KitsuneKionchi
2009-10-25, 01:21 PM
Ranged Unarmed Strikes
i.e. "Budhha's Palm Technique"
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/119394430_f574cf0b4b.jpg
So I recently made a SoulKnife using "Reshape Mind Blade" (DR341). I went down the list of 'weapons' in the SRD and chose the weapon "unarmed strike". It seemed innocent enough, albeit interesting. Then I reread the soul knife class and realised what this meant.
I can now use my unarmed strikes as thrown weapons.
After I let images of energy fists shooting from my soul knife pass through the 'cool' zone of my mind into the 'laugh hysterically/maniacally' zone, I started thinking about all those unarmed attack feats that don't say 'melee unarmed strike'. The book naturally assumes your unarmed strike will be done in melee range, but they never specified it. What looks like fun shenanigans to do with this, even if its just on a theoretical level?
Note: You are using both an unarmed strike and a thrown weapon. Odds are, you will be provoking an attack of opportunity.
Another Note: Yes, I've thought of what this means for natural weapons as well. If your a monstrous character, you could easily adapt this to your bite attacks, claw attacks, or more.
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/l5r/images/thumb/2/26/Togashi.jpg/200px-Togashi.jpg
Support Abilities:
Far Shot: Because you can't punch people quite far away enough as it is.
Power Throw: This feat is quite nice with this build to make sure you aren't completely MAD (lets you use str instead of dex for thrown attacks).
Stunning Fist: (And the many things related to it.) Ranged stunning has proven itself powerful thanks to the cheese that is Boomerang Daze. This isn't quite as strong as the DC is set by something a lot harder to raise than "damage dealt", but its still an effective alternative. Good "readied action" against a foe too, since you can stop them from hitting more people than just yourself. Or help power on the rogue.
Weapon Enhancements:
Mind Blade Gauntlet, Greater: [MIC117] This ability lets you add weapon enhancements (albeit temporarily) to your soul-fists. Up to +3. Let the shenanigans continue!
Clouting: Alternative to "Knockback". It has an nonadjustable save of DC19, but it knocks the opponent prone *and* lets you push them back. Great with multiple attacks and Martial Throw to continuously hit people into the air like a helpless bubble being blown higher and higher into the air (till it pops and the fun ends).
Cheesey Abilities:
<Pick Pocket>: I forget the feat, but there is one that lets you sleight of hand a target as a free action if you hit with an unarmed attack. Seems very fun with touch attacks to steal something from someone from over 180 feet away.
Martial Throw: Hit with an unarmed strike in order to switch places with your target. Extremely fun if you have a fly speed and they don't. Make sure you remember they don't take falling damage from the first 5 feet, and you get to switch places with them so you don't have to worry about falling.
Knockback: (Or variations of) allows you to push people at a range. This is just a nice support with Martial Throw if you want to punch people higher and higher into the sky to take more falling damage.
Master Thrower/Bloodstorm Blade: Naturally these bring funny things to the table. Palm shooting your...palms? Ricochetting shots seem pretty funny too with some of the other things I've posted above.
Touch Attacks: The SRD states you may make a 'normal unarmed attack' to transfer/use a touch spell. This helps casters who don't want to get too close. It also helps healers and buffers who don't like running from person to person but would rather soul-fist their teammates to health.
<Claw Strike?>: A feat from Eberron intended for shifters (but no racial prerequisite). This lets your unarmed strike and claw damage stack. So if you can manage to manifest both your claw and unarmed strike mind-blades at once, you can get the damage of both mind-blades in a single attack. Amazing if your DM lets you use lots of damaging (Flaming, etc...) weapon enchancements on your soulknife's mindblades.
Prone Attack: I love the idea of kicking someone 50 feet away as you stand up from prone.
Pop-Culture Tie-Ins:
Iaijutsu Strike/Greater Mighty Wallop: Anyone read Negima?
Reach: Reflavor the arms to be 'stretchy' instead of 'shooty' (perhaps the sizing weapon quality would help) and you could have fun recreating the elastic man or luffy from one piece.
i.e. "Budhha's Palm Technique"
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/119394430_f574cf0b4b.jpg
So I recently made a SoulKnife using "Reshape Mind Blade" (DR341). I went down the list of 'weapons' in the SRD and chose the weapon "unarmed strike". It seemed innocent enough, albeit interesting. Then I reread the soul knife class and realised what this meant.
I can now use my unarmed strikes as thrown weapons.
After I let images of energy fists shooting from my soul knife pass through the 'cool' zone of my mind into the 'laugh hysterically/maniacally' zone, I started thinking about all those unarmed attack feats that don't say 'melee unarmed strike'. The book naturally assumes your unarmed strike will be done in melee range, but they never specified it. What looks like fun shenanigans to do with this, even if its just on a theoretical level?
Note: You are using both an unarmed strike and a thrown weapon. Odds are, you will be provoking an attack of opportunity.
Another Note: Yes, I've thought of what this means for natural weapons as well. If your a monstrous character, you could easily adapt this to your bite attacks, claw attacks, or more.
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/l5r/images/thumb/2/26/Togashi.jpg/200px-Togashi.jpg
Support Abilities:
Far Shot: Because you can't punch people quite far away enough as it is.
Power Throw: This feat is quite nice with this build to make sure you aren't completely MAD (lets you use str instead of dex for thrown attacks).
Stunning Fist: (And the many things related to it.) Ranged stunning has proven itself powerful thanks to the cheese that is Boomerang Daze. This isn't quite as strong as the DC is set by something a lot harder to raise than "damage dealt", but its still an effective alternative. Good "readied action" against a foe too, since you can stop them from hitting more people than just yourself. Or help power on the rogue.
Weapon Enhancements:
Mind Blade Gauntlet, Greater: [MIC117] This ability lets you add weapon enhancements (albeit temporarily) to your soul-fists. Up to +3. Let the shenanigans continue!
Clouting: Alternative to "Knockback". It has an nonadjustable save of DC19, but it knocks the opponent prone *and* lets you push them back. Great with multiple attacks and Martial Throw to continuously hit people into the air like a helpless bubble being blown higher and higher into the air (till it pops and the fun ends).
Cheesey Abilities:
<Pick Pocket>: I forget the feat, but there is one that lets you sleight of hand a target as a free action if you hit with an unarmed attack. Seems very fun with touch attacks to steal something from someone from over 180 feet away.
Martial Throw: Hit with an unarmed strike in order to switch places with your target. Extremely fun if you have a fly speed and they don't. Make sure you remember they don't take falling damage from the first 5 feet, and you get to switch places with them so you don't have to worry about falling.
Knockback: (Or variations of) allows you to push people at a range. This is just a nice support with Martial Throw if you want to punch people higher and higher into the sky to take more falling damage.
Master Thrower/Bloodstorm Blade: Naturally these bring funny things to the table. Palm shooting your...palms? Ricochetting shots seem pretty funny too with some of the other things I've posted above.
Touch Attacks: The SRD states you may make a 'normal unarmed attack' to transfer/use a touch spell. This helps casters who don't want to get too close. It also helps healers and buffers who don't like running from person to person but would rather soul-fist their teammates to health.
<Claw Strike?>: A feat from Eberron intended for shifters (but no racial prerequisite). This lets your unarmed strike and claw damage stack. So if you can manage to manifest both your claw and unarmed strike mind-blades at once, you can get the damage of both mind-blades in a single attack. Amazing if your DM lets you use lots of damaging (Flaming, etc...) weapon enchancements on your soulknife's mindblades.
Prone Attack: I love the idea of kicking someone 50 feet away as you stand up from prone.
Pop-Culture Tie-Ins:
Iaijutsu Strike/Greater Mighty Wallop: Anyone read Negima?
Reach: Reflavor the arms to be 'stretchy' instead of 'shooty' (perhaps the sizing weapon quality would help) and you could have fun recreating the elastic man or luffy from one piece.