I'm thinking about taking a dip into monk. The monk stunning fist gets special abilities based on level, but it's not clear if it's monk level or overall level. See spoiler for exact wording. Since stunning fist is a feat that anyone can take It appears as though the special stuff is bases on overall level. Thoughts?
The monk stunning fist gets special abilities based on level, but it's not clear if it's monk level or overall level.
Unless otherwise specified, class abilities are based on class levels.
Multiclassing: Note that there are a number of effects and prerequisites that rely on a character's level or Hit Dice. Such effects are always based on the total number of levels or Hit Dice a character possesses, not just those from one class. The exception to this is class abilities, most of which are based on the total number of class levels that a character possesses of that particular class.
For Stunning Fist:
The Fort save is based on Character level.
A non-monk can SF 1/day per 4 levels, but a monk gets times per day equal to monk level plus 1 more for every 4 non-monk levels.
For the Monk class ability Stunning Fist (Ex) the new conditions you can apply are based on monk levels.
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All class features are based on class level unless they are specifically based on character level.
The additional stunning fist options are a feature of the monk, not of the feat.
A one level dip into monk only grants you the stunning fist feat, usable once per day + once for every four non monk levels the character has.
Note that there are a number of effects and prerequisites that rely on a character's level or Hit Dice. Such effects are always based on the total number of levels or Hit Dice a character possesses, not just those from one class. The exception to this is class abilities, most of which are based on the total number of class levels that a character possesses of that particular class.
Stunning Fist (Combat)
You know just where to strike to temporarily stun a foe.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Wis 13, Improved Unarmed Strike, base attack bonus +8
Benefit: You must declare that you are using this feat before you make your attack roll (thus, a failed attack roll ruins the attempt). Stunning Fist forces a foe damaged by your unarmed attack to make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 your character level + your Wis modifier), in addition to dealing damage normally. A defender who fails this saving throw is stunned for 1 round (until just before your next turn). A stunned character can't take actions, loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, and takes a -2 penalty to AC. You may attempt a stunning attack once per day for every four levels you have attained (but see Special), and no more than once per round. Constructs, oozes, plants, undead, incorporeal creatures, and creatures immune to critical hits cannot be stunned.
Special: A monk may select Stunning First as a bonus feat at 1st level, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. A monk who selects this feat may attempt a stunning attack a number of times per day equal to his monk level, plus one more time per day for every four levels he has in classes other than monk.
Stunning Fist (Ex): At 1st level, the monk gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. At 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the monk gains the ability to apply a new condition to the target of his Stunning Fist. This condition replaces stunning the target for 1 round, and a successful saving throw still negates the effect. At 4th level, he can choose to make the target fatigued. At 8th level, he can make the target sickened for 1 minute. At 12th level, he can make the target staggered for 1d6+1 rounds. At 16th level, he can permanently blind or deafen the target. At 20th level, he can paralyze the target for 1d6+1 rounds. The monk must choose which condition will apply before the attack roll is made. These effects do not stack with themselves (a creature sickened by Stunning Fist cannot become nauseated if hit by Stunning Fist again), but additional hits do increase the duration.
The changes to Stunning Fist are a monk class feature so they're only affected by monk levels as follows the quote from page 31 above. You can't dip into monk to gain the ability to apply alternate effects to the Stunning First, you'd actually need 4/8/12/16/20 levels of monk for the relevant alternate Stunning Fist effects.
Edit: And I'm late to the party. That's what I get for using the book instead of the PRD.
Also, as a sidenote, the feat says a monk may select Stunning Fist as a bonus feat at first level but the class actually lists it as a freebie bonus feat. That's probably been errata'd by now but I did notice that.
Thanks everyone. I appreciate it.
Technically with the wording of the Stunning Fist feat, it's usable once per day, +1 per monk level and +1 for every 4 other levels. So, taking Monk gives them slightly more use over it, as well as getting the feat for free.
Edit: If you're familiar with the game and really want to help the guy out, as long as houserules are allowed.. it would technically be possible to make a magical item similar to a Monks Robe that unlocks up to 5 levels further into the Stunning Fist action.. so I'd rule that for a 13,000gp magic item, he can opt to have his Stunning Fist fatigue the target instead.. if he were to take Monk to 3 I'd allow him to use the Stunning Fist to sicken for a minute.. etc. Depends how much he really wants that functionality.
Sorry for the necro-post, but what about the Stunning Fist DC? Is that still linked with your Monk's LV or as the feat says, your Character LV?
Character level.