Pyro Monk?

[Eptaceros]

Hey, so I designing a character based around a brawler/unarmed fighter with an elemental focus. I was thinking of doing the monk - martial artist archetype and maybe dip a few levels into (2 or 3) into pyrokineticist? Or the electric variant?

I really enjoy the "hand afire" feat for a permanent bonus 2d6 damage (seems like would go real nice on flurry of blows) as well as bolt of fire, plus the minor fluff that comes with those 3 levels as far as character design lol.

Right now, I'm designing a character that's level 7, chaotic neutral with 1500 available starting gold for a pirate-themed campaign.

As far as race goes, I was thinking Elan for the natural psionic ability to justify putting in pyrokineticist levels. That or Aasimar/planetouched in some sort of way.

And levels right now, thinking of starting 6 levels monk for the +4 BaB and 3 hits of flurry, then leveling pyro to 2-3 and going back to monk. Also, I'm considering doing the electric variant of kineticist too since I know fire has crazy resistances going against it.

[Gargs454]

You may want to consider adding Quinggong archetype as well. That will net you a couple of fire abilities as well if I am not mistaken (as well as the ability to cast barkskin on yourself).

Personally, I would consider maybe going Monk 4 then Brawler 2. It will net you an extra feat plus a bonus on to-hit. From there you can either take another Brawler level for a bonus to damage, or start on the pyrokineticist levels.

Either way, it sounds like a fun concept. Don't forget Elemental Fist (which is easy to get if you go with Dragon Style/Ferocity -- more bonus damage). With Elemental Fist you can add more fire damage to your attacks. The only question is whether the rest of your crew mates are going to appreciate you running around a ship and lighting things on fire, lol.

[link41020]

For race I'd recommend a fire aligned suli.

Suli's have an ability to surround their arms with elemental energies for extra damage with unarmed attacks or weapons. it lasts 1 round per character level.

On top of that the fire alternate racial trait allows you to shoot your arm flames up to 10 feet as well.

and then there is the monk alternate favored class bonus of +1/2 to elemental assault dmg.

To make things even better suli's get +2 str (in addition to +2 cha -2 int.)

[Eptaceros]

I looked up Suli, they seem interesting but I don't know. As far as elemental fist goes, I looked it up originally, and it seems to go against the character design (picking any element, while I could pick just one only, I don't think it was balanced with that in mind.) and I don't like that it's not essentially a free action.

I did keep in mind the actual 'pyro on a ship thing' which, when combating other ships seems like it would be a good strength to have lol.

[Eptaceros]

Well, I just talked to the DM who said he doesn't want any psionic business in it, so guess I'm going to have to find an alternative.

I was thinking the martial artist archetype because I envision a character that 1. Isn't lawful or necessarily good (he's a pirate lol) and 2. Doesn't really use any magic or mysticism besides a preferred element.

[Sir Thugsalot]

The Fire Monk.

[Reynard_the_fox]

You could also opt for a Barbarian with the Brawler and Elemental Rager lines of rage powers. Possibly splashing a level of Unarmed Fighter for Improved Unarmed Strike and Dragon Style as bonus feats. Or you could go for an Efreeti Style Monk of the Four Winds.

[lemeres]

With Qinggong monk, you get the ability to cast Scorching Ray as soon as you hit level 4. It costs 2 ki though.

Hungry Ghost monk seems like a nice archetype to also get since it allows you to get Ki with every kill and crit. There is a ki power, ki leech, that does the same thing, but I am fairly sure it takes a standard action to activate. Although...it costs 0 ki, so you could just say that you cast it repeatedly as you go. That would be a bit odd, but it could be nice characterization if you want to play some kind of psychotic character, itching for the next time he can take a life, feed on ki, and set the world ablaze. The hunger might serve as a nice compliment for a fire themed character.