Paladin / Monk multi-class. I know it seems odd but it fits the story

Since my paladin is normally magically plate encrusted it does seem odd that he is considering a level of Monk but he has rescued a monastery full of monks and they have converted to the worship of his god (Iomedae)and two monks travel with him pretty much continuously.

In a recent battle, he was pulled from his horse and grappled which left him sorely hurting.
He wants to further bond with his followers so at camp he tends to de-armor and spar/train with them and, due to his upbringing, he won't wear his plate in cities or pretty much anywhere indoors (except when on missions and adventuring of course)so the abilities would be beneficial then.

What do you all think? It's fluffy and characterful but I don't want to nerf the guy for it.

Depends on your build so far, but it can work really well.

Edit:Can you post your pally build?

Shining knight paladin level 4.

STR 18
Dex 10
Con 12
Int 13
Wis 14
Chr 15

Feats Weapon focus Long sword (Iomedae's weapon)
Shield focus
Mounted combat
Ride by attack

+1 Full plate and +1 Shield, MW Longsword with Continual flame cast on it.
Cloak of resistance +2.

A single level won't hurt, and it gives plenty of good benefits. I play it all the time.

With his low Dex it's the ONLY way he's going to get Improved Grapple so...
I think I might wait til after I get my bonded mount (since I'm invested in riding/mounted combat feats) and then take it at 6th.

If you're capable of taking 3.5 stuff, there's actually a paladin/monk combined class in Eberron, based around the silver flame. Don't remember what book it's in though...faiths of Eberron?

==Aelryinth

Its certainly not optimal, but it isn't going to make you go from amazing to 0 either. Optionally, just pick up improved unarmed strike. That can easily be used to represent you sparring with them. (Well that along with your good hit dice, base attack bonus, etc.) Really, it comes down to what do you think will be more fun for you?

if you do take the lvl of monk i suggest taking the sohei archetype from ultimate combat if you can. you give up stunning fist (which can only be used with an unarmed strike) for the ability to always act in the surprise round.

For the most part he will be the knight in shining armor but in a Kingmaker campaign, he very well might be on a throne where he wouldn't be wearing armor and this dip could be, if not life saving, at least beneficial. Assassins at night for instance...
I know rules wise he COULD be wearing a chain shirt at night but realistically, after a full day of wearing plate, he's happy to be in just his tabbard...

I think I'll go for it. Maybe work with the monks to build a order of bodyguards...

Realistically if this saves your life its not going to be the 2 points of AC from your wisdom, its going to be the saving throw bonus to all your saves.

Yeah there is that in there as well :) Chalk up another benefit...

This dip might let you qualify for some style feat. Some of which might benefit a paladin very much.

And you could take crusader's flurry, which can be nice depending on which way you play flurry. (one weapon flurry or not)

Crusader's flurry? Do tell?

NM found it. I'll only be dipping for one level so that feat won't really come into it's own do you think? I guess it's TWF, but only when unarmored...

Could that one level dip be in a monk Archetype like Maneuver Master tho? that removes the requirement to be unarmored... (hmm but since it uses MONK level instead of BAB to determine it's going to fall well behind...

I'd wait until Paths of Prestige (or whatever the book about new prestige classes is) comes out. It's purported to have a Prestige Class for Paladins of Irori (The god of, well... monks).

Crusader's flurry? Do tell?

Flurry of blows with your deity's chosen weapon.

One of my fellow party members in a game I'm playing in is a Paladin/Monk of Shelyn. Flurry with a glaive is pretty awesome (or rather, it will be when she gets access to it next level; she's currently a Paladin 4, having not taken her monk levels yet).

Any other good tips or suggestions?

And often times (I can't swear to this particular instance) when a class says use your class level on attack rolls it means to add your class level and base attack bonus from other classes. (Ie. a multiclassed synthesist.)

Dip a level of Fighter (Unarmed Fighter).

For your 5th level feat, take Crane Style.
For your bonus style feat for Fighter, take Crane Wing.

This only works if you have Dodge for a feat already which you don't, crap.

Why would you suggest the Crane style feats? For the most part he will be fully armored and wielding his goddess' holy weapon (Long sword) and a heavy shield.
I guess for those times he is unarmored and weaponless it'd be great, but it's not going to be super frequent.
But I'm curious why you'd recommend.

Why would you suggest the Crane style feats? For the most part he will be fully armored and wielding his goddess' holy weapon (Long sword) and a heavy shield.

I guess for those times he is unarmored and weaponless it'd be great, but it's not going to be super frequent.
But I'm curious why you'd recommend.

Because people hear "Monk" and think "Unarmed" without paying attention to what's actually be used.

...Or maybe not. I've seen it happen a lot, but it'd be unfair to assume by default that somebody is doing that.

Yeah my character will be a Paladin almost exclusively but encountered a big weakness (being grappled by multiple bad guys) AND he has NPC allies that are monks that he spends time with...

It seems fluffy and appropriate to have them teach him a few tricks. From further reading on PRD and suggestions from here, I think I'm on it.. maybe even before my mount. The GM is adding dungeon adventures to the King Maker path so my mount feats are not getting as much play :(

Two words: stunning kick.

Sohei Monk is a fantastic dip for a mounted Paladin due to ignoring the requirements for Mounted Skirmisher (You will want Boon Companion to not lose mount power though).

Actually, its a good dip for most things, but a amazing one for mounted combatants,

Yeah, a 1, or even 2 level dip in monk is NOT a bad way to go. Saves, stuns, IUS, bonus feat, SOME sort of cool flurry-esque ability...It's really got A LOT going for it. Personally, I find that if I'm going to dip monk at all, though, I'll usually dip for 2 levels, because of the bonus feat, +1 to all saves and evasion. That ability is just sexy.

Any other good tips or suggestions?

Dip two levels and you will get Evasion.

I would say the biggest bump you get from a Monkadin (primary monk with a few paladin levels), is the use of Smite Evil to bump up your AC (CHA bonus), Detect Evil at will, and Lay of Hands (1d6/CHA bonus per day). This can really help the monk at the early levels.

Since Paly's rely heavily on Charisma and Monks rely on Wisdom and Strength (and some Dex), you'll spread yourself thin ability point-wise with this combo; however, in an undead campaign, the addition of positive energy channeling at later levels (paly 4th) can really turn the tide in epic battles as well as some channeling feats (channel smite, turn undead, etc).

The biggest hit will be to your Ki Pool (Ki throw is awesome), some cool monk feats later on, and additional flurry of blows attacks (chucking a half-dozen magic/silver/cold iron shurikens each round for 14dmg each is sick). Additionally, the paly will give you a lot of useless abilities such as heavy armor, shield, and martial weapon proficiencies (useless for monks), immune to disease (monks get a higher levels), mercies (which duplicate a lot of monk abilities), bonded weapon or mount (by the time you get a bonded weapon, your fists will already be as good).

Overall, it's a fun, powerful build if you focus on the monk side...adding in a few levels of monk to a primary paladin is mostly for the role-play as you lose a lot more than you gain, IME.

No, you do want crane style. If your just dipping one level. Dip master of many styles and take Crane Style as your level 5 feat and crane wing as your monk bonus. Sell/trade your shield for a +1 buckler and you get all the goodness for only a -1 to AC but now you get a free deflect. That way if you decide on another level you can pick up the repost as well.

I'd wait until Paths of Prestige (or whatever the book about new prestige classes is) comes out. It's purported to have a Prestige Class for Paladins of Irori (The god of, well... monks).

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/c-d/champion-o f-irori

See if you can get your GM to allow you to stick with Iomedae instead of needing to switch your religion to Irori.

No, you do want crane style. If your just dipping one level. Dip master of many styles and take Crane Style as your level 5 feat and crane wing as your monk bonus. Sell/trade your shield for a +1 buckler and you get all the goodness for only a -1 to AC but now you get a free deflect. That way if you decide on another level you can pick up the repost as well.

Not to mention that a paladin using a heavy shield and sword can't actually use his Lay On Hands ability without sheathing his sword, even on himself...

To the last few posters... He's primarily a Paladin of Iomedae but had some bad grapple experiences so trained with his traveling companions.

I took a one level dip into Maneuver Master monk and will be picking up improved disarm (had to wait to get Combat Expertise first)on the next level. That should let him attempt a disarm once per round and offer clemency/mercy to prevent bloodshed.