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3 years ago ::
Aug 25, 2010 - 6:08PM
#11
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Date Joined:
Jul 26, 2010
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Ohhh. I need to read more closely. So, the Boar Helm provides your "main hand"/unarmed attack. The Fighting Shield is just there for the defensive bonus. And Spiked gauntlet is for free off hand. The Brawler bonus is for unarmed attacks, but it doesn't specify fist/spiked gauntlet, so the boar helm's unarmed attack progresses at the +2/4/6 that Brawler gives. The ki focus gives crit properties, enh bonus to damage, and the item bonus vs immobilized/prone (not sure why I thought it was stunned before O.o ) The only thing you really lose is your head slot item and, with a 47 Will, it's not too painful. Also, if you can fit in Headsman's Chop that would be more dmg vs prone on top of everything else.
Edit: Though Dark Sun provides some cool weapon options. The Talid you mentioned before can be enchanted as hands or weapon slot. There was also an axe bracer, a +2/1d8 weapon with defensive and offhand properties and the text for the weapon says that it keeps your hand free.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 25, 2010 - 10:54PM
#12
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Headsman Chop only works with Axe/Heavy blade, so I wouldn't be able to use my helm.
Indeed, Talid caught my eye, but it cant be upgraded in damage size, so its a 1d6, +2 prof (pretty rough).
The axe bracer is f'n weird. As is, it is pretty fantastic, but breaks everything. I'm going to wait until the FAQ until I build anything around it.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 25, 2010 - 11:30PM
#13
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Date Joined:
Jul 26, 2010
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Man, I really need to get my details straight. Shrug. It's weird, I'm so used to the idea of two hands + two magic weapons/items held that the concept of the Boar Helm throws me off. But I looked it up in Dragon 378 and it's clearly put: you gain a gore attack, in the unarmed group. Well, I'm definitely getting that asap for my brawler. As well as switching out the Spiked Shield. I have to admit though, there's some pretty cool flavor options. Like Dragontooth Shield + Longtooth Shifter or Dragonborn (effectively you're wielding a giant fang on your arm). Or a Minotaur wearing a Boar Helm 
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 12:05AM
#14
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Yea, I was sold on the Boar Helm as soon as I read it. I just picture my Brawler headbutting a dragon in a variety of ways.
Are you switching your spiked shield for a Gauntlet Axe or a Fighting Shield? Only problem with some of the later fighting shields is they stop scaling after awhile, and some of them are in weird groups (one does radiant damage...). They aren't consistent at all, which I why I was going to try and Ki Focus mine, but Q&A didn't like that very much.
Keep in mind that the Boar Tusk Helm doesn't qualify for MH/OH business. Its hand independent =p.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 11:22AM
#15
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Date Joined:
Jul 26, 2010
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Yea, that's part of why the Boar Helm concept threw me off. It's effectively a pseudo-mainhand attack without being a weapon attack from your hand.
The Gauntlet Axe would be nice because it would keep my hand free so I could tack on some Beowulf-like control while still getting a +1 AC from defensive. Also any axe feats could be applied ie Deadly Axe, Headsman's Chop...man go Shifter/Moonstalker and your attacks vs prone are brutal! (2d6+Wis+2/4/6+5+5) But that's not the case here. Fighting Shields by RAW, there is the issue with scaling. But that can be remedied if the campaign uses inherent bonuses OR the DM houserules scaling for the enhancement bonuses/crit damage. It's a simple fix that just makes sense.
But, I did go through all the main Brawler powers and they only specify unarmed attacks occasionally, none of them really specify attacking with mainhand/offhand, those were all Tempest powers and even those were relatively few. So Boar Helm is relatively safe to use.
Just remembered, in Dark Sun there was also the Wrist Razors. Light blades, same concept as the Gauntlet Axe in that it keeps your hand free. Since it's a light blade that can go in offhand and still keep your hand free for Brawler bonus, you can slap Rhythm Blade on that. With a light Fighting Shield or the Brawler Guard Feat, you can have heavy shield defenses (picking up Encouraging Shield for +2 Fort) without the check penalty. Or you can take the check penalty and have a +3 shield bonus.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 11:39AM
#16
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Yea, that's part of why the Boar Helm concept threw me off. It's effectively a pseudo-mainhand attack without being a weapon attack from your hand.
The Gauntlet Axe would be nice because it would keep my hand free so I could tack on some Beowulf-like control while still getting a +1 AC from defensive. Also any axe feats could be applied ie Deadly Axe, Headsman's Chop...man go Shifter/Moonstalker and your attacks vs prone are brutal! (2d6+Wis+2/4/6+5+5) But that's not the case here. Fighting Shields by RAW, there is the issue with scaling. But that can be remedied if the campaign uses inherent bonuses OR the DM houserules scaling for the enhancement bonuses/crit damage. It's a simple fix that just makes sense.
But, I did go through all the main Brawler powers and they only specify unarmed attacks occasionally, none of them really specify attacking with mainhand/offhand, those were all Tempest powers and even those were relatively few. So Boar Helm is relatively safe to use.
Just remembered, in Dark Sun there was also the Wrist Razors. Light blades, same concept as the Gauntlet Axe in that it keeps your hand free. Since it's a light blade that can go in offhand and still keep your hand free for Brawler bonus, you can slap Rhythm Blade on that. With a light Fighting Shield or the Brawler Guard Feat, you can have heavy shield defenses (picking up Encouraging Shield for +2 Fort).
I really want them to explain Gauntlet Axe better, because it sounds really amazing. There have been some pretty good prone + grabbed + dead builds lately (The Headsman should be on the first page or so).
Yea, the big one that sucks to not be able to use with Boar Helm is Dual Strike.
Wrist Razors take up arm slot when enchanted (no option like the Gauntlet Axe), so you couldnt use it with a Fighting Shield (arm slot) or Iron Armbands. Spiked Shield or Brawler Guard would work. They also have a piddly size =p.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 12:00PM
#17
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Date Joined:
Jul 26, 2010
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*checks Dark Sun* Crap it is arms only. Well so much for +3 shield bonus. Although, I wonder what interesting enchants can be slapped on a Spiked Shield. Hmmm... I'm imagining a Brawler on Athas wielding Talid/Wrist Razors/Gauntlet Axe...
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 12:07PM
#18
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*checks Dark Sun* Crap it is arms only. Well so much for +3 shield bonus. Although, I wonder what interesting enchants can be slapped on a Spiked Shield. Hmmm...
I'm imagining a Brawler on Athas wielding Talid/Wrist Razors/Gauntlet Axe...
Best part is you dont have to enchant any of them in Athas!
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 12:12PM
#19
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Date Joined:
Oct 22, 2007
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Yes, I did think about it. However, Brawler bonus states "With a weapon in your MH and your OH free" while rhythm blade states "while wielded in your OH". If the brawler simply stated "weapon in one hand, other hand free" it would work, but as is, its impossible to combine the two. Hence the fancy item combo =p.
Wrist Razors/Talid/Gauntlet Axe.
Wishlist:
-Alternate ability bonuses for pre-PHB3 races
-Lots more superior implements or an official customization rule
-Monk multiclass feat that grants Unarmed Combatant
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 12:21PM
#20
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Wrist Razors/Talid/Gauntlet Axe.
Still costs an arm slot to enchant Wrist Razor with the enchant, not really an increase to defenses. I would also have to take Brutal Brawler to get a shield bonus. However, the upside is now MH and OH are both free. Not sure. A feat to gain an extra arm isn't a terrible idea.
EDIT: Also, no shield powers. Which sucks.
Grabbing two creatures means you have essentially no options for actions (2 minors to sustain) and you can use any of your "drag a grabbed mob over this way" powers. Not to mention you need two full fledged grabs essentially back to back.
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