Hello!
I have a question about how to calculate the attack bonus for a Monk's Flurry of Blows class feature. I've been trying to find an answer via Google, but I suspect my question is so basic and ignorant it's never been asked.
The Pathfinder Core Rulebook claims that for Flurry of Blows attacks, the base attack bonus is equal to the Monk's level. Yet the Monk table shows entirely different figures. I.e., the Flurry of Blows attack bonus for a 10th level Monk is not 10, but in fact 8. What am I missing here? I know how you gain extra attacks when your BAB increases, and I guess the Flurry of Blows attack bonus functions in a similar way (although it seems to add on new attacks a lot more frequently than regular BAB), but why is the first figure in the Flurry of Blows attack bonus column of the table not equal to the Monk level it's situated at, even though the rules seem to imply it should be? Furthermore, I'd like to know how I'd calculate the attack roll for an unarmed 10th level Monk using Flurry of Blows. My guess is the four attacks would have an attack bonus of +8/+8/+3/+3, plus the Monk's STR modifier since they are melee attacks. Is this correct, and in that case why does it say the attack bonus for Flurry of Blows is equal to Monk level?
When you Flurry, you take a -2 to all attacks that round.
The table for your flurry attack bonus includes the -2 penalty for using Two-Weapon Fighting, which flurry is based on.
So if you calculate it yourself, it's "BAB equal to level, -2 for TWF".
You're correct that flurry of blows adds the STR modifier, plus any other attack bonuses you may have.
There's no need to confuse him even more Krodjin.
Many thanks for the question and the answers. I bought Pathfinder two weeks ago as I want to start playing pen&paper with my kids (now that they're old enough) ... and the same question confused me. So ... no need to worry, it's badly worded in the rules?
You take your monk level as the attack bonus (plus strength bonus) and deduce 2 because you attack with both hands (legs ... whatever)?
The -2 is nowhere mentioned under "monk", though it says (lvl 1 monk): he is treates as if he was using the two weapon fighting talent ...
I read the rules about two weapon fighting: you normally have
-6 / -10 ... when using light weapons (which a monk does), you have
- 4 / - 8 ... and when you use two weapon fighting talent, you get
- 2 / - 2 ... so that would solve it, wouldn't it? As you apply your level to attack, a lvl 1 monk would have -1 / -1.I'm afraid I will have more questions (all those rules are a bit daunting as I stopped playing pen&paper about 25 years ago).
You have it exactly right.
Copying the FoB from the chart is fine as long as you do not multiclass. If you have, say, a 4th level monk/2nd level ranger, well, that way lies madness. :-)
As far as the rules go, several of the rules are much, much simpler in Pathfinder. Skills, multi-classing, grappling--all much improved.