Warforged Brawler

[Baumi]

HiHo!

I start in a new Eberron Campaign this weekend and I want to create a Warforged Brawler. We start first level and while I might have the chance to use non-core books, I would prefere to build him with only the Players Handbook and the Eberron Settingbook.

The Problem is that I envision him very Tough (would love to take Adamatium or Mithril Plating) but he should fight Unarmed and I don't know how to build him.

A Monk would have the Unarmed Feats but I would have problems with the Armor and many Monk-Features are useless for the Warforged. A Fighter would work, but would be very inefficient because of the few Feats I have at the start (Race Feat=Armor) and the low Damage, which is equal to the Racial Slam Attack. The same aplies to the other Figher-Classes.

So what should I do?

 

[Ahrimon]

HiHo!

I start in a new Eberron Campaign this weekend and I want to create a Warforged Brawler. We start first level and while I might have the chance to use non-core books, I would prefere to build him with only the Players Handbook and the Eberron Settingbook.

The Problem is that I envision him very Tough (would love to take Adamatium or Mithril Plating) but he should fight Unarmed and I don't know how to build him.

A Monk would have the Unarmed Feats but I would have problems with the Armor and many Monk-Features are useless for the Warforged. A Fighter would work, but would be very inefficient because of the few Feats I have at the start (Race Feat=Armor) and the low Damage, which is equal to the Racial Slam Attack. The same aplies to the other Figher-Classes.

So what should I do?

Personally, I'd go with Mithral Body, Adamantine Body is nice, but I prefer my characters mobile. That's just a personal choice though. Check with your DM about taking the improved natural attack feat from the MM. It might be in the Eberron book too, I can't recall off the top of my head. Warforged have a natural slam attack, so I don't feel it should be a problem, but again, check with your DM. It will probably take you a couple of levels to get into, but after you've taken that twice, your slam attacks will be doing 1d8 damage.

There's a feat that allows creatures to reduce thier off hand penalty from -5 to -2, but I can't think of the name right now. That would be useful too. When you take a full attack, you can get an extra attack at almost full bonus.

I'd suggest a progression like this:
lvl 1: Mithral Body (or Adamantine Body depending on your preference)
lvl 3: Improved natural attack
lvl 6: Improved natural attack
If your a fighter it get's even better because you can use your fighter feats for all of the good combat moves.

Ahrimon

 

[Psimancer]

Yep, I wanted to do something similar.

After much deliberation I when with Adamantine Body (I wanted to go Juggernaut), and instead of going unarmed, I took retractable long-swords along the Warforged’s forearms.

They take a full-round to pop or retract (at this stage) and are treated as if held in place by lock-gauntlets (for game balance reasons).

He is ‘armed’, it just doesn’t feel like it…

You could always just replace the long-swords with maces or hammers and have those strapped to your forearms… have them over shadowing you hands or something…



_

 

[Sejs]

Take a look at the Shou Disciple PrC from Unapproachable East - it's good for a non-monk unarmed combatant. Talk with your DM, and figure out how to have it fit in an Eberron campaign, and you're pretty much good to go. Also of interest would be the Reaping Mauler PrC from Complete Warrior, which is a PrC focused on grappling. Both are 5 level prcs, so you still have a good number of levels to play with. I'd suggest fighter or barbarian, personally.

 

[Baumi]

I don't like Prestige Classes and I am first Level so that would not be for me, but thanks for the suggestions.

About the Retractable Weapons ... can Warforged do that? That would be a interesting choice. The improved Natural Attack seems also nice, but I will have to talk with my GM if I could use Improved Grapple with it (instead of Improved Unarmed).

THX & ...

 

[Psimancer]

...About the Retractable Weapons ... can Warforged do that?...

It doesn't say that they can't!!!

The way I see it, its just a weapon that the Warforged is always carrying... its nothing more than a special effect...

But Sejs is right, talk to your DM, and see what he will allow you to do…

One of the best things about a ‘new’ race is exploring it – so enjoy!

 

[Spatula]

Check with your DM about taking the improved natural attack feat from the MM. It might be in the Eberron book too, I can't recall off the top of my head. Warforged have a natural slam attack, so I don't feel it should be a problem, but again, check with your DM. It will probably take you a couple of levels to get into, but after you've taken that twice, your slam attacks will be doing 1d8 damage.

Improved Natural Attack can only be taken once.

Your best bet would be to either go straight fighter/barbarian and take Improved Natural Attack at 6th lvl. Or start with 1 level of monk (for the unarmed damage boost) and then go straight fighter.