Looking through all of the Barbarian Subclasses, I feel like most of the common tropes/fantasies for Barbarians has been filled. For example, Path of the Beast emulates a lycanthropic curse or bestial trait for the character, and Path of the Storm Herald controls the elements etc. However, I've noticed there isn't a real 'brawler'/fist-fighting path. Battlerager is half way there, but it isn't very powerful compared to other barbarian subclasses, and the power fantasy of being a tavern brawler/wild fighter doesn't come through in the subclass features - being a big ball of metal spikes isn't the same.
I'd imagine a brawler subclass to have improved unarmed striking (such as turning them magical, possibly giving scaling damage, maybe even ways to incorporate them into bonus action attacks/abilities), some grappling abilities, and abilities that overall allow them to stick in melee range (such as a 'taunt' ability e.g disadvantage on attack rolls other than you, or slowing enemies movement when hitting with a basic attack). I understand many of these abilities are present in feats or fighting styles or even as other class/subclass abilities, but they haven't really been put together in a subclass that specialises in this kind of thing.
I have two questions.
1) Why isn't there a brawler subclass? I understand that monk exists, but monks have abilities that lend themselves nimble and agile fighters, not big hulking brutes. Fighters can take unarmed fighting, but the damage is sub-par to lots of martial weapons, and doesn't really fit into a specific subclass, if any.
2) Is there actually a desire for this? It might just be me and my D&D groups, but I feel like this concept is so blindingly obvious it's almost frustrating that Wizards haven't released a subclass like this.
Thanks for help guys!
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'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
Looking through all of the Barbarian Subclasses, I feel like most of the common tropes/fantasies for Barbarians has been filled. For example, Path of the Beast emulates a lycanthropic curse or bestial trait for the character, and Path of the Storm Herald controls the elements etc. However, I've noticed there isn't a real 'brawler'/fist-fighting path. Battlerager is half way there, but it isn't very powerful compared to other barbarian subclasses, and the power fantasy of being a tavern brawler/wild fighter doesn't come through in the subclass features - being a big ball of metal spikes isn't the same.
I'd imagine a brawler subclass to have improved unarmed striking (such as turning them magical, possibly giving scaling damage, maybe even ways to incorporate them into bonus action attacks/abilities), some grappling abilities, and abilities that overall allow them to stick in melee range (such as a 'taunt' ability e.g disadvantage on attack rolls other than you, or slowing enemies movement when hitting with a basic attack). I understand many of these abilities are present in feats or fighting styles or even as other class/subclass abilities, but they haven't really been put together in a subclass that specialises in this kind of thing.
I have two questions.
1) Why isn't there a brawler subclass? I understand that monk exists, but monks have abilities that lend themselves nimble and agile fighters, not big hulking brutes. Fighters can take unarmed fighting, but the damage is sub-par to lots of martial weapons, and doesn't really fit into a specific subclass, if any.
2) Is there actually a desire for this? It might just be me and my D&D groups, but I feel like this concept is so blindingly obvious it's almost frustrating that Wizards haven't released a subclass like this.
Thanks for help guys!
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
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Yea I was thinking the same thing I actually made a joke homebrew subclass. Whenever you raged you basically turned into Goku with punches sun energy