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Message: <blockquote data-quote="John Quixote" data-source="post: 737873" data-attributes="member: 694">A while back, on the WotC board, I broke down the various possible solutions to the BAB problem, and how different methods work.  Also, keep in mind that a "balanced" fix is relative to the role monks are to play in a campaign.  The standard rules, monks are supposed to fall into the same camp as wizards, clerics, and other casters -- multiclassing weakens you.  On the other hand, BAB fixes shift the monk into the same group as most other warrior classes, i.e. multiclassing doesn't hurt, it just stings.--1) Core rules. First, figgure monk attacks from monk levels alone. Second, total base attack from other classes. Finally, add the additional base attack to your primary attack only. The monk 10/fighter 5 attacks unarmed at +12/+4/+1 and probably picks his armed BAB anyway.Analysis: Balanced, but screws multiclassed monks.2) Conservative literal fundamentalist. You make unarmed attacks based on your monk levels alone; other class's BAB doesn't affect it at all. [Borne from misinterpreting the PHB with a literal, almost biblical bent.] The monk 10/fighter 5 attacks unarmed at +7/+4/+1 and has no choice but to use his armed BAB anyway.Analysis: Underpowered, and REALLY screws multiclassed monks.3) Moderate rule-zero. Figgure your unarmed attacks from monk levels alone, but then add your other class's BAB to all your unarmed attacks. A monk 10/fighter 5 would attack unarmed at +12/+9/+6.Analysis: Quite balanced, especially if you don't want multiclassed monks to be too powerful.4) Liberal rule-zero. As the Moderate Rule-Zero, except that if the last attack in your unarmed attack routine is +6 or higher, you get to add more attacks at the armed, -5 iteration. A monk 10/fighter 5 attacks at +12/+9/+6/+1 using this method.Analysis: Still balanced, also fairly logical.  Lets multiclassed monks truly benefit from their unarmed attacks, but not too much since the last attack will invariably come at a low bonus.  This is the method I use.5) Radical rule-zero (also known as the Everquest method). Total your base attack bonus from all your classes. Unarmed attacks come at a -4 iteration instead of a -5 iteration (single-classed monks alone may use -3). A monk 10/fighter 5 would attack at +12/+8/+4. This method heavily favors fighters who take just a few monk levels.Analysis: Unbalanced.  Too easy to abuse.6) The Quick-And-Dirty: Monks simply gain the fighter's base attack bonus in all situation.  They ought to, they're warriors anyway.Analysis: Possibly balanced, it's been done before in many martial artist classes, and it's by far the simplest and most elegant of all methods.  On the down side, monks lose their historically impressive attack rate without using Flurry and special feats.7) The Extreme Left (aka, the Sean K. Reynolds method): Total your BAB, and attacks come at a -3 iteration out to five attacks. Analysis: Even more unbalanced than method #5, very easy to abuse.  Mr. Reynolds did a breakdown of the class features that really de-emphasizes the importance of base attack bonus in its analysis, as well as ignoring Flurry of Blows and speed at which the unarmed attacks are gained.  In the end, his analysis proved nothing at all.--Incidentally, my method #4 does the same thing as the first poster's house rule, but I was able to explain it in uder six lines of text.  Goes to show how sometimes the house rules that are already out there often turn up the simplest of all.</blockquote>

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