Unarmed combat feats

[pukunui]

Hi all,

I've come up with two unarmed combat feats to appeal to those who are feeling the lack of a good martial artist. I'd also like some suggestions for more fantasy-sounding names.

[Martial Arts I]
Benefit: You gain a +2 proficiency bonus with unarmed attacks.

[Martial Arts II]
Prerequisite: [Martial Arts I]
Benefit: Increase the damage die used for unarmed attacks by 1.

The one thing I'm not sure about is what tier to put them in. I'm fairly confident that the first one can be an Heroic tier feat, but what about the second? Should it be a Paragon tier feat or can it also be an Heroic tier one?


Thanks in advance,
Jonathan

 

[OpsKT]

Only ups the damage and attack to that of a club... Heroic.

 

[pukunui]

Only ups the damage and attack to that of a club... Heroic.

OK.

Is it all right that they're two separate feats or should they be one feat?

 

[Dalamar]

I'd suggest one feat that also gives it one weapon group (light blade, hammer, etc).

 

[pukunui]

I'd suggest one feat that also gives it one weapon group (light blade, hammer, etc).

I'm not sure I understand you. Sorry.

Are you suggesting something like the following:

[Martial Arts I]
Benefit: You gain a +2 proficiency bonus with unarmed attacks. You also increase the damage die dealt by your unarmed attacks by 1. Your unarmed attacks are also treated as light blades or hammers (your choice) for the purposes of using them with powers.


Or are you suggesting a separate feat that grants the weapon group?

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I would make Combat Martial Arts one feat, and grant it a +3 proficiency bonus, and 1d6 damage (with the off-hand property). This way, the Weapon is en par with a superior melee weapon, which you also get for one feat. The "role-playing" benefits of fighting unarmed should not be payed via feats.

But I like the idea of allowing unarmed strikes to be considered Hammers or Light Blades. That might be worth a second feat.

The bigger question is: How do you get magical unarmed attacks?

 

[Hodag]

Monte Cook had a feat in Arcarna Unearthed/Evolved, called Hands as Weapons. This feat allowed weapon enhancements/enchantments to be placed on a creature.

 

[Nifft]

I would make Combat Martial Arts one feat, and grant it a +3 proficiency bonus, and 1d6 damage (with the off-hand property). This way, the Weapon is en par with a superior melee weapon, which you also get for one feat.

Not everyone starts with military weapon proficiency.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Not everyone starts with military weapon proficiency.

Cheers, -- N

IIRC, you can go directly to Superior Weapons if you want, you don't need military weapon proficiency. A Rogue could pick up a Rapier with one feat, and a Cleric could get a Bastard Sword with one feat.

Monte Cook had a feat in Arcarna Unearthed/Evolved, called Hands as Weapons. This feat allowed weapon enhancements/enchantments to be placed on a creature.

But that would remove loot as source of items. That can be important, since only with found (or given, like with Quests) items you will be able to access items beyond your level.

 

[Nifft]

IIRC, you can go directly to Superior Weapons if you want, you don't need military weapon proficiency. A Rogue could pick up a Rapier with one feat, and a Cleric could get a Bastard Sword with one feat.

While that's true, it's a non-sequiter: a Cleric could also get Shortbow or Warhammer for the same feat.

- - -

Anyway, the advantage for a Warlock or Wizard should be obvious: you can use a shield, implement, and your unarmed strike all at the same time. So IMHO an unarmed strike should be nowhere near as good as a superior weapon.

Honesly, I like the +2 / 1d4 implementation. Means you're better than anyone else who is unarmed, but you've still got a darn good reason to prefer using a weapon. And that's as should be.

I also liked what SW Saga did for martial arts: grant a bonus to Reflex defense. You might grant a bonus to AC and Reflex defense while wearing cloth or no armor.

Cheers, -- N