Monks and Two-Weapon Defense?

[master arminas]

The monk, with his flurry of blows, effectively gets Two-Weapon Fighting, and then Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, and finally Greater Two-Weapon Fighting.

Would you make a player with a monk character actually spend a feat on Two-Weapon Fighting if he wanted to take Two-Weapon Defense?

Master Arminas

[Blue Star]

No. Flurry of blows makes you count as though using two-weapon fighting, even specifically mentioning it, so I don't see why you would have to actually pick it up to qualify for two-weapon defense.

[kingpin]

RAW I don't think you would count as having the feat as the text says you only make those attacks as if you had the TWF feat. You don't actually have it.

I don't think however it is particularly broken for a GM to allow it.

[Eridan]

RAW = No

PF SRD wrote:

TW Defense

Benefit: When wielding a double weapon or two weapons (not including natural weapons or unarmed strikes), you gain a +1 shield bonus to your AC.

Flurry != TWF

[Mergy]

I would instead point the player towards Snapping Turtle Style.

[master arminas]

Eridan wrote:

RAW = No

PF SRD wrote:

TW Defense

Benefit: When wielding a double weapon or two weapons (not including natural weapons or unarmed strikes), you gain a +1 shield bonus to your AC.

Flurry != TWF

Ah, you do realize that a monk can flurry with weapons right? He doesn't have to use an unarmed strike.

Master Arminas

[Raje]

Mergy wrote:

I would instead point the player towards Snapping Turtle Style.

This. Even more fun when playing a grappler, picking up the 2nd feat in the style chain.

[master arminas]

Snapping Turtle Style is nice, but my game is restricted to Core Rulebook only. No archetypes, no alchemist, cavalier, inquisitor, oracle, witch, ninja, samurai, or summoner, and none of the feats in UC, UM, or APG.

MA

[Kolokotroni]

By raw, no it doesn't work, you must actually have the prerequisite for two weapon defense, not just something that works in a similar way.

But I could see as a dm allowing this, though as I allow non-core material there are better ways to go about it. So ask your dm.

That said, if you are playing core only, I would recommend against the monk personally. If you are worried about your AC (presumably you are since you are asking about this feat) you are better off with just about any other class.

[Raje]

Yeah, no point in monk, other than for the flavour, with core only.

[Mergy]

Core only the fighter makes for a better unarmed fighter. Wear a breastplate (with loose robes to keep your image) and grab improved unarmed strike, weapon focus and power attack at first level. Comparable damage at first level and much better AC. You'll also become much better than the monk as you pick up weapon specialization and weapon training.