Viability of a TWC Brawling only Rogue?

[Gnomad]

I was working on throwing together a TWC Rogue as a new character, and I really want him to be a hoodlum. No fancy swords, just straight off the streets brawling skills.

I figure between the various weapons and ambush bonuses, I should be at least as viable as a TWC Edged rogue that uses daggers; should I expect anything different?

I was thinking:

1x Armor until Brig (then Fixskills once I can afford MBP)
2x Brawl
2x TWC
1.5x CM
2x Ambush
2x Dodge
1x PT
2x Hiding
2x Perception

2x PickLock
2x PickPocket
2x Disarm
1x Trading

Scroll Reading, Climb/Swim, etc as I can afford it/as needed

Figure I'd go Voln because it'd seem silly not to. My character would fake fealty to learn some new tricks any day.

[Artha]

There's some ok brawling weapons. Really, anything's viable so you should be ok. Might be hard at times, though.

edit: Since you're going voln, pick up Voln Fu. It's pretty overpowered, though might be a little less so for rogues than rangers.

[100% Wool]

Twc brawling ftw...I have a cleric who uses 2 katars and he's in his 30's...very fun

[StrayRogue]

Yes, katars and voln-fu are the only real ways that brawling, TWC or otherwise can really work. I'd personally go warrior, for better armour, and access to better brawling CMs.

[septus]

Septus was a twc brawling warrior before he converted into a paladin. Sometimes I still think I should have stayed, was a very fun route. I used fist-scythes and mstriked 6 attacks with them. mstrike came back every 13 seconds or so. Was fun to blood critters to death with one mstrike. I'd think sais would make good ambushing weapons once you can hit the eye reliably.

[The Ponzzz]

Well, that build is tough. I would sit pretty in chain shirt if I were you. So 40 ranks of armor. Also, 2x CMs if ya have spare points. Lastly, Either 3x dodge or 3x hiding. Excel where you can as a rogue.

You'll want a HCW brawler of some sort. I happen to be selling a 2x HCP sap. PM me if interested.

[TheEschaton]

And pick up Crowd Press (edited to add: And hunt something with a massive weapon). It's an awesome maneuver.

I believe there's a relatively well known (at least on the boards) rogue who has a TWC Brawling build which has turned out solid for him. Maybe you should find out who he is.

-TheE-

[Gnomad]

2x CM is hella expensive, but yeah, that's an obvious goal.

So my CM list is looking like:

SMaster
Crowd Press
Cutthroat
Surge
Wspec

In the guild, I want to do Cheapshots first and Stunman second. After that, probably Gambits and everything else.

How's that look?

Katars are out of the question because I'm not training OHE. Joining voln becaue with Brawling as my only weapon style, it would seem silly to not be a member. Plus I don't want to bother with any HP ranks.

I don't see how the build would be any different than a rogue ambushing with 2 daggers - I assume hook-knives and the like get the same "small weapon" ambush bonus. Is that incorrect?

I think I'm going to tank lockpick and disarm, until I get more points, and just concentrate on 3x hiding. Maybe push up dodging and/or CM also. My roommate has a rogue bordering on 40 who doubles picking, so I'm not going to need much anyway. Plus I'd feel bad taking boxes away from his LM reps.

What starting stats would be good for this guy, if he's a half-elf? I know about the cruncher website, but I never know what's a good mix of starting stats and growth.

[StrayRogue]

Heavy armor and dodge ASAP.

[Victorj]

I know of 1 pure TWC brawler in OTF, and he uses 2 sais (correct me if I'm wrong but I think sais get added DS like main gauches), knows 410 and wears chain (chain shirt or double chain I forget). I don't remember his training exactly, but he was also 2xed in CM. The problem you'll be having as a pure brawler is going up against stuff in plate. Brawling weapons are terrible vs plate. I'm a brawl/shield type, and I recommend going for speed as a brawler early. 2x blackjacks (for cheapshot bonuses), 2x sais (as sais are puncture only and will death crit the eyes more often than not even with crit randomization) will probably work. As for stats, they're extremely important at higher levels i(from my own experience, I die about 4 times a day in OTF cause I have terrible stats) and you'll want relatively high strength and con (for stamina purposes) and high dex/agi for rt reduction.

[Kenn]

I was concidering going brawling / ranged again with my ranger because I can't kill plate as a pure archer. Brawling gives you Voln Fu. Fu gives you one of the better ways to deal with redux / plate. Concidering you can 3x hiding / perception, 2x in CM you could do well. Double sais and hide. Use some kind of opener and aim for the eyes. Plate wearers, you can go for Fu.

[Victorj]

Yeah, you can Fu most stuff in plate (quite effective too), but in terms of pure brawling weapons, they're terrible against it. I don't know how this would work as a TWC user though, since usually you need at least 1 hand free to FU effectively, and I don't know if the game treats a bare right hand and weapon in left as TWC (if it doesn't the person might lose a ton of DS).

[Apathy]

If you only could/wanted to 1x in brawling how long could you Fu effectively?

[Stunseed]

My Cleric has singled in Brawl and is 37 and has Fu hunted.

[Victorj]

1x brawling for FU is effective up to a certain point (mainly rift and up). You and single brawl and FU up to wind wraiths/soul golems in Teras extremly effectively. I believe the only undead you'll be able to FU effectively after this are n'ecares on plane 3 (nasircs, seraceris have some insane 300+ MB, shrickhen are mid 200s (250-260) and I haven't tried to FU lich q'whatever yet but I have no reason to believe it's low). It is still doable, but you'll need a way to knock them down, bind them, web, etc for it to be effective. 1x FUing wizards are the best at this with ewave + haste.