BARBONKS THE MONARIAN (need help)

[larhtas]

So i need help with a new build for my Girlfriend.
She like to play a multiclass barbarian-monk.
She will start as Barbarian with those stats:
Gold dwarf
- Strength : 16 (14+2)
- Dexterity : 14
- Constitution : 16 (15+1)
- Intelligence : 8
- Wisdom : 12
- Charisma : 8

In detail for level and feats during progression:
Level 1 : Barbarian 1
Level 2 : Monk 1
Level 3 : Monk 2
Level 4 : Monk 3 (open palm)
Level 5 : Monk 4 (ASI +2 constitution)
Level 6 : Monk 5
Level 7 : Barbarian 2
Level 8 : Barbarian 3 (Totem animal [don't know yet])
Level 9 : Monk 6
Level 10 : Monk 7
Level 11 : Monk 8 (ASI +2 constitution -> 20)
Level 12 : Monk 9

She intends to only fight hand to hand (no staff, spears or whatever)
What do you think?

[RakiaTime]

i mean i hate it but i hate having any attribute below 12, yes i know thats not optimal, i dont care

[larhtas]

Originally posted by RakiaTime:

i mean i hate it but i hate having any attribute below 12, yes i know thats not optimal, i dont care

No i understand it. You would have had a good character in my last TT game.

[RealDealBreaker]

Honestly, pretty terrible. Damage is basically non-existent until total level 6 with your 1d4 punches plus 5 total (rage and str, and this is assuming that Larian includes punches as melee weapon attacks consistent with WoTC's more recent rulings). Even then, your damage will still be lack luster and your monk abilities will not be very good because of your low dex and even lower wisdom (deflect missiles reduces damage by 1d10 + dex modifier + monk level and stunning strike has a DC based on your wisdom). If you want to fight unarmed then you are better off going full monk or if you want to be tanky then you are better off just going full barbarian. This is really just an awkward mix.

[I'm cucked]

You can't even multiclass until level 5 pretty sure.

[Settings]

Originally posted by Dr. Durlan Deekdu:

You can't even multiclass until level 5 pretty sure.

Game uses homebrew multiclass rules to make it work better in a video game

[larhtas]

Originally posted by RealDealBreaker:

Honestly, pretty terrible. Damage is basically non-existent until total level 6 with your 1d4 punches plus 5 total (rage and str, and this is assuming that Larian includes punches as melee weapon attacks consistent with WoTC's more recent rulings). Even then, your damage will still be lack luster and your monk abilities will not be very good because of your low dex and even lower wisdom (deflect missiles reduces damage by 1d10 + dex modifier + monk level and stunning strike has a DC based on your wisdom). If you want to fight unarmed then you are better off going full monk or if you want to be tanky then you are better off just going full barbarian. This is really just an awkward mix.

Ok so basically she will struggle with this character? (The goal is not to have a min-max character, it is more to recreate a character that she have build in another tabletop game "forgotten chronicle" which was a "strong monk with insane temper". If the build is really bad and she will struggle with it, then it's a no go. But if the build is manageable, it is just not overpowerfull than we can go with it).

[RealDealBreaker]

Originally posted by Dr. Durlan Deekdu:

You can't even multiclass until level 5 pretty sure.

You definitly can multiclass before level 5. There has never been a rule limiting when you can multiclass in 5e. All you had to do was have a 13 in the relevant ability score of both classes and you could multiclass (and Larian has decided to drop this requirement btw).

[RealDealBreaker]

Originally posted by larhtas:

Originally posted by RealDealBreaker:

Honestly, pretty terrible. Damage is basically non-existent until total level 6 with your 1d4 punches plus 5 total (rage and str, and this is assuming that Larian includes punches as melee weapon attacks consistent with WoTC's more recent rulings). Even then, your damage will still be lack luster and your monk abilities will not be very good because of your low dex and even lower wisdom (deflect missiles reduces damage by 1d10 + dex modifier + monk level and stunning strike has a DC based on your wisdom). If you want to fight unarmed then you are better off going full monk or if you want to be tanky then you are better off just going full barbarian. This is really just an awkward mix.

Ok so basically she will struggle with this character? (The goal is not to have a min-max character, it is more to recreate a character that she have build in another tabletop game "forgotten chronicle" which was a "strong monk with insane temper". If the build is really bad and she will struggle with it, then it's a no go. But if the build is manageable, it is just not overpowerfull than we can go with it).

I'm not going to try to draw the line between unplayable and manageable for you, but it is FAR from optimal to say the least.

[DeadBeat61]

Monk is like the worst class for multiclassing because punch damage is dependent on monk level. It's possible Lurrrian is changing stuff for BG3 but in DnD you reach 1d8 for hand to hand at lvl 11, which in this game would only leave you 1 extra level for another class.

[Settings]

Originally posted by DeadBeat61:

Monk is like the worst class for multiclassing because punch damage is dependent on monk level. It's possible Lurrrian is changing stuff for BG3 but in DnD you reach 1d8 for hand to hand at lvl 11, which in this game would only leave you 1 extra level for another class.

Supposedly Monk is using a lot of custom rules in this game to make them more viable, so who knows for sure I guess

[larhtas]

Originally posted by DeadBeat61:

Monk is like the worst class for multiclassing because punch damage is dependent on monk level. It's possible Lurrrian is changing stuff for BG3 but in DnD you reach 1d8 for hand to hand at lvl 11, which in this game would only leave you 1 extra level for another class.

Sure but with 9 levels of monk you will be at 1d6 damage. The difference between 1d6 and 1d8 will be 0-2 so an average +1 damage. The rage will gives +2 damage to each attack so the problem here is not the damage.

[darth.crevette]

Originally posted by RealDealBreaker:

your 1d4 punches

Originally posted by larhtas:

Sure but with 9 levels of monk you will be at 1d6 damage.

Pretty sure I read somewhere that Larian bumped Monk fist damage one tier up, so you'd start with 1d6, then 1d8 at level 5, etc.
Only makes this build slightly better, though...

[DeadBeat61]

Originally posted by larhtas:

Sure but with 9 levels of monk you will be at 1d6 damage. The difference between 1d6 and 1d8 will be 0-2 so an average +1 damage. The rage will gives +2 damage to each attack so the problem here is not the damage.

True, didn't take rage into account. Angy monks kinda cute ngl

[medicinezombie]

The big "problem" to solve with this build is the low damage output. I've played a Barbarian/Monk in tabletop, but I dunno if Beast barbarians are in the final game and my build also required a 20+ STR Belt of Giant's Strength combo'd with the 5 attacks per round I had while using Flurry of Blows. With all those lined up that character shredded enemies, multiple attacks at Advantage each doing solid/high damage.

So I'd do everything possible to max STR as fast as possible, try and save Ki points to Flurry every round you're Raging.

I'd suggest Bear (damage resistance), or Elk (extra move so you can Flurry more often) for Barbarian totems

[larhtas]

Originally posted by medicinezombie:

The big "problem" to solve with this build is the low damage output. I've played a Barbarian/Monk in tabletop, but I dunno if Beast barbarians are in the final game and my build also required a 20+ STR Belt of Giant's Strength combo'd with the 5 attacks per round I had while using Flurry of Blows. With all those lined up that character shredded enemies, multiple attacks at Advantage each doing solid/high damage.

So I'd do everything possible to max STR as fast as possible, try and save Ki points to Flurry every round you're Raging.

I'd suggest Bear (damage resistance), or Elk (extra move so you can Flurry more often) for Barbarian totems

Thank you for your insight, so it's better to increase strength than constitution, i got it.