I noticed that even though the monk is designed around punching people, he seems to be biased toward hitting as often as he can instead of landing solid, powerful blows. Therefore, I present the following Monk archetype:
Falcon Warrior (tentative name)
Furious Blow (Ex)
Starting at 1st level, a falcon warrior can make a flurious blow as a standard action. When doing so he may roll his unarmed strike damage dice for the attack twice and add the results together before adding bonuses from Strength, and other damage bonuses, as if using the Vital Strike feat (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat). These extra weapon damage dice are not multiplied on a critical hit, but are added to the total. For the purpose of these attacks, the monk's base attack bonus is equal to his monk level. For all other purposes, such as qualifying for a feat or a prestige class, the monk uses his normal base attack bonus.
At 8th level, the falcon warrior can roll damage dice three times when he uses furious blow, as if using Improved Vital Strike (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).
At 15th level, the falcon warrior can roll damage dice four times using furious blow, as if using Greater Vital Strike (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).
A falcon warrior applies his full Strength bonus to his damage rolls for a successful attack made with furious blow. A monk cannot use any weapon other than an unarmed strike as part of a furious blow. A monk with natural weapons cannot use such weapons as part of a furious blow.
This ability replaces flurry of blows.
Perfect Strike (Ex)
At 1st level, a falcon warrior gains Perfect Strike as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. A falcon warrior can use Perfect Strike with his unarmed strike. At 10th level, the monk can roll his attack roll three times and take the highest result. If one of these rolls is a critical threat, the monk must choose one of his other two rolls to use as his confirmation roll.
This ability replaces stunning fist.
Wind-Up Punch (Ex)
At 12th level, as a full-round action, a falcon warrior can make a furious blow, doing damage as if he was a monk one size category larger.
This ability replaces abundant step.
Shaking Fist(Ex)
At 15th level, a falcon warrior can use furious blow whenever he makes a single attack in a round (for example, with the Scorpion Style feat and other feats that make a single attack as a standard or full-round action). This doesn't let the monk stack furious blow with the Vital Strike, Improved Vital Strike, or Greater Vital Strike feats. When used with the Medusa's Wrath feat, only the first strike is a furious blow.
This ability replaces quivering palm.
What do you guys think?
I don't think doing that damage as a trade for options is a positive trade for the monk. I like thing that dropping flurry of blows, but allowing the monk to do 1.5 strength bonus is a better option. I have yet to crunch the numbers of course though.
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Falcon Warrior Has someone been playing Smash Bros.?
Furious Blow (Ex) Dropping all your extra attacks for more damage. Adding in a free feat at first level that can't normally be taken until 6th level. Then it just keeps getting bigger. I actually like this but think you are getting it too early in the game and losing out in the long run.
Flurry of blows reduces hit chance to get more attempts to add damage. You are just adding more damage with no penalty. At higher levels the flurry of blows will outdamage furious blow.
Perfect Strike (Ex) Overpowered, giving a high level feat at first. Then rolling 3 rolls per attack. Combined with furious blow, you will easily outdamage a low level monk.
Wind-Up Punch (Ex) Lil overstrength. More damage to replace a movement ability.
Shaking Fist(Ex) Not bad, doesn't seem as powerful as quivering palm.
Vital Strike feat chain = falcon punch.
I like the concept of replacing the 2-weapon chain with the vital strike chain. It errs on the side of less powerful, which is the pf way to go with alternatives. Giving up multiple attacks for an extra damage die is not more powerful, even at 1st level, so I see no prob in getting VP early.
Perfect strike is designed as an alt to stunning fist, so that's great, although less powerful since they're giving up the monk alternate abilities. I don't see the need to restrict it to unarmed, monk weapons should be fine.
I don't like giving up abundant step, and especially not for a combat ability.
Shaking palm seems clumsy. Instead, you could bring back the monk stunning fist options whenever perfect strike is used, or for a ki point whenever furious blow is used.
I'm not seeing a reason to not just be a regular monk and take the Vital Strike feat chain. It would give you the option to do both then.
I like the concept of the harder hitting monk vs. the fast hitting monk but I don't think this is the way to do it. I'd like to see the harder hitting monk to still be able to take advantage of feats that will make him even harder hitting.
I like what wraithstrike suggested (1.5x str damage) in exchange for the flurry but it doesn't scale well with level. Scaling it to x2, x2.5, x3 would get out of hand.
What about a mechanic similar to the AC bonus? In exchange for Flurry of Blows, you add your Wisdom (or maybe Dex or Cha) bonus to damage. You get an additional +1 damage at 4th level and every 4 levels after.