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Hello!
I'm a relatively new player and GM, and was wondering what other classes my Free Hand Fighter could dip or multiclass into to compliment the abilities he will receive. I know that FHFs use Combat Maneuver checks often and couldn't decide what classes could augment his abilities. I've been thinking about a few levels of the Monk archetype: Maneuver Master, or possibly some levels in Rogue (possibly the Swashbuckler archetype) but I can't decide; maybe the is another option I've overlooked?
Two levels of Master of Many Styles monk would let you take Crane Style and Crane Wing as bonus feats. Fight defensively for a minor penalty and automatically deflect one melee attack per round.
Duelist works nicely with the free hand fighter, if you can qualify for it (hint: monk has the skill points).
I made one who multiclassed with magus since they need a free hand for spell combat. Probably not optimal but its fun
Free-hand fighter and the Duelist prestige class work very well together, as they both require you not to attack with a weapon in your off hand or carry a shield. (Ninjaed by Dabbler)
Rogue isn't a bad option for a few levels, because the FHF archetype gives you bonuses to feint, and feinting and sneak attack go together oh-so-beautifully. Plus gives you some useful class skills and a better Reflex save.
Maneuver master had never occurred to me but you're right, it could be very interesting because of flurry of maneuvers and the bonus feats (which don't require prerequisites). If you really wanted to focus on the maneuver aspects of it, it'd be a pretty good choice. If you wanted to focus more on damage maybe with a side of skill monkey I'd go with one or both of the first two.
The crane style is of course a great defensive boon. But taking snake style instead can really open up the offense. Master of many styles lets you skip the unnecessary middle feat, so you can go directly from Snake Style to Snake Fang.
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An Aldori Swordlord PrC at 6th level is a good choice for Free Hand Fighters who use Weapon Finesse. They immediately gain Aldori Sword Mastery which gives them a +2 deflection bonus. They also can add their DEX bonus to damage. I would suggest a second level of this class because you gain bonuses to Dazzling Display.
After doing this, you can take one or more levels of Duelist.
You should also take two more levels of Free Hand Fighter to gain a fighter bonus feat and another +1 to your deflection bonus.
The Aldori Swordlord PrC requires a lot of skill points – probably you need a human with an INT of at least 12. Another drawback is that the Aldori sword is an exotic weapon.
Thanks,
Kodger
Does monk work with free hand fighter? I just assumed it didn't because the universe hates monks and somebody will argue that you cant Wield a Unarmed Strike.
Does monk work with free hand fighter? I just assumed it didn't because the universe hates monks and somebody will argue that you cant Wield a Unarmed Strike.
No reason why it shouldn't -- the only issue is that if you wear armor, you will lose some abilities (evasion, Wis bonus to AC, and I think flurry--but there are some archetypes which replace flurry).
But you'd still get extra feats and skills and a saving throw boost.
Does monk work with free hand fighter? I just assumed it didn't because the universe hates monks and somebody will argue that you cant Wield a Unarmed Strike.No reason why it shouldn't -- the only issue is that if you wear armor, you will lose some abilities (evasion, Wis bonus to AC, and I think flurry--but there are some archetypes which replace flurry).
But you'd still get extra feats and skills and a saving throw boost.
Just wait...it will happen.
The crane style is of course a great defensive boon. But taking snake style instead can really open up the offense. Master of many styles lets you skip the unnecessary middle feat, so you can go directly from Snake Style to Snake Fang.
The problem here is you are making the attacks with unarmed strike, which means that they aren't brilliant.
Does monk work with free hand fighter? I just assumed it didn't because the universe hates monks and somebody will argue that you cant Wield a Unarmed Strike.
Nah, Master of many styles was designed for fighters to dip it and be better monks than monks. At least, that's how it feels, I'd never play one myself as a pure monk because they miss too many monk features and it takes too long to get the best out of all those style feats, but those features are the ones dippers don't care for anyway, so win-win...right?
Nah, Master of many styles was designed for fighters to dip it and be better monks than monks. At least, that's how it feels, I'd never play one myself as a pure monk because they miss too many monk features and it takes too long to get the best out of all those style feats, but those features are the ones dippers don't care for anyway, so win-win...right?
but they can't be better monks than monks, since they ARE monks now (just poking fun, dont mind me)
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Wow! I didn't expect such a fast and helpful response!
Also, should I get this guy a cestus to put on his off hand? Does he stay a one-handed fighter if he's using a sword and a cestus? I was hoping to expand my damage options. Also, will he still be getting a d6 damage for unarmed strikes when using it?
A cestus is a light weapon, it should be treated as such. I would also say, RAI, attacking with your free hand using TWF and improved unarmed strike also breaks the rules for the free hand fighter and the duelist.
But if you were a monk and then took TWF you could have one hand free then punch and kick to your hearts content.
An Aldori Swordlord PrC at 6th level is a good choice for Free Hand Fighters who use Weapon Finesse. They immediately gain Aldori Sword Mastery which gives them a +2 deflection bonus. They also can add their DEX bonus to damage. I would suggest a second level of this class because you gain bonuses to Dazzling Display.
After doing this, you can take one or more levels of Duelist.
You should also take two more levels of Free Hand Fighter to gain a fighter bonus feat and another +1 to your deflection bonus.
The Aldori Swordlord PrC requires a lot of skill points – probably you need a human with an INT of at least 12. Another drawback is that the Aldori sword is an exotic weapon.
Thanks,
Kodger
The Aldori Dueling Sword can be wielded as a Longsword, which only needs Martial Weapon Proficiency.
You could also take the Heirloom Weapon trait* to gain proficiency with an Aldori Dueling Sword without wasting a feat.
* = I mean the original one from the Adventurer's Armory book. After some pointless errata, the trait became completely worthless.
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A cestus is a light weapon, it should be treated as such. I would also say, RAI, attacking with your free hand using TWF and improved unarmed strike also breaks the rules for the free hand fighter and the duelist.
I gotcha. I'll have to stick to the longsword. The cestus entry says that I can carry things in the hand with the cestus, so coul I carry the longsword in a hand with a cestus and stay a FHF? Or should I drop this whole cestus idea?
Dip into monk (master of many styles) for two levels and get snake style and snake fang. Your regular unarmed strikes will do decent damage, and they can be a kick, leaving your hand free. With snake style, unarmed strikes are counted as piercing, and if you go into the Duelist PRC, you get a bonus to damage on those as well as a pokey sword.
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Just started a campaign with friends and my character is a monk which will dip some free hand fighter levels.
At the beginning I didn't pay attention what it says for free hand fighters, but when I did, I am not sure now whether I could be qualified for the free hand fighter class feature named something like elusive, which gives +1 dodge bonus.
Because, free hand fighter description tells something like their fighter skills can only work when they wield one handed melee weapon while the other hand is free.
As you can guess, my problem is with the statement of one handed melee weapon.. I know monk's fists can be considered as a manufactured weapon for the purposes of spell efects, but what about for this case? Can I achieve this +1 dodge bonus as a monk?