Now, we've all, at one stage or another, made a character with Improved Unarmed Strike, either as a 'flavour' feat or to gain access to some feat-tree or the like. But unless you are a Monk or take a PrC (Prestige Class), this is a sub-optimal build at best if you are planning on using your Improved Unarmed Strike as an offhand attack, for while it is versatile in being able to trip, disarm and do all manner of wondrous things like allow you to cast, fight one-handed to grab a potion without having to sheath a weapon, grab the potion, drink it then unsheath the offhand weapon again, it does pitiful damage and has a terrible critical multiplier.
So. Unarmed Feats. Feats that allow the PCs or NPCs to do some real damage with their unarmed strikes (note not unarmed attacks, that's the Monk's claim to fame!) without stepping on the toes of the Monk or the monk-like PrCs. Naturally, a feat that increases damage-die is a must, and we've all had access to the feat that allow us to use Stunning Strike uses-per-day to imbue our attacks with handy little benefits, but being able to increase the damage-die would help immensely!
So, first off, we'd have Greater Unarmed Strike, allowing your unarmed strikes to do damage as a Monk 1/2 your level, available at level 6, meaning that a 6th level Ranger with this feat could fight dealing 1d6 bludgeoning damage with his unarmed attacks, while the Monk is doing 1d8. This seems to tread on the Monk's toes a fair bit, so it's not an option.
So, Greater Unarmed Strike should instead up the Damage-Dice of the Unarmed Strikes by one damage-die every few levels. Make it available at level 3, does 1d4 damage for a Medium PC from levels 3-6, 1d6 damage from level 7-11, 1d8 from levels 12-16 and 1d10 from levels 17-20. Gives a non-Monk some decent 'oomph!' to their Unarmed Strikes without threatening the Monk.
Anyone can point out any flaws in this feat? And yes, I know there's one in a WotC splat-book, but I would like something Pathfinder-approved and something that doesn't mean we have to keep feeding those greedy, shoddy bums over at the Coast.
Why not have a Feat to grant a Slam attack? (with better damage)
No exploitation by multi-class Monks or stepping on their toes...?
It could even have it's own "Improved" versions, adding Trip/Bullrush effects,
or increasing your Size category for CMB & CMD?
Monks could use a little love as far as damage goes. Why not just bump unarmed strike up a bit and monk damage up further?
Good ideas, Quandry and Coriat. Slam makes a Fighter's fists very different from a Monk's Unarmed Attack. The Fighter's fists strike like mallets, bludgeoning and heavy, where the Monk's palm-strikes, knees and elbows lash out like the heavy head on the end of a flail's chain.
I also like Coriat's concept of a feat that can 'bump' the Monk's unarmed damage at lower levels and provide a greater boost at higher levels. The only problem with Slams is that they only come in twos, so even a high BAB class can only make 2 attacks, but in a pinch and when unarmed that's still better than a poke in the eye with a +3 sharp stick.
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A Fistful of Denerii has two feats that emulate this, Martial Strike and Improved Marital Strike. One gives you damage as a monk three levels lower and the second gives you damage as a monk at your level. Both have reasonable BAB, Dex and Wis requirements.
I'm not sure this is really necessary. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the expansion of unarmed possibilities. But all your character needs is to buy a monk's robe (13000gp) to get 1d8 unarmed strikes - this should be good enough for all your non-monk unarmed needs.
Instead, allow me to offer
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist, Power Attack
Benefit: When using the power attack feat the DC of your successful Stunning Fist attacks increases by the penalty you take due to the power attack feat.
I would like to see a return to the d4 monk damage from 1.0/1E
The feat improved unarmed strike would grant the user 1d4 damage
The monk started at 2d4 and ended at 5d4
5d4 is better than the current 1d20
1d20 range 1-20
5d4 range 5-20Just a thought
I don't recall seeing a 1D20 for damage
I don't recall seeing a 1D20 for damageI would like to see a return to the d4 monk damage from 1.0/1E
The feat improved unarmed strike would grant the user 1d4 damage
The monk started at 2d4 and ended at 5d4
5d4 is better than the current 1d20
1d20 range 1-20
5d4 range 5-20Just a thought
The 3.0 monk may have had it, can't remember for sure where I've seen it.
you could create a new Ranger combat style
as as an alternate to TWF or Ranger Combat
you become an expert in free hand fighting
which gives bonuses and feats assoicated for using 1h weapon with an empty open hand.
And Or
Give a Fighter bonus feat tree which basically lets a fighter get monk unarmed damage progression making him an unarmed brawler who with the right feats can excel in grapple trip etc (he'll use gloves etc to get enchantment on his unarmed attacks). No flurry or other monkish type abilites, just pure open handed hurt.
there's no reason the monk has to be the exclusive open handed class
Sorry yes I was in 3.X land
I still prefer 5d4 to 2d10.
it might be statically better dmg but does any else hate rolling d4's for damage ? they seem so puny even rolling alot of them ;)
compare that to throwing out some chunky d10's or d12's and hitting a 10 or 12 , much more satisfying
The Superior Unarmed Strike feat above deals with this nicely. Dmg goes to 1-6 through levels 1-7, 1-8 from 8-14, and 2-12 from 15+.
If you have Monk levels, +4 to that progression instead, and stacks with RObe/Belt.
Stack with Improved Natural attack, and Monk damage can accelerate VERY quickly. Because Monks can get the best base dmg attacks in the game, virtual size increases can really up the damage for them.
Consider that a Monk at level 12, with Superior Unarmed Strike, Improved Natural Attack, and a Monk's Belt, has the UA dmg of a level 20 Monk (2-20), improved by one size from INA (to 4-32), and if he can Enlarge himself, is doing 8-48.
That's how you improve Monk damage. At level 16, swap SUS out for another feat, and at 20 get rid of the Monk's Robe/Belt.
==Aelryinth
Sorry yes I was in 3.X land
I still prefer 5d4 to 2d10.
it might be statically better dmg but does any else hate rolling d4's for damage ? they seem so puny even rolling alot of them ;)
compare that to throwing out some chunky d10's or d12's and hitting a 10 or 12 , much more satisfying
can't do much for 1-4 or 2-8, but 3-12 is also d10+2, and 5-20 is 3-18+2.
==Aelryinth
I'd just ask you DM if you could play a variant of Fighter, or whatever class you're playing with a Monk's unarmed strike ability.
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or just take belier's bite which is Pathfinder and doesn't require using 3.5 material or a homebrew feat.
many thanks to the creator of this database
It increases your damage dealt and causes bleed what more could you ask for.