barbarian monk build


Advice

Sczarni

I am GMing an encounter in a few weeks that has a barbarian monk as an NPC. It has intrigued me on possibly doing a pfs character as a barbarian/monk. But I have never played either class so I could use and would appreciate any help and info. I do not know the race yet.

Shadow Lodge

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I think this ought be in the Advice Forum.

Shadow Lodge

Monks MUST be lawful
Barbarians CAN NOT be lawful

So, unless there's an archetype that lets you get around that restriction on at least one of these classes, the only way to do this is to have an alignment shift as you level up, which would leave you unable to advance your original class.

Shadow Lodge

Well, Martial Artist lets you evade the Lawful requirement, or if you would prefer, you could just swap to nonlawful after taking all your monk levels.

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Martial Artist monk archetype can be any alignment.

Sczarni

There is a variant Aasimar Race Trait that allows you to be a non-lawful Monk.

Scarab Sages Contributor

Don't forget the Idyllkin aasimar race trait that lets monks be TN or NG!


Alternate to Monk might be the Brawler from the Advanced Class Guide playtest. Not only does it not have an alignment restriction, the Brawler can wear armor and not lose any class abilities.

-j

Sczarni

Do u know when that becomes an official book and no longer a playtest?


August, but the playtest is allowed for PFS play. You would have to buy the book and convert to the final released version when it comes out.

If you're considering Brawler, you might as well look at the hybrid Barbarian classes from that book as well.

-j


I would be partial to the martial artist archetype for the monk and savage barbarian archetype for the barbarian. Aim for 8th level monk and 3rd level barbarian by 11th level. In the first 6 levels, get 1 level of barbarian and 5 levels of monk to get the monk archetype ability "extreme endurance" to be able to rage cycle as soon as possible. Concentrate ability scores on STR and WIS. If you can play the human alternate race trait "dual talent" for +2 to another ability (at the cost of losing the extra feat and skilled trait). Start the following stat array:

STR 16 +2 = 18
DEX 14
CON 12
WIS 14 +2 = 16
INT 10
CHA 8
Put the +1 to ability score at 4th and 8th level into WIS.

With the martial artist archetype you will qualify for fighter feats based on monk levels when reaching 4th level monk. Although you lose ki pool, at 4th level you pick up exploit weakness, which is a good reason for keeping WIS high and having more monk levels than barbarian levels. If you want more rage rounds, pick up extra rage once or twice. You might even consider dipping a level or two into fighter rather getting 3 levels of barbarian.

Mix well and serve grilled with ham!

Sczarni

Thank you Pink Dragon. I will be picking up some racial Boons for GMing at a local convention next month in San antonio, tx. I do not know which races are included but I will look at that aspect of human as well.

Sczarni

Thanks to you all that have and/or add info

Lantern Lodge

Depending on how you wanted to split the class levels, you could also simply be an ex-monk. They lose absolutely nothing other being able to advance in the class further.


martial artist/barbarian is good cause at 5th level martial artists get immunity to fatigue.

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Ulfen Death Squad wrote:
I am GMing an encounter in a few weeks that has a barbarian monk as an NPC. It has intrigued me on possibly doing a pfs character as a barbarian/monk. But I have never played either class so I could use and would appreciate any help and info. I do not know the race yet.

Would you be GMing:

Spoiler:
Where Mammoths Dare Not Tread


you lose flurry cause of armor. i think its a poor combo.


666bender wrote:

you lose flurry cause of armor. i think its a poor combo.

Flurry isn't that big a deal, plus you can just use the Monk's wisdom bonus and take things like the natural armor and improved DR rage powers. I think mixing with monk would make a cool Urban Barb/Invulnerable Rager.


I think 2 Master of Many styles monk with the rest as barbarian with TWF feats is good. Getting full str on every attack. At least that is how most folks seem to read it. Also power attack ligth get full bonus since the monk unarmed attack dosent have a off hand. With dragon style and possibly snake style he can have both offense and defense. With beast totem he can have pounce and some natural armor only problem will be fittings in all the feats.


I'd allow a serene barbarian to be of lawful alignment, as it doesn't contradict the flavor of the archetype. Indeed, I've made such an NPC at one point. This is firmly in the realm of houserules, however.


Detect Magic wrote:
I'd allow a serene barbarian to be of lawful alignment, as it doesn't contradict the flavor of the archetype. Indeed, I've made such an NPC at one point. This is firmly in the realm of houserules, however.

I don't do alignment restrictions at all.


What do you want to keep from the monk? Flurry? Style feats? Rage-cycling with martial artist (I suggest against it though, too much investmnet)?

The best way to do it IMO is dipping two lvls of master of many styles-monk of the sacred mountain and then continuing with Savage barbarian. Use your monk bonus feats to take snake style and snake fang, and then procede with dragon style and dragon ferocity. The armor bonuses of monk and savage barbarian stack up nicely.

It could look like this:

Human Master of many styles monk of the sacred mountain monk 2 / (urban) savage barbarian 3

Traits: Adopted: Enlightened Warrior, Quain Martial Artist

STR 20 (17+2+1)
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 7
WIS 14
CHA 7

1 Barb Power Attack, Combat Reflexes (Human Bonus)
2 Monk Snake Style (bonus), Stunning Fist (bonus), IUS (bonus)
3 Monk Toughness (bonus), Snake Fang (bonus), Dragon Style
4 Barb RP: Superstition or Reckless Abandon
5 Barb Dragon Ferocity

Sczarni

Yes Jatori, I am.

Dark Archive

If you allow third party material in your games, DreamScarred Press's Maenad has a racial ability that lets you be lawful and still take barbarian levels.

Sczarni

Ulfen Death Squad wrote:
I am GMing an encounter in a few weeks that has a barbarian monk as an NPC. It has intrigued me on possibly doing a pfs character as a barbarian/monk. But I have never played either class so I could use and would appreciate any help and info. I do not know the race yet.

Barbarian/Monk is a great combination, though usually it only ends with a few levels in Monk to snag all of that perks out of them... since Monks are the most commonly dipped of the Martial classes. /sigh

Anyways, the only real contradiction between the two, is their Alignment restrictions. That's all you need to watch out for. I recommend taking all of your Monk levels first, then doing something awful or a series of awful things to thus alter your alignment to that of a variable Barbarian's; Then taking the rest of your levels in Barbarian. Most players, from what it seems on the forums, take levels in Martial Artist(Archetype) to help prevent Fatigue from raging and/or Master of Many Styles(Archetype) for the many Styles they get so quickly.

"Ex-Barbarians
A barbarian who becomes lawful loses the ability to rage and cannot gain more levels as a barbarian. She retains all other benefits of the class.
"

"Ex-Monks
A monk who becomes nonlawful cannot gain new levels as a monk but retains all monk abilities.
"

Liberty's Edge

Kazumetsa Raijin wrote:
I recommend taking all of your Monk levels first, then doing something awful or a series of awful things to thus alter your alignment to that of a variable Barbarian's;

Uh...'doing awful things' makes your Alignment Evil, not Chaotic.

Also, the Martial Artist lacks this problem.

Sczarni

Deadmanwalking wrote:
Kazumetsa Raijin wrote:
I recommend taking all of your Monk levels first, then doing something awful or a series of awful things to thus alter your alignment to that of a variable Barbarian's;

Uh...'doing awful things' makes your Alignment Evil, not Chaotic.

Also, the Martial Artist lacks this problem.

Oh. That's right. I forget the Martial Artist can be of any alignment. Good call.


You could switch out Monk for Brawler or Barb for Bloodrager from the ACG, as neither have alignment restrictions.

Sczarni

I probabble shouls have mentioned that this will be for PFS play in my original statement. But I do appreciate all the helpgul ideas in building the combo.

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