Would the Unchained Monk be a key class for a monster with a combat role?
I don't see why it would be different than the original monk, which isn't a key class for any monster role. Unless you think it's way more combaty you can have it set as that.
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IMO, deciding on what is a key class is more art than science, and should vary by the specific creature.
For example, anyone who makes a Succubus Antipaladin and doesn't count Antipaladin as a key class, RAW be damned, is doing it wrong.
So...like all other Classes, this should vary by specific creature. It's particularly worth noting that Monk is probably usually non-key due to its focus on unarmed attacks, which are incompatible with most monsters natural or spell-based offenses (and thus lack the synergy that makes a Class key...Feral Combat Training can help with that, but unless the monster has one big attack, not enough to make it key), and it doesn't sound like Unchained has effected that reliance much at all.
Still, either version is likely Key for, say, a Stone Giant or Ogre.
Say for instance I was making a Young Forest Dragon w/ Monk levels. What would you suggest?
Say for instance I was making a Young Forest Dragon w/ Monk levels. What would you suggest?
Just stick with the chained monk. You can add 10 levels for only a +5 to CR. Take the feral combat training feat for bite and unleash 7 bite attacks a round!
If you go unchained, well, it is closer to a combat class, but you lose a lot going that route, even if you assume it isn't keyed.
My suggestion? Stick with chained. If you have to go unchained, don't use monk, use rogue instead.
Say for instance I was making a Young Forest Dragon w/ Monk levels. What would you suggest?Just stick with the chained monk. You can add 10 levels for only a +5 to CR. Take the feral combat training feat for bite and unleash 7 bite attacks a round!
If you go unchained, well, it is closer to a combat class, but you lose a lot going that route, even if you assume it isn't keyed.
My suggestion? Stick with chained. If you have to go unchained, don't use monk, use rogue instead.
I used Unchained as a non-key class, ad the result is really pretty similar to what I'd got with the chained version, but I felt that the options fit a bit better. Rogue wouldn't work since their being monks is pretty important to the story.