Thoughts on a Monk / Fighter build

[SuperOceanLad]

Hey All,

This is my first post here, and I'm looking for some opinions.

I'm playing a 4th level Dwarven Monk of the Sacred Mountain. He's got the best stats I've ever rolled in 20+ years of gaming and he rocks. STR 18 CON 20 DEX 14 WIS 16 INT 13 CHA 8. I know. Insane.

Anyway, I'm 4th level Monk of the Sacred Mountain and am contemplating multiclassing with 4 levels of Fighter/Brawler for the feats, the damage bonus for close in weapons, and weapon specializing. I figure those 4 levels will net me a +1 to hit unarmed (As I'll have to take weapon focus) and +5 damage.

Thoughts? Does it make sense to multiclass or just stick with monk straight through? I'm not sure how long we'll play, but I doubt we'll get to level 20. Honestly, the high level monk abilities don't do a lot for me, but am I missing something? With 4 levels of Brawler, unarmed strikes will be doing 2D6 with that +5 to damage (Not including str or magic) as opposed to 2D10 without it. Seems pretty close.

Suggestions? Anyone done this or something similar? Would you recommend switching to fighter for those 4 levels now or getting that 5th level of Sacred Mountain for the shield bonus?

Thanks!

[Jon Otaguro 428]

You will be delaying your extra attack with flurry as well. I believe dipping monk for fighter is good, dipping fighter for monk not good.

[blackbloodtroll]

If you do, go Unarmed Fighter. Be sure to pick up Monk's Robes as soon as you can.

[Umbranus]

Look at the monastic legacy feat. If you want to multiclass as monk that is your friend. So I'd not do it untill you have still mind.

[SuperOceanLad]

So BAB from other classes doesn't stack with Flurry?

[SuperOceanLad]

And thanks for checking in, folks!

[proftobe]

gotta agree with above a 2 level dip into monk is great for fighters nets them 4 feats, couple skill points, a lot of good class skill (perception I'm looking at you) + the equivalnt of 2 feats for saves(actually its better),a punch that does a d6 and lets you add wis to your AC if your DM is the type to attack your character while he's bathing, sleeping, taking a steam in a russian bath house etc etc. But the other way around its not so good. compared to an 8th level monk you get worse saves, worse unarmed damage, less ki, all for 2 bonus feats(You get a bonus monk feat at 6) and a handful of class abilities that aren't as good as the ones you get for just staying monk.

[Dabbler]

SuperOceanLad wrote:

So BAB from other classes doesn't stack with Flurry?

It stacks with the bonus to hit, but doesn't give you extra attacks.

[Brother Sapo]

Dabbler wrote:

SuperOceanLad wrote:

So BAB from other classes doesn't stack with Flurry?

It stacks with the bonus to hit, but doesn't give you extra attacks.

A fourth level monk gets 1 extra attack from FoB. I would think that a 4th level monk with 4 levels of fighter would have FoB bonus of +6/+6/+1. His "BAB equivalent" while using FoB would be enough to give him iterative attacks. The FoB would add one more. Would his FoB bonus be +6/+6/+1 or +6/+1 (only two attacks)?

*EDIT* Please understand, I am seeking clarification, not criticizing.

[Pendin Fust]

The monk class level is the BAB for monk's flurry plus any BAB from other class levels. You get an extra attack with your off-hand, as FoB is supposed to function like TWF. So +6/+6/+1. But I think it should be +7/+7/+1 as 4 levels of Monk = 3 BAB and 4 Levels Fighter = 4 BAB.

EDIT

Just re-read the FoB chart...yup +6/+6/+1

[Dabbler]

You would get one extra attack from flurry and one iterative, so +6/+6/+1 is correct. But you wouldn't get +6/+6/+1/+1 as an eighth level monk would.

[j b 200]

a Monk using FoB, counts his lvl for BAB. So a 4th level monk usually has a +3 BAB, but when using FoB his BAB is considered +4. On top of that FoB counts as TWF, which gives you a -2 to each attack, which results in a total of +2/+2 for a 4th level monk.

the 4 levels of Fighter is much easier, it's just a strait up +4 BAB.

For multiclassing, you add the BAB from each class together to get the total BAB. So, this character has a +7 BAB (+3 Monk/+4 Fighter). Since the BAB is greater than 6, this character would get an iterative attack at -5 or +7/+2. While using FoB, you get a net of -1 to hit in exchange for a on attack with the off-hand, resulting in a +6/+6/+1 full attack action.

[geekgumbo]

as far as fighter goes, Unarmed Fighter gets you a free style feat at 1st lv, and Brawler gives you +1 to hit +3 dam with unarmed at 3d lv. If you want to take Style feats seems to me go unarmed. the straight up +1/+3 is worth the 3 lvs of monk (trade off a die step for +1/+3? heck yaeh!) but i would not go any further than 4th fighter (Weapon spec). While dipping into fighter your Fort saves will get boosted (kind of overkill for a dwarf) and your will/ ref will not be as good. You'll also loose out of 3 lvs of Monk abilities (i'd recommend getting Ki pool ASAP- +4 AC or an extra attack, even for 1 round, can save the bacon)

[Brother Sapo]

j b 200 wrote:

a Monk using FoB, counts his lvl for BAB. So a 4th level monk usually has a +3 BAB, but when using FoB his BAB is considered +4. On top of that FoB counts as TWF, which gives you a -2 to each attack, which results in a total of +2/+2 for a 4th level monk.

the 4 levels of Fighter is much easier, it's just a strait up +4 BAB.

For multiclassing, you add the BAB from each class together to get the total BAB. So, this character has a +7 BAB (+3 Monk/+4 Fighter). Since the BAB is greater than 6, this character would get an iterative attack at -5 or +7/+2. While using FoB, you get a net of -1 to hit in exchange for a on attack with the off-hand, resulting in a +6/+6/+1 full attack action.

Not quite. The monk uses his monk level for BAB while using FoB, so his "BAB" is +4. He adds the +4 from 4 levels of fighter, which gets him to +8/+3 (with iterative attack). He adds another attack from FoB, at his highest bonus, and takes a -2 penalty on all attacks, so his net bonus while using FoB is +6/+6/+1.

His BAB while he is not using FoB is +7/+2 (3 from 4 levels of monk and 4 from 4 levels of fighter).