Using improvised weapons without Drunken Master

[SilverLeaf167]

Is there any way to become proficient (with some bonuses, preferably) in the use of improvised weapons without being a Monk *shudder* and taking the Drunken Master PrC?

Homebrew is also fine.

One of the ways I'm planning on using this is on an NPC who always appears unarmed but never is, so of course I could just DM fiat it, but I'm interested in finding out whether any material exists for this.

[Urpriest]

You can't do it with Drunken Master either. Drunken Master doesn't give proficiency with improvised weapons.

That said, Hulking Hurler's Really Throw Anything works exactly as advertised.

[Lord Ruby34]

You could try the Fool's Grip (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67879) discipline by the Demented One. It focuses on Improvised Weapons.

[SilverLeaf167]

Either of those might work... though with the lack of much actually published material, I think I might just fiat it through, basically giving the planned NPC the damage progression of the Drunken Master (and of course proficiency :smallwink:). She is supposed to be the scribe/adviser/assistant of a political-type baddie, following him everywhere at all times. In times of danger, she'd double as a bodyguard by using her pen (or anything else available) as a weapon. That should really take the PCs off guard when they attack her master :smallbiggrin:

[Darrin]

Is there any way to become proficient (with some bonuses, preferably) in the use of improvised weapons without being a Monk *shudder* and taking the Drunken Master PrC?


There are a couple ways to get into Drunken Master without monk... but they can be elaborate enough that it's probably not worth it.

You can reduce the improvised weapon penalty by -2 via Hulking Hurler or the City Brawler Barbarian variant (Dragon #349).

There's also a 3.0 PrC in Dragon #295 called "Brawler" that gives proficiency to all improvised weapons. It can also use Weapon Focus/Specialty with them. In the same article, there's an "Improvised Weapon Proficiency" that does basically what Hulking Hurler does (reduces the penalties by 2).

[grarrrg]

You want Improvised/Unexpected weapons?
Try the Scrollmaster (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/archetypes/paizo---wizard-archetypes/scrollmaster), it's a Pathfinder Wizard ACF.
You can use SCROLLS as weapons/shields.

Yeah....

[SilverLeaf167]

You want Improvised/Unexpected weapons?
Try the Scrollmaster (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/archetypes/paizo---wizard-archetypes/scrollmaster), it's a Pathfinder Wizard ACF.
You can use SCROLLS as weapons/shields.

Yeah....
This...

...is actually pretty frickin' cool and fit for the character.
Now I'll just make her a gish, and she'll actually be an actual threat with her spells :smalltongue: while also wielding character appropriate weaponry (she's a scribe, remember?)

Thanks!
It's really too bad, though, that it seems to be really hard to wield improvised weapons practically.

[Manateee]

It's really too bad, though, that it seems to be really hard to wield improvised weapons practically.
Since we're already going pathfinder on this... (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/catch-off-guard-combat)

And outside PF, I thought this was how the game represents the 0-second craft check to fashion a club out of a chair leg or whiskey bottle. :p

[Telonius]

I suppose you could use Greater Magic Weapon on whatever you're improvising, to give it the Skillful enhancement (+2, CArc). The enhancement grants you proficiency and 3/4 BAB (unless yours is better).

[Person_Man]

You could just eat the -4 penalty to hit, or gain a +4 bonus to hit from another source.

Other then the -4 penalty to hit, there's no down side to not having proficiency. (With the exception of a few exotic weapons, which have special abilities triggered by "if the user is proficient").

[gorfnab]

Since we're already going pathfinder on this... (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/catch-off-guard-combat)

Great for Bards with the Summon Instrument cantrip.

[Cog]

You can reduce the improvised weapon penalty by -2 via Hulking Hurler or the City Brawler Barbarian variant (Dragon #349).

...There's an "Improvised Weapon Proficiency" that does basically what Hulking Hurler does (reduces the penalties by 2).
Of note, while these don't stack with each other, there's a way to bring the various -2s to -0; an organization, Bloodbound of the Red Ring, from the Eberron book City of Stormreach. One of the membership benefits is a stacking -2 reduction for improvised weapons.