Is this build still viable?

[ASharkInAPanzerNamedShark]

I was looking for a novelty build. Something that combined wacky kung-fu action and being really, really, REALLY angry. I found this:

Savage Kickpuncher

My question is, since this build is two years old- is it still viable? Has anything errata'd it into being useless?

[DethBySquirl]

At a glance, there's nothing in that build that's been hit with a nerfbat or anything (to my knowledge, at least).

However, a Brawler might work better than a Monk for such a concept, and being able to wear armor means you could A) get Brawling armor and B) pick a better Barbarian archetype than the rather unimpressive Savage Barbarian.

[Chess Pwn]

brawling armor is quite expensive though, not sure if you really want to focus on it being an option.

[Gisher]

Chess Pwn wrote:

brawling armor is quite expensive though, not sure if you really want to focus on it being an option.

Yeah. Going from a cost of +1 to +3 really changes how I view it.

[Dracoknight]

Gisher wrote:

Chess Pwn wrote:

brawling armor is quite expensive though, not sure if you really want to focus on it being an option.

Yeah. Going from a cost of +1 to +3 really changes how I view it.

From shiny to a shiny turd by only the utterance of a mere number, honestly not worth the +3 cost at all.

[Menacing Shade of mauve]

Eh. At 15,000 (the cheapest valuation of Brawling), it's cheaper than upgrading your AoMF from +1 to +3 (28,000). Assuming you maximum armor enchantment and value Brawling at 51,000 on the margin, the absolute maximum cost of brawling, , it's still cheaper than upgrading your AoMF from +3 to +5 (68,000).

[Bob Bob Bob]

"novelty" "viable", you only get one. Well, occasionally they meet at the intersection of "one-trick pony".

I don't think any moving parts have changed, so if you thought it was viable before it still is now.

Personally, I think it's awful. 7 Int, trading out skilled, and a required skill means you have 5 skill points you can freely spend at level 5. 5 total. At level 10 it's only 15. 13 Con and six levels of a d8 class on a front line fighter, ouch. Giving up DR on a build they admit has only middling AC. 5 rounds of rage total until level 8. They only get 3 NA from the barbarian (and 2 dodge), Beast Totem would give them 4 NA by itself.

I don't see what it's doing that you couldn't have done (even at the time) with just a regular barbarian grabbing the same feats and pounce-fisting their opponents to death. More attacks is way better than upgrading the damage dice from a d3 to a d8.

[Alex Mack]

You can do this better nowadays with Savage Savage Technologist Barbarian and by being adopted by an Aasimar.

Combine with any Monk Archetype that suits your fancy.

Alternatively the Bloody Knuckled Rowdy might be just what you want.

[Derklord]

Menacing Shade of mauve wrote:

Eh. At 15,000 (the cheapest valuation of Brawling), it's cheaper than upgrading your AoMF from +1 to +3 (28,000).

That may be, but it's no longer a selling point of armor. Also, it being necessarily light armor hurts more with the -2 AC for the same price.

On the original topic, if Bloody Knuckled Rowdy is not martial art-sy enough for you, Unchained Monk+Bloodrager or Unchained Monk+VMC Barbarian would work and provide better numbers.