Druid Monk Multiclass (Way of the angry Bear / Fist of the Forest)

[Darkholme]

So, I recently came across this guide
Way of the angry Bear / Fist of the Forest
Which seems to be an unusual build I hadn't seen before.

Deliberately giving up spell levels for some kind of supposedly beastly martial monk-druid multiclass.

I've seen the "dip monk for WIS to AC"; but this seems to be something else.

Has anybody seen an example build of this concept? I'd like to see what it looks like, and the guide isn't really clear on how many levels of each they're suggesting, but it seems pretty clearly more than 1 or 2 levels of monk being suggested.

[James Risner]

I've build a "24/7 wild shape" druid that used Wis 7, Monk levels, and Ranger levels (for Improved Natural Attack) and the Arsinotherium form for 6d8+ attacks. You lose a lot from no spell casting, but if it fits your theme it's fine.

[Darkholme]

Wait.. Why do you need ranger for Imp. Natural Attack? Because it's a "Monster Feat"?

How many levels of each did you go for?

>"Wis 7"
So not just lower level casting, no casting at all.

[Imbicatus]

Monktopus can be very scary. Giant octopus using feral combat training on tentacles with jabbing and boar styles.

[BeastMasterFTW]

Most of this guide has been invalidated as far as I know by the errata of Feral Combat Training, as it no longer gives unarmed strike damage to natural attacks.

[James Risner]

Darkholme wrote:

Wait.. Why do you need ranger for Imp. Natural Attack?

PFS blocks INA, so 2nd level Ranger Combat Style = Improved Natural Attack PFS legal.

[Darkholme]

BeastMasterFTW wrote:

Most of this guide has been invalidated as far as I know by the errata of Feral Combat Training, as it no longer gives unarmed strike damage to natural attacks.

Ah. That's a shame. A lot of Errata Nerfs seem to kill what would otherwise be really fun characters. Okay. Good to know so I don't waste my time trying to make this work.

[Kaboogy]

As long as you're giving up spells taking ranger levels is pretty amazing anyway, thanks to Shapeshifting Hunter. As long as monk isn't your main it's a sure gain.

[Grandlounge]

I have seen the grappling version of this build. The basics are Druid 4 monk x. Shaping Focus, Grapple Feats, Monastic Legacy. Pounce + grapple deals with most things (Dire Tiger).

There are lots of other feats that can help this build Planar Wild Shape helps with defence, Magical Knack if you want to use spells like frostbite for extra damage. Tetori helps a lot.

You can follow the druid path longer for better wild shapes. I have build that does this with just a 1 level dip, though not nearly as well. The big benefit is 3 stats to CMD so it can become very hard to break the Grapple. You can also have a full strength animal companion with this build. A second grappler animal companion can really help.

I also like Dragon style and high initiative on these builds if you can manage it. I believe there is an item that grants the constrict ability as well.

[Scott Wilhelm]

Use Warpriest Sacred Weapon Damage instead of Feral Combat Training for Monk Unarmed Strike Damage. The builds should work almost as well.

[x_Gabriel_x]

BeastMasterFTW wrote:

Most of this guide has been invalidated as far as I know by the errata of Feral Combat Training, as it no longer gives unarmed strike damage to natural attacks.

Where is that errata? Only thing I see looking at the faqs for Ultimate Combat is back in 2012 with refrence to how it works with flurry of blows at that time..

[Scott Wilhelm]

x_Gabriel_x wrote:

BeastMasterFTW wrote:

Most of this guide has been invalidated as far as I know by the errata of Feral Combat Training, as it no longer gives unarmed strike damage to natural attacks.

Where is that errata? Only thing I see looking at the faqs for Ultimate Combat is back in 2012 with refrence to how it works with flurry of blows at that time..

The Feat has actually been rewritten. Look in the Rules Archive, Ultimate Combat, Feral Combat Training , and see.

[x_Gabriel_x]

Ahhh, they removed the part about the effecs the augment unarmed strikes. I dont always have wifi so been using the pfrpg rd app, which doesnt have that last line removed

[James Risner]

x_Gabriel_x wrote:

Ahhh, they removed the part about the effecs the augment unarmed strikes. I dont always have wifi so been using the pfrpg rd app, which doesnt have that last line removed

If you followed the threads at the time, the "augment unarmed" meant "swap out your bite for your unarmed" not "increase your bite X steps because your unarmed is now 1d6 that is 2 steps from default 1d3 so bite increases 2 steps."

I suspect because that FAQ was misunderstood, they nixed the whole concept.

[x_Gabriel_x]

Yeah I didn't. Just been looking at trying to build a melee druid and trying to figure out thr best way to build for most damage lol