Well, the only thing I can see is that Divine Bond only works on one weapon, so he'd have to pick which fist he has the bond on.
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Unarmed Strike is a single weapon, regardless of which body part you use to deliver it, so that is factually incorrect. (This is why the Amulet of Mighty Fists is criminally overpriced for monks.)
In any event, I can't think of any reason that I would deny the Paladin the ability to call the Divine Bond down on his unarmed strike. In fact, I'm fair positive he already can.
by the RAW as I read it you pc looks good too go
I have a PC considering a sort of Fist of God character. As he just put it, "His punches are good because of God, not necessarily because he is a skilled puncher." That's making us lean towards a straight Paladin rather than a Monk or Monk/Paladin.
My question is: does anyone see any HUGE issues with allowing Divine Bond to apply to his fists? My game is usually not the most focused on balance, by virtue of our friend group everyone has a good time regardless of whether or not they're well-optimized, so as long as there aren't GLARING problems with it, it'll fly in my game. Thanks for any input.
Actually, there is a difference between a character - such as your paladin - that takes the improved unarmed strike feat, and a monk's unarmed strike: The latter makes attacks with his whole body and it is considered a manufactured weapon for the purpose of enhancing it, so you can use divine bond on it. If you just take the improved unarmed strike feat, you cannot enhance it by RAW since it does not count as a manufactured weapon...
Personally, I don't see issues allowing it, though :-)
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Try this archetype^^
Try this archetype^^
Interesting :-)
I think it's too powerful though. Unless I overlooked something vital, the monk basically looses the bonus feats to gain smite evil plus the code of conduct. That's really strong.
Actually, in the Multiclass Archetypes thread we're redoing some of them for a better balance. You could give your opinion if you like.^^
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I actually made my own Paladin fist-fighter archytype some time ago for a PC, here it is if you want
Hand of Faith (paladin archetype)
Class Skills: A Holy Fist adds Acrobatics and Perception to his list of class skills. This replaces Ride
Serenity: The need for Charisma to check and allow for all paladin abilities, such as spells and the ability to channel, are instead replaced with the use of Wisdom.
Divine Quickening: Rather than receive spells from their patron deity, they are instead blessed with powers that augment their physical prowess. Starting at fourth level the Holy Fist Can gains powers from the Ki-Powers list that Qinggong Monks (from Ultimate Magic rule book) draw from.
In Addition the Holy Fist gains a minor pool of Ki specifically for such powers, meaning that this Ki Pool does not stack with any the Holy fist previously had or eventually gains. The number of Ki points given is equal to half his Holy Fist level–2 plus their Wisdom modifier. This class feature replaces the Holy Fist’s ability to cast spells.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Holy Fists are proficient in all simple weapons, 5 martial weapons, and one extra Monk weapon. Weapon and they also start off with the Improved Unarmed Strike feat if they don’t meet the prerequisites. Holy Fists are also proficient in Light and Medium Armor any shields except for Heavy shields and Tower Shields. This replaces normal weapon and armor proficiencies
Unarmed Strike: A Holy Fist's unarmed strike increases in damage same as a Monk, except that it stops increasing when it reaches 2d6
Divine Stance: at 3rd level and every 3 levels after a Holy fist may qualify for and take Combat Stance feat, ignoring all prerequisites other than the needing previous stance feats within the Stance's progression except for the Stunning Fist and Elemental Fist feats, though they too can be gained without prerequisites as with any other style feat. If they do not wish to take a stance feat they may instead take bonus Fighter feat. This ability replaces Aura of Courage.
Divine Bond: A Holy Fist makes a personal bond with the divine spirits of the Good-Aligned plains, who fortify his body with their holy might. This functions like a normal Paladin's spirit bond, however the + bonus applies only to non-natural weapon and any other weapons that aren't his unarmed strike. However if he enhances his unarmed strike it instead allows him to ignore that much of his opponents Armor bonus to AC as well as that much of any DR the opponent might have. This stacks with any other affect he has that allows him to overcome DR. This is replaces a normal Paladin's divine bond.
If you just take the improved unarmed strike feat, you cannot enhance it by RAW since it does not count as a manufactured weapon...
This is untrue, a Paladin's divine bond doesn't have any specification on whether the weapon should be natural or manufactured, so it works just as well for an unarmed strike or horn as it does for a Greatsword or Rapier.
So....can he use Smite Evil on both fists? Or just one?
Also, how would fist work with Divine Bond? Both fists get the enhancement, or just one, or none?
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Another vote here for Divine Bond applying to Unarmed Strike as a single abstracted weapon. It's how the unarmed strike mechanics are set up, honestly. And it avoids limiting such characters to doing nothing but "punch-punch-punch" or "kick-kick-kick" with the same limb, so their flavor isn't restricted to something goofy(or to playing Chun-li as controlled by someone that can only hit the "kick" button repeatedly).
I know you said "preferably paladin levels rather than monk", but the Champion of Irori prestige class in Paths of Prestige is well worth a look for anyone playing a paladin/monk hybrid character.
Ditto that vote. It would make a monk/paladin actually effective.