it?

 

[Legildur]

Yeah, but what 3 feats would you take? Don't take feats just for the sake of it. But don't get me wrong, I like the Combat Form feats, but not at the expense of other feats that may be more appropriate.

If you absolutely had to take them, then I guess Combat Focus, Combat Stability, and Combat Vigor would be the pick for your character.

 

[atomn]

If you absolutely had to take them, then I guess Combat Focus, Combat Stability, and Combat Vigor would be the pick for your character.

If I went for Combat Vigor, those are the three that I would go for too. But I'm still not sure if it's worth it. When I get home today I'll post the feats I was thinking of and see if the Combat Feats should make the cut or not.

 

[Shazman]

And the greater focus/spec feats. And you can get improved crit. And you can get that one feat that increases your damage. And you can use some power attack (due to the better BAB and the focus, you can put more into it than the monk and still hit as often as him).

And the lack of wis can work for you, too: You will have a higher str score than that monk, as you don't have to pay attention to wis.

The AC loss will be somewhat offset from your light armour.

Alternately, try multiclassing into rogue or ninja, or use those classes straight. (Ninja will give you the dex bonus). Your techniques are more misdirection and tactics than brute force, but if they hit, they are punishing.

You could even make some Tome of Battle Chars work.

Right now, I'm playing a swordsage, with a "shadow warrior" (read: ninja without the Ninja Burger Experience) theme to it. I'm sure you can do the same for fist fighter (read: monk without the monastery part).

I'm curious as to how a swordsage as a ninja is working out. What feats and maneuvers do you have? I guess shadow hand is your primary discipline, right?

 

[Baramay]

There is a class in Dragon callled the Pugilist. I am not sure what month it was in thought. Magic items can help greatly such as merciful gauntlets (slippers of kicking) or the Fist (p.142 Magic of Faerun).

 

[atomn]

There is a class in Dragon callled the Pugilist. I am not sure what month it was in thought. Magic items can help greatly such as merciful gauntlets (slippers of kicking) or the Fist (p.142 Magic of Faerun).

Hey Baramay,
I checked out that Pugilist class (variant Fighter levels, I believe) on Crystal Keep. But it didn't seem to provide anything that a normal Fighter wouldn't. Plus, we don't use the Dragon Magazines. Thanks for the thought though!

 

[atomn]

Yeah, but what 3 feats would you take? Don't take feats just for the sake of it. But don't get me wrong, I like the Combat Form feats, but not at the expense of other feats that may be more appropriate.

If you absolutely had to take them, then I guess Combat Focus, Combat Stability, and Combat Vigor would be the pick for your character.

This is what I'm thinking:
Barbarian 1
Battle Dancer 1
Fighter 1
Fighter 2
Fighter 3
Reaping Mauler 1
Reaping Mauler 2
Reaping Mauler 3
Reaping Mauler 4
Reaping Mauler 5
Fighter 4
Fighter 5
Fighter 6
Fighter 7
Fighter 8
Fighter 9
Fighter 10
Fighter 11
Fighter 12
Barbarian 2

And considering these feats (in no particular order)
Clever Wrestling (C. War.)
Combat Focus (PHBII)
Combat Stability (PHBII)
Combat Vigor (PHBII)
Earth's Embrace (C. War.)
Flying Kick (C. War.)
Power Attack (PHB)
TWF (PHB)
Weapon Focus (PHB)
Imp. TWF (PHB)
TW Pounce (PHBII)
Melee Weapon Master (PHBII)
Gr. TWF (PHB)
TW Rend (PHBII)
Weapon Specialization (PHB)
Crushing Strike (PHBII)
Gr. Weapon Focus (PHB)
Gr. Weapon Specialization (PHB)

And because my GM like Arcana Evolved, maybe I can talk him into:
Mighty Unarmed Attack x2
Mighty Unarmed Defense x2

Suggestions? Would the Combat Focus chain be worth it?

Thanks!!