Dragon Monk

[Jdvn1]

There's a table for dragon damage, which is based on size of the dragon and which weapon he's using. The Monk unarmed damage is based solely on size of the Monk.

So what happens when you make a Dragon Monk? Which table do you use? Would a 16 HD dragon drop in damage when he takes a first level in Monk? How do you determine damage for each of the dragon's weapons?

 

[moritheil]

Yeah, I recall that the last thread on this went horribly awry.

Let me see: Well, the monk's damage is presumably dependent on size and level. This is different from his damage as a dragon (natural attacks), which remains unchanged.

 

[Jdvn1]

... So you're telling me that the Monk damage doesn't apply to a Dragon's weapons at all?

 

[moritheil]

... So you're telling me that the Monk damage doesn't apply to a Dragon's weapons at all?

Correct; they are separate things. An unarmed strike, while similar to a natural attack, is not exactly the same thing. Unless, of course, you houserule it.

 

[Jdvn1]

But, I'm guessing, since a Dragon Monk does get Improved Unarmed Strike, he can choose to instead use an Unarmed Strike, but only gets whatever number of attacks from BAB and whatnot?

 

[moritheil]

But, I'm guessing, since a Dragon Monk does get Improved Unarmed Strike, he can choose to instead use an Unarmed Strike, but only gets whatever number of attacks from BAB and whatnot?

Well, Hyp or someone would be best to handle the exact details, but IIRC, the dragon gets his normal iterative attacks with IUS, and then gets to make his natural attacks at some penalty if he wishes it.

 

[Jdvn1]

Well, Hyp or someone would be best to handle the exact details, but IIRC, the dragon gets his normal iterative attacks with IUS, and then gets to make his natural attacks at some penalty if he wishes it.

... Which looks like two full attacks? Wow. Um, yeah, Hyp? Some explanation?

 

[moritheil]

... Which looks like two full attacks? Wow. Um, yeah, Hyp? Some explanation?

Well, I don't think he can flurry and pull it off, but if memory serves, natural attacks are always secondary attacks once you have another weapon, and as such, they can be made at a penalty even after your iterative full attacks are made.

 

[Hypersmurf]

... Which looks like two full attacks? Wow. Um, yeah, Hyp? Some explanation?

Unarmed strike follows the rules for manufactured weapons when it comes to iterative attacks and two-weapon fighting.

A Huge dragon monk with a BAB of +16, say, would make four iterative unarmed strike attacks using the damage progression for a monk of size Huge, at +16/+11/+6/+1.

Following the rules for mixing natural weapons and manufactured weapons, he could also use any of his natural weapons (Claw/Claw/Bite/Wing/Wing/Tail Slap, say) as secondary natural attacks at BAB -5 - that is to say, +11.

If he makes his unarmed strikes with, say, his left forepaw, it would be consistent to rule that he cannot use that claw attack. So in that instance, he'd get four unarmed strikes with his left forepaw at +16/+11/+6/+1, plus one claw, two wings, a bite, and a tail slap at +11.

Note that any dragon can do this anyway, but the damage will be 1d3 non-lethal scaled up (so 1d6 for Huge, for example), and the unarmed strikes will provoke attacks of opportunity from threatening attackers.

-Hyp.

 

[Jdvn1]

Hm, well, see... I had made a Barbarian Dragon PC and was considering buying a Monk's Belt. I decided not to because I was afraid it would alter my normal damage in an unbenefitial way.

But, apparently, I can get the Monk's Belt, and if I had Improved Multiattack, not worry about any penalties with any of my natural weapons. And since I already have a high BAB (due to dragon HD), I'd be getting tons of attacks.