I was unsatisfied with how unarmed combat was treated so extremely different from standard combat. It has special rules scattered throughout the book, and is pretty much useless unless you're a monk. Unarmed combat was and is taught in many real-world combat training schools and is well supported in literature among non-monkish characters, though. So, I created these rules to give unarmed combat to the masses. Consider this a complete and total substitution for the normal unarmed combat rules.

New Weapons

Simple Weapons

Martial Weapons

Exotic Weapons

Notes:

U - This weapon is an Unarmed Combat Method. See below for special rules that pertain to this type of weapon.

1 - Attacking an armed opponent with this weapon immediately provokes an AoO from the opponent.

2 - If you are proficient with this weapon and use it in at least one attack you gain a +1 dodge bonus to AC until the beginning of your next turn.

3 - If you are proficient with this weapon and use it in at least one attack you gain a +3 shield bonus to AC until the beginning of your next turn.

Almost any martial weapon can be converted into an exotic unarmed combat method by changing its damage type to Bludgeoning. For example, it would be perfectly appropriate to see a One-handed strike that dealt 1d6 damage with an 18-20/x2 critical, similar to the Rapier. These are not listed both for space and style reasons.

New Feats

Improved Unarmed Strike

Prereq: Proficiency in an unarmed combat method, BAB +1

Benefit: You may now use unarmed combat methods to deal lethal damage without penalty. Your unarmed combat methods also threaten squares as normal for a melee weapon. Using Basic Unarmed against an armed opponent no longer provokes an AoO.

Normal: Unarmed combat methods deal non-lethal damage and do not threaten any squares. See the section on Unarmed Combat Methods for further details.

Hardened Hands

Prereq: Improved Unarmed Strike

Benefit: You may choose to have your unarmed strikes deal slashing or piercing damage instead of bludgeoning.

New Rules Text

Unarmed Combat Methods

The body is a dangerous thing. A well-trained warrior can do as much damage with a fist or a knee as a lesser warrior can with a sword. Unarmed combat methods represent a character using her body itself as a weapon. The term 'unarmed strike' may be used to refer to the entire class of unarmed combat methods.

It is more difficult to use your body to hurt someone than it is to use a piece of sharpened metal to do the same. Unarmed strikes deal non-lethal damage normally, though they can deal lethal damage with a -4 penalty to the attack roll. They also do not threaten any squares. As well, using Basic Unarmed against an armed opponent provokes an AoO from that opponent. The feat Improved Unarmed Strike removes many of these drawbacks.

Unarmed strikes are treated as weapons for the purposes of all spells, feats, and other abilities that affect weapons, unless the ability expressly requires a physical weapon. For example, one may not disarm someone of an unarmed strike. Otherwise, unarmed strikes use exactly the same rules as manufactured weapons.

Using Unarmed Combat Methods

Unarmed strikes may be used in place of any of your normal weapon attacks (even offhand attacks). However, if you use an unarmed strike as an offhand attack or use a two-handed unarmed strike, you gain no benefit from shields or abilities that require the use of a free hand, nor can you use anything you are holding in your hands except weapons (you may use objects such as shields as weapons, even though you do not benefit from their primary function). As well, you cannot take offhand attacks in the same turn as you use a two-handed unarmed strike, or vice versa.

Basic Unarmed, while generally weaker than the other unarmed strikes, is also free from their restrictions. If you use Basic Unarmed as an off-hand attack you can still use a shield, use abilities that require a free hand, and so on. As well, when using Basic Unarmed you always apply your full Strength bonus, even when using it in place of an off-hand attack. Masters of Basic Unarmed, though rare, can be fearsome.

Integrating Unarmed Combat Methods into a game

If you wish to use Unarmed Combat Methods in a standard D&D game, minor changes must be made to the monk. A monk is automatically proficient with all Simple and Martial Unarmed Combat Methods. The Monk's Unarmed Damage increases the damage dealt by Basic Unarmed - other unarmed combat methods are unaffected. Similarly, the extra attacks granted by Flurry of Blows may only be taken with Basic Unarmed. Similar changes can be made to the Oathsworn from Arcana Unearthed/Evolved, or any other class that gains improved facility with unarmed strikes.

In Arcana Unearthed/Evolved, all of the Exotic unarmed combat methods are placed in a special category: Exotic Unarmed. You may gain proficiency with all of the methods at once by taking Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Unarmed, similar to how you may gain proficiency with all Exotic Heavy weapons at once.

As implied, unarmed combat methods can be used with the feat Two-Weapon Fighting. However, using an unarmed strike for an offhand attack prevents you from using shields or many other things that would be wielded in your hands. As well, two-handed unarmed strikes cannot be used in the same round that you take off-hand attacks.