Is Sundering good for Monks, and if so, when?

[DarkMask]

I am making my first ever Monk character and am a little weary on which direction I should take Monk in the ways of Sundering. As a lot of you probably know, Monks can sunder with unarmed attacks using Eagle Claw Attack, but I was told using such a feat would be a bad idea, as the Monk's knuckles would not be as strong as the steel found in most weapons, and in the end I'd just end up shattering my fists.

But then looking at the Monk's natural abilities, they eventually get Ki Strieks, that amkes your fists act as magical weapons, which get an addition will save against breaking in sundering . . . right?

I am confused, can anyone give me some advice?

 

[KarinsDad]

Who told you that nonsense?

If you fail the sunder attempt, you don’t deal any damage.

That's it. No other penalties other than being unsuccessful.

 

[Victim]

Sundering works fine for monks in theory. Eagle Claw just adds more damage to their Sunder attack; it's not required.

The problem is that Sunder is an opposed attack modfified by weapon handedness. A monk's hands count as light weapons, so they take a significant penalty to the opposed roll, plus their BaB bonus isn't the greatest to start with.

 

[DarkMask]

So, there's no chance for a monk to be damaged? I was told that when you use weapons that were not made for sundering and then are used for it, they can be damaged, and the same is true for Monk's hands . . . or does Eagle Strike Attack make it so your hands are counted as weapons made specifically for sundering and therefore are nto accouted for the risk of being damaged because they are not sundering specifice damage?

And I don't know what BaB means, i am sorry, i am still rather new to the game, I am picking it up fast though.

 

[Victim]

Bab = Base Attack Bonus. Monks only have a medium base attack, so they'll have a tough time disarming fighter types.

Normally, there is no chance to be damaged for monks doing a sunder (other than the attack of opportunity of course), even with Eagle Claw. However, it seems likely that your group is using some house rules, so you should take those into consideration.

 

[BlackSeed_Vash]

To sunder a slashing or bludgeoning weapon is required. The monks fist is a bludgeoning natrual/manufactured weapon so as a first level character you can start sunding.
The Eagle Claw Attack require Wis 13+ (for a monk, Wis should be your highest or second highest stat), Improved Unarmed Strike (you recieve as a level one monk), and Improved Sunder (removes the Attack of Opportunity [AoO] and provides a +4 to your initial attack).
Now what Eagle Claw Attack does is give you a bonus equal to your Wis modifier to damage objects with your unarmed strike.
One thing you seem to miss is that unarmed strike is more than your fist, it is anything hard enough to with and cause damage. With that in mind the only time your "fist" can be damaged in a sunder attempt is if you do not have the Improved Sunder , and your opponet decised to sunder your "fist" as his AoO. As for BaB, it stands for Base Attack Bonus.
IMO, I find NPCs will attempt to sunder your group far more than you will ever try to sunder them. This is due to the desire to preserve items for your own use or to sell. Personally I have never had more than a handfull of encounters requiring to break an object in any of the campaigns I have been in. If you still wish to go the route of breaking items, definately take the Improved Sunder feat, but I would suggest getting Flying Kick over Eagle Claw Attack ; or any other feat that provides your character more versitality and/or more damage.

 

[DarkMask]

What is Flying Kick? I have never heard of that Feat before . . . I probably missed it or did not read the book is was in. Can you tell me if it's 3.0-3.5 able, which book its in, and what it's prerequisites and ability is, please?

 

[BASHMAN]

Why sunder when disarming is so much easier, and saves party treasure? Also, if you disarm a foe, sure he can pick up the weapon-- and incur AOO from everyone adjacent to him in the process... I like that better than sundering.

The only thing I think about sundering being a great choice is if someone is using some magic staff to F over the party, but even then, disarming might be a better choice (don't you end up with the weapon anyway if you disarm when unarmed yourself? )

 

[Legildur]

(don't you end up with the weapon anyway if you disarm when unarmed yourself? )

Yes. From the SRD:

Consequences. If you beat the defender, the defender is disarmed. If you attempted the disarm action unarmed, you now have the weapon. If you were armed, the defender’s weapon is on the ground in the defender’s square.

 

[Klaus]

What is Flying Kick? I have never heard of that Feat before . . . I probably missed it or did not read the book is was in. Can you tell me if it's 3.0-3.5 able, which book its in, and what it's prerequisites and ability is, please?

Flying Kick is from Complete Warrior, and lets you deal an extra 1d12 damage on a charge. Requires Jump 4, Improved Unarmed Strike, Str 13 and Power Attack.