Pathfinder 1E Making my first Pathfinder character...

[R.C Jr]

The gist of the changes revolve around monks wielding a one-handed weapon and this part of the rule:

When doing so he may make one additional attack using any combination of unarmed strikes or attacks with a special monk weapon (kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, and siangham) as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).

The two sides of the argument are:

• Because flurry of blows says additional attack are made using any combination of unarmed strikes or attacks with a special monk weapon, a monk can make all of his flurry attacks with the same one handed weapon (thereby allowing a monk to invest in only one magical weapon and still make all of his attacks);
• Because flurry of blows is based on Two-Weapon Fighting, a monk must alternate between primary hand and off-hand attacks.

The devs are arguing in favour of the second interpretation. In fact, the issue isn't how to change how flurry of blows works but how to word flurry of blows so that it works the way the devs have always assumed was clear.

Quickleaf, I hope you don't get the impression that Pathfinder is constantly in a state of flux and no rule is set in stone. You just happen to choose one of the harder classes to make work at a time when its primary ability is being debated. If you're still looking at a staff-using character, I'd suggest either a bard (if you're leaning towards Friar Tuck) and use bardic performance as preaching, or ranger (if you're leaning towards Little John) and read up on how Double Weapons and Two-Weapon Fighting work.

 

[N'raac]

Given the Quarterstaff is a Double Weapon anyway, it seems reasonable that the Monk could make the entire flurry alternating ends of the quarterstaff used.

 

[Alzrius]

Given the Quarterstaff is a Double Weapon anyway, it seems reasonable that the Monk could make the entire flurry alternating ends of the quarterstaff used.

Strictly speaking I believe this is correct, given that the quarterstaff is also a monk weapon.

The major issues of a monk using a quarterstaff are that their unarmed strike will quickly deal more damage than the quarterstaff's normal damage, and that the monk can't use their special attacks (e.g. Stunning Fist, ki strike, etc.) through it.

The latter problem can be solved by getting the quarterstaff enchanted with the ki focus magic weapon quality, but I'm not quite sure what to do about the former (though one of the newer books may help out there with an archetype or magic weapon quality).

 

[Blueskier]

The thing is each end of the quarterstaff has to be enchanted with ki focus, and that is just a waste of money

 

[marcielle]

I see your point, marcielle, but once you progress beyond 3rd level, there is really no point to even having a weapon, as any unarmed strike will actually deal either the same or more damage at that point. If you want to use it for the first few levels, though, that's fine. Just be careful, as I believe rolling a 1 means you hit yourself. Well, at least with nunchaku

One word. Ooze. There are some things you just don't wanna touch with your bare hands. And it really costs you nothing to just keep carrying your starting quarterstaff with you. Also, there are various uses for a long stick. You can tie two together for an 10 foot pole, use it to test out mysterious substances, twirl it around to look fancy, use it to house your pet termites or just in case of slapstick moments.

Also, there's nothing in the srd saying you hit yourself if you roll a 1 with nunchaku but I really wouldn't use it anyway. Cos if I were a DM i'd make it so.

 

[shaun1e]

I'm guessing it WAS a house rule, cos the DM did NOT like my monk, for some reason.

Also, the Ooze thing is a very good point.

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=82944]R.C, Jr[/MENTION]

Nah, it's cool, thanks for the clarification. To be honest, my eyes glaze over at the technical character creation jargon; I thought monk was one of the simpler classes but turns out I was wrong. May just go with a ranger since apparently that's easier in PF.

 

[Arctic Wolf]

[MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION] - I know how you feel. My friends want to try PF, so I said what the hell why not and picked an Abyssal Sorcerer, and I am kinda in how the hell do I make this character sheet mode since it pretty intricate. My friend downloaded the specific class and spec(?) character sheet from online so maybe that is why I am confused xD

 

[marcielle]

Remember, just because you chose one fighting style doesn't mean you can't use the other. In PF you get enough feats with a Ranger that it is actually viable to go both ranged and meelee at the same time( perhaps literally if you can get an extra set of arms). For example, take the Archery fighting style then use your normal feats for things like Power Attack, cleave, etc. That way you can just get a composite bow and focus on Strength.

Not sure about Friar Tuck but I know Robin Hood fought with both bow and blade.