so I want to punch people

[FerrusAxel]

Guns are fun, don't get me wrong, it's really satisfying to fire a fancy gun at people...

But I wanna punch someone like they owe me money, Exactly what are my options in the form of weapons and skills? I'm looking into something that also does a bit of crowd control along with being tanky and in power armor

 

[Theron]

Unfortunately, most of the pseudo-unarmed weapons are higher level.
Mercenary + Cleave + Custom Shock Gear is probably ideal. Lunge lets you hit Flying targets, too.
Unfortunately, CSG is only available once you're Level 9 or so (Shizuya is Level 10). I find Light Savicite Maul & ~40 Physique is enough to beat her, if you spam Power Strike.
Electrokinetic Knuckles basically gives you Rapid Fire: Melee Edition.
Knuckles are available as a Custom Psi Weapon template. I've been toying around with the idea of maxing Defense, Hardlight Bracelets, Paragon Hazard Armor, Defense, Vampiric Knuckles (Custom Psi Weapon). You can get ~40 Defense*, then use Vampiric to heal up. Probably Hardlight Chakram in the Ranged slot for the extra Evasion. Behemoth Scale technically has the highest Defense of any armor, but I don't think the penalties are worth it.
*Highest Defense I've gotten on Vampiric Knuckles is 24. 24+15+8 = 47

Or you could go Kineticist with Telekinetic Warrior.