I'm trying to build a Lv 6 monk and I just don't understand how the Attack Bonus is calculated for Flurry of Blows.
The chart on pg 58 lists the FoB attack bonus as: +4, +4, -1.
Which seems self explanatory, but then the rulebook states:
"For the purpose of these attacks, the monk’s base attack bonus is equal to his monk level."
So, if the monk is level 6 and his BAB = his level, then wouldn't his BAB for Flurry of Blows = +6?
Why does the chart list Flurry of Blows as +4, +4, -1 and not +6, +6, +1?
And where does the -1 come from?
The book also mentions "Improved two weapon fighting" which just confuses me further.
How does ITWF fit into it?
Can somebody explain how a Lv 6 monk with STR 14 would calculate the Attack bonus for Flurry of Blows?
Would the "Weapon Focus" and "Weapon Finesse" feats further increase the Attack Bonus for Flurry of Blows?
I'm kind of slow, so I apologize ahead of time if these are dumb questions.
So, if the monk is level 6 and his BAB = his level, then wouldn't his BAB for Flurry of Blows = +6?
Why does the chart list Flurry of Blows as +4, +4, -1 and not +6, +6, +1?
The first two flurry attacks are reduced by -2 as if the monk had the Two-Weapon Fighting feat. So, the +6 BAB is reduced to +4.
And where does the -1 come from?
That comes from the standard -5 penalty for making an iterative attack. +4 - 5 = -1
You get this third attack at 6th level because the BAB for the flurry of blows is calculated to be equal to your monk level. When your BABis +6 or greater, you get extra attacks.
The book also mentions "Improved two weapon fighting" which just confuses me further.
How does ITWF fit into it?
A monk's flurry of blows is basically unarmed Two-Weapon Fighting. At 8th level, the monk gains the benefits of the Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat when using his flurry of blows.
Can somebody explain how a Lv 6 monk with STR 14 would calculate the Attack bonus for Flurry of Blows?
+4/+4/-1 for flurry of blows, +2 Strength bonus, so +6/+6/+1
Would the "Weapon Focus" and "Weapon Finesse" feats further increase the Attack Bonus for Flurry of Blows?
Yes. A monk's unarmed attacks are treated as if he was armed.
A monk's unarmed strike is treated as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.
I'm trying to build a Lv 6 monk and I just don't understand how the Attack Bonus is calculated for Flurry of Blows.
The chart on pg 58 lists the FoB attack bonus as: +4, +4, -1.
Which seems self explanatory, but then the rulebook states:
"For the purpose of these attacks, the monk’s base attack bonus is equal to his monk level."So, if the monk is level 6 and his BAB = his level, then wouldn't his BAB for Flurry of Blows = +6?
Why does the chart list Flurry of Blows as +4, +4, -1 and not +6, +6, +1?And where does the -1 come from?
The book also mentions "Improved two weapon fighting" which just confuses me further.
How does ITWF fit into it?Can somebody explain how a Lv 6 monk with STR 14 would calculate the Attack bonus for Flurry of Blows?
Would the "Weapon Focus" and "Weapon Finesse" feats further increase the Attack Bonus for Flurry of Blows?
I'm kind of slow, so I apologize ahead of time if these are dumb questions.
Nope. Not dumb questions, there's a lot going on with the monk.
Treat a flurrying monk's BAB as if he were a fighter of equal level using the two weapon fighting feat.
6th level fighter attacks = +6/+1
6th level fighter with two weapons = +4/+4/-1
All other bonus are then added on as normal.
At higher levels the Monk is "considered" to have ITWF when flurrying, which explains the increase in attacks.
Does that explain it?
*EDIT* Ninja'd.
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There's a couple of factors in play with flurry of blows.
1) Flurry of blows allows the monk to make an extra unarmed attack as though he had Two-Weapon Fighting. Because unarmed attacks are light weapons, a monk using flurry of blows takes a -2 on all attacks.
2) The monk's base attack bonus when he uses flurry is equal to his monk level. At 6th level this is +6/+6/+1.
3) Add 1&2 together, and there you go. With Str 14 a 6th level monk's flurry of blows would be +6/+6/+1. You can indeed modify an unarmed strike with Weapon Focus and Weapon Finesse.
EDIT: ninja'dd
Ah! This is making sense!
The two-weapon penalties were throwing me off. I forgot that an unarmed strike was considered a light weapon, so I was calculating the penalty as -4 instead of -2.
Just to clarify: the Monk's BAB is only equal to his level when using Flurry of Blows? This does not apply to standard unarmed attacks?
In the stat block below, why is the damage for Flurry of Blows listed as 2d6? At lv 8, a monk's Unarmed Strike damage should be 1d10.
Male human monk 8
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +3
DEFENSE
AC 23, touch 21, flat-footed 19 (+2 armor, +1 deflection, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +3 monk, +3 Wis)
hp 63 (8d8+24)
Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +9; +2 against enchantment
Defensive Abilties evasion, slow fall 40 ft.; Immune disease
OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft.
Melee flurry of blows +9/+9/+4/+4 (2d6+2 plus 1d6 fire) or mwk shortsword +9/+4 (1d6+2/19–20)
Ranged shuriken +9/+4 (1d2+2)
Special Attacks stunning fist (8/day, stun, fatigue, or sicken, DC 17)
STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8
Base Atk +6; CMB +10; CMD 29
Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Extra Ki, Greater Disarm, Improved Disarm, Improved Unarmed Strike, Scorpion Style, Stand Still, Stunning Fist, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike)
Skills Acrobatics +14 (+30 jump), Climb +13, Sense Motive +14, Stealth +14, Swim +13
Languages Common
SQ fast movement, high jump, ki pool (9 points), maneuver training, purity of body, still mind, wholeness of body
Combat Gear oil of greater magic fang (+3), potion of cure serious wounds (2); Other Gear mwk shortsword, shuriken (20), ring of protection +1, light fortification bracers of armor +2, flaming amulet of mighty fists, headband of inspiring wisdom +2, monk's robe
In the stat block below, why is the damage for Flurry of Blows listed as 2d6? At lv 8, a monk's Unarmed Strike damage should be 1d10.
That's an effect of the monk's robe :
If the wearer has levels in monk, her AC and unarmed damage is treated as a monk of five levels higher.
Dang, I'm impressed! You guys are very knowledgeable!
I really appreciate your feedback.
You did a great job answering my questions - very simple and easy to understand.
I feel much more confident now.
You guys really are a bunch of ninjas.
Thanks! :)
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Just to clarify: the Monk's BAB is only equal to his level when using Flurry of Blows? This does not apply to standard unarmed attacks?
This is correct. The only time you use your monk level as your BAB is when using Flurry. This includes any combat maneuvers you might mix into a flurry as well, i.e. a trip or disarm attempt.
Any other time you use the standard BAB. So obviously, when making a full round attack, it is a no brainer for the monk to flurry, as you will get more attacks and at a higher chance to hit.
Just to clarify: the Monk's BAB is only equal to his level when using Flurry of Blows? This does not apply to standard unarmed attacks?
This is correct. The only time you use your monk level as your BAB is when using Flurry. This includes any combat maneuvers you might mix into a flurry as well, i.e. a trip or disarm attempt.
Any other time you use the standard BAB. So obviously, when making a full round attack, it is a no brainer for the monk to flurry, as you will get more attacks and at a higher chance to hit.
Yay! I got it right!
Ok, another question:
If the monk takes any of the Two-Weapon Fighting feats, would this further affect his Flurry of Blows attack bonus?
I'd guess no, since FoB is already treated as if he had the TWF feat.
Although his FoB is treated as if he had TWF, this does NOT qualify him for feats such as Two-Weapon Defense, right? I assume he would actually have to take the TWF feat in order to qualify for TWD?
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Yay! I got it right!Ok, another question:
If the monk takes any of the Two-Weapon Fighting feats, would this further affect his Flurry of Blows attack bonus?
I'd guess no, since FoB is already treated as if he had the TWF feat.Although his FoB is treated as if he had TWF, this does NOT qualify him for feats such as Two-Weapon Defense, right? I assume he would actually have to take the TWF feat in order to qualify for TWD?
The way I see it, the monk could take the TWF feats, but it would have no effect really, as he already flurries as if he had the feats. I guess it would allow the monk to make normal TWF actions as a full round action instead of a flurry, but it would be at the 3/4 BAB progression and not monk level like flurry, so it would be inferior in every way to flurry.
The only reason I could see would be to qualify for TWD maybe, but thats a lot of wasted feats you have to spend to get that IMO. And yes, the monk ACTS like he has these feats when flurrying, he doesnt actually get them as bonus feats, so you cannot automatically qualify for TWD.
The way I see it, the monk could take the TWF feats, but it would have no effect really, as he already flurries as if he had the feats. I guess it would allow the monk to make normal TWF actions as a full round action instead of a flurry, but it would be at the 3/4 BAB progression and not monk level like flurry, so it would be inferior in every way to flurry.The only reason I could see would be to qualify for TWD maybe, but thats a lot of wasted feats you have to spend to get that IMO. And yes, the monk ACTS like he has these feats when flurrying, he doesnt actually get them as bonus feats, so you cannot automatically qualify for TWD.
Gotcha.
Any other time you use the standard BAB. So obviously, when making a full round attack, it is a no brainer for the monk to flurry, as you will get more attacks and at a higher chance to hit.
Well, from 5th level onwards it's a no-brainer. Before that it's a slight-brainer since you get an extra attack but both at a -1. I think the math bears out that it's a better average result to take the flurry, but there's still a little thought that has to go into it. :)
EDIT: Of course, I now notice that the very first line of the thread states that it's for a 6th level Monk. So, yeah, no-brainer. :)