Unarmed Specialist

[e11]

I'm going to play this game again after a long, long time, and I was wondering about this chain of feats. I really LIKE the idea of being a kung-fu Jedi who punches droids to death.

But is it at all practical? I know it's a while before you get a lightsaber, but is taking extra levels of Unarmed going to do anything for me once I have the saber? Does it have advantages that a saber doesn't?

Also, again, I LIKE the idea of stopping blaster shots with my palm, and taking Force Deflection will help me stay alive until I get the saber, but does it just become a wasted point once I have it?

[Emmental]

- Unarmed specialist feats are gained passively you don't need to invest.

- It has no advantages over a lightsaber other than for role play. Bao-Dur and Handmaiden have extra utility when fighting unarmed, but once they become jedi it resets the unarmed specialist progression making it pretty bad in the long run making lightsabers better.

- The duelling feats affect it for the extra +3 attack and defence.

- I don't see any reason not to take force redirection with unarmed, but with a saber it naturally loses its utility.

- Dexterity (as with all melee fighting) doesn't really help. There is no finesse unarmed thing so strength strength strength all the way.

- You can totally go through the whole game unarmed if you want it's very doable.

[fauxpas]

Unless I'm mistaken, the second level of Force Deflection should still stack with a saber given that it's just a bonus to deflection rolls, although the question becomes whether the bonus is worth spending two points or not.

[cerberusiv]

I have completed the game a couple of times unarmed. To clarify, I set myself the challenge of completing the game using no weapons against opponents as the Exile. I allowed myself a lightsaber, but no upgrades of any sort for it and it could only be used to open doors, not for combat against opponents. I also allowed use of the duelling vibroswords in the Mandalorian battle circle. I permitted grenades as well.

It is a fresh challenge and was fun.

I doubt you could get most of the companions through like this (except Handmaiden) though.

And you will definitely need Force Deflection (I take all the possible skills and powers I can that increase deflection.

[cerberusiv]

Force Deflection is useful for Atton and Mira as they are most effective set up as ranged fighters with pistols. It also offers some benefit for the Exile, Kreia and Visas if taken early as it takes quite a while to get enough lightsabers for them all.

[Hassat Hunter]

Also the second rank still counts with a saber so the bonus is never "wasted".