So am I understanding correctly that you have to declare a Style Strike before you make an attack roll, and if that attack misses then you "wasted" your style strike for that round.
of style strike. Whenever he makes a flurry of blows, he can
designate one of his unarmed strikes as a style strike. This
attack is resolved as normal, but it has an additional effect
depending on the type of strike chosen.
Style Strike (Ex): At 5th level, a monk can learn one type
of style strike. Whenever he makes a f lurry of blows, he can
designate one of his unarmed strikes as a style strike. This
attack is resolved as normal, but it has an additional effect
depending on the type of strike chosen. At 9th level, and
every 4 levels thereafter, a monk learns an additional style
strike. He must choose which style strike to apply before
the attack roll is made. At 15th level, he can designate up
to two of his unarmed strikes each round as a style strike,
and each one can be a different type. The monk can choose
from any of the following strikes.
Defensive Spin: The monk spins about, confounding his
foe. If the attack hits, the monk gains a +4 dodge bonus to
AC against any attacks made by the target of the style strike
until the start of his next turn. This bonus does not stack
with itself. The monk must attack with a fist to use this
style strike.
Elbow Smash: The monk follows up a punch with a strike
from his elbow. If the attack hits, the monk can make an
additional attack using the same attack bonus as the punch
at a –5 penalty. If this second attack hits, it deals damage
as normal, but all of the damage is nonlethal. The monk
must attack with a fist to use this style strike.
Flying Kick: The monk leaps through the air to strike a foe
with a kick. Before the attack, the monk can move a distance
equal to his fast movement bonus. This movement is made
as part of the monk’s f lurry of blows attack and does not
require an additional action. At the end of this movement,
the monk must make an attack against an adjacent foe.
This movement may be between attacks. This movement
provokes an attack of opportunity as normal. The attack
made after the movement must be a kick.
Foot Stomp: The monk stomps on a foe’s foot, preventing
the opponent from escaping. If the attack hits and the monk
ends his turn adjacent to that foe, the foe’s movement is
restricted. Until the start of the monk’s next turn, the
target of this attack can move only in such a way that the
space it occupies is adjacent to the monk. Alternatively, it
can attempt a combat maneuver check (against the monk’s
CMD) as a standard action to break free. This strike does
not work against foes that cannot be tripped. The monk
must attack with a kick to use this style strike.
Hammerblow: The monk links his hands together,
swinging both arms like a club and dealing tremendous
damage. If the attack hits, the monk rolls his unarmed
strike damage twice, adding both rolls together before
applying Strength and other modif iers to the damage.
This bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit. The
monk must attack with a fist to use this style strike, but
must have both hands free.
Well it looks like Flying Kick would still allow the movement since it happens before the attack.
All the other ones, yea looks like it gets wasted.
Man that's unfortunate. I feel that the Monk is the main(only?) class that has so many, "Use before making the attack" abilities. I dislike that because then if you roll poorly it's gone, while if a touch spell misses you just apply it on the next attack you make.
yeah, but to me it makes it a lot less consistent than I believed from the teaser talk.