Jabbing Style and Shields

[Thomssen]

I have a player in my current campaign that is playing a Brawler. The player has latched onto part description from the Monk portion of the character that it can strike with hands, elbows, knees, and feet...and because of this description, wants to use (and get the bonus for) a shield while using Jabbing Style by stating that the second strike is from a kick.

So the question is: Can a shield be used with Jabbing Style? To me it defeats the idea of the Brawler.

[bigrig107]

Brawler's Unarmed Strike wrote:

A brawler may attack with fists, elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a brawler may make unarmed strikes with her hands full.

Jabbing Style wrote:

Benefit: When you hit a target with an unarmed strike and you have hit that target with an unarmed strike previously that round, you deal an extra 1d6 points of damage to that target.

There's nothing that prohibits a brawler from using Jabbing Style with a shield, or even two shields, or while his hands are full of the group's groceries.

So, he should be good.

Edit:

Thomssen wrote:

To me it defeats the idea of the Brawler.

Why, exactly, does it do this? Even non-shield using Brawler's can use all of their attacks to punch a guy with one hand. What is it from the "Brawler idea" that is defeated?

[Thomssen]

When I think of a brawler, I think of a boxer, back alley fist fighter, etc. I guess it's the flavor that goes away for me.

[CBDunkerson]

Brawlers are proficient with shields... so why would using a shield 'defeat the idea of the Brawler'? There is even a shield focused Brawler archetype.

"A brawler may attack with fists, elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a brawler may make unarmed strikes with her hands full."

A Brawler can make a full attack without using their hands at all. Your shield wearing Brawler could make all their attacks with the non-shield hand OR mix in elbows, knees, and feet for attacks. If they use a buckler they could even make attacks with the hand the buckler is on.

Short answer: Yes, a Brawler can absolutely use a shield and Jabbing Style at the same time.

[Thomssen]

Add on question to this: The question is can the Brawler use two-weapon fighting (unarmed) AND use a shield defensively?

[CBDunkerson]

Thomssen wrote:

Add on question to this: The question is can the Brawler use two-weapon fighting (unarmed) AND use a shield defensively?

Yes. The 'Unarmed Strike' and 'Brawler's Flurry' abilities of the class clearly allow them to use unarmed (or armed) two-weapon fighting along with a defensive shield.

Heck, since shields are in the 'close' fighter weapon group the Brawler could even make their two-weapon fighting attacks WITH the shield.

[Komoda]

It is a brawler, not a monk. Think Jason Statham not David Carradine (Kung Fu TV series)

[BadBird]

A shield can be used 'with' Jabbing Style, but Jabbing Style is still only going to count attacks made by unarmed strike. Any attacks made with a shield simply don't count for Jabbing in any way. If you go shield/ kick/ shield, you get zero bonus from Jabbing because it only counted 1 'jab'.