Unarmed combat: you can junk the monk

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Let's hope the 4E monk-equivalent maintains the flavor that has historically been the flurry of misses.

 

[Gloombunny]

As long as we're tossing out hopes for the 4e monk, can I be the first to say that I'd love to see them retooled as psionic strikers?

 

[IceFractal]

Huh, and here I was under the impression that you simply couldn't utilize ANY of the Two-weapon fighting feats when using natural weapons -- Improved Unarmed Strike being included in that list. At least, that's the way I've always played when both as a monk, a fighter and a DM. So, TWF works for a monk when wielding kamas, but not barehanded, as it specifically mentioned you're using all parts of your body when fighting unarmed.

For that fighter above, I'd look at it, look at the player & say, "All these TWF feats and no weapons, huh? Waste feats much? 'Cause you ain't gettin' to use 'em unless you have at least a dagger in each hand."

The FAQ disagrees. For what it's worth, "two-weapon fighting" with unarmed strikes doesn't necessarily mean "half the hits with the right hand, half with the left", it can mean simply more strikes at the expense of accuracy and damage per strike, which is what it mechanically does.

Also from the FAQ: Monks can take Improved Natural Attack. The FAQ has much love for Monks.


Incidentally:
Monk 20 (why go into Epic, anyway?)
BAB +15 => +13/+13/+13/+13/+8/+8/+3/+3 with TWF
Base damage = 3d10=16.5
Str 32 (as fighter) = +11, magic fang / GMW +5 = +16
Feats (of note) = TWF, ITWF, GTWF, Imp. Nat. Attack
So damage = 32.5 + (1/20 * 65) = 35.75
8 attacks = 286
Rather more favorable, eh? Of course, the real key to Monk damage-dealing is charging-based, but let's keep it simple.

 

[Nifft]

Not for natural attacks, IIRC.

Natural attacks don't benefit from TWF. They have their own progression.

Cheers, -- N