Unarmed fighting is notoriously hard in DnD systems even when you play monk (please don't derail into monk hate).
I've been tossing around the idea of an unarmed barbarian for an upcoming campaign.
We're starting at level 3 so I was thinking barb 2/ martial artist 1. I've applied the urban barbarian and brutal pugilist archetypes to barbarian.
Stats STR 18, DEX 15, CON 13 (will be raised next level), and tens in the rest.
I get improved unarmed strike and improved grapple from my dip and my other feats were going to be power attack, TWF, and boar style.
Rage power:animal fury
Obviously it's not going to be as effective as the standard greatsword ultraoptimized barb but that's not the point.
How does it look so far? Advice for future feats or powers?
I would drop Boar Style and take Dragon Style instead.You might be better served with dipping Unarmed Fighter instead of Martial Artist.That way you could start at first level with Improved Unarmed Strike,Dragon Style, Power Attack and Weapon Focus. Take Dragon Ferocity at Level 5.
Hmm from how I read it I wouldn't be able to take Dragon Ferocity with the Unarmed fighter since I need stunning fist as a prereq.
You don´t ,read the Unarmed Fighter Archetype description you can take a Style Feat at first level wihtout meeting the prerequisites.
Yes but that only covers Dragon Style from what I read. Unless you mean take Dragon ferocity at first level and then pick up dragon style later.
Aha, never saw that prereq on Dragon Ferocity. That is indeed a downer.I would still go that route though.Seeing that you want to start with wisdom 10 I assume you are going to wear armor so no Flurry.And unless you are going to take two weapon fighting Boar Style isn´t helping. Dragon Style on the other hand will give 1.5 your strenght on your first attack ( wich will also be your only attack until level 6) and let you charge through difficult terrain.
Another option would be to just take all three Unarmed Fighter/Martial Artist/Urban Barbarian.
I was thinking TWF. I think that you're right though and that Dragon is better than Boar.
Boar and such will get be better damage early but, that 1.5 strength addition makes a big difference since barbs depend on the damage added to die not as much the die themselves.
Hmm ok if I went that route would you recommend just using caestus or knuckle axes etc to make up for the lack of d6 damage I get from Martial Artist?
Also of note 3.5 feats are allowed on a GM approved basis if that changes anything
Ok then the new build is as follows
1st level: Barbarian
Feats TWF and power attack
2nd Level Unarmed Fighter
Improved Unarmed Strike
Dragon Style
3rd Level
Improved Grapple
EDIT: I'm not sure if TWF would work now, without Monk I wouldn't apply my full STR to offhand, although Dragon Ferocity might make that null.
Anything that would be better than that?
DOUBLE EDIT: And I still couldn't get dragon ferocity due to the stunning fist req
TRIPLE EDIT: The DOUBLE EDIT is moot my DM said if we neuter out the elemental fist and stunning fist parts of Dragon Ferocity that it's ok.
MoMS can't be taken with barb.
Any opinions on TWF with this?
Might I suggest au natural? (natural attacks)