Can a Monk select bonus feats later? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can a Monk select bonus feats later? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Toshi
01-14-07, 01:19 AM I was looking at the bonus feats for a monk. On first level, for instance, he can choose Improved Grapple or Stunning Fist, even if he doesn't meet the requirements. My question is, if he doesn't pick it then on first level, can he not pick it again as another bonus feat instead of another on, say 2nd, or 6th? Once it has been offered as a bonus feat, could he choose it as a regular feat on 3rd level, for instance?
theotherdraxen
01-14-07, 01:24 AM Wait a minute, if the monk doesn't choose his feat (he picks neither Improved Grapple or Stunning Fist) then he recieves no benefit.

At 2nd level, his 2nd level bonus feat options remain the same regardless of the feats she chose (or in this case, didn't choose) at 1st level.

At 3rd level, he can choose any feat he qualifies for, but he has to meet the prerequisites of the given feat, since it is not a monk bonus feat that he's receiving.
Toshi
01-14-07, 01:37 AM Huh? Sorry, you lost me. Let me reexplain the question. If I choose Stunning fist at 1st, but really like Improved grapple as well, could I choose Improved Grapple on 2nd, instead of Deflect Arrows or Combat Reflexes? They are all bonus feats, and if the class was good enough to qualify for Improved Grapple on 1st, he is still as qualified on 2nd, right? He just has to forego picking Deflect Arrows or Combat Reflexes.
Grey_Mage
01-14-07, 02:35 AM Yes, you can take the feats at another time. Your choice of the bonus feats is not a One or the other, for always choice. Its a one or the other right now choice.

So... You take one of them as your bonus feat for second level, and then you take the other at third level as your third level character feat- no problem. You would however have to meet all the prerequisites for it to take it as a third level character, so let that factor into your mind when you look at wich ones to choose ok?
theotherdraxen
01-14-07, 03:12 AM Yes, you can take the feats at another time. Your choice of the bonus feats is not a One or the other, for always choice. Its a one or the other right now choice.

So... You take one of them as your bonus feat for second level, and then you take the other at third level as your third level character feat- no problem. You would however have to meet all the prerequisites for it to take it as a third level character, so let that factor into your mind when you look at wich ones to choose ok?
RAW, you cannot take improved grapple as your second level monk bonus feat.
At 1st level, a monk may select either Improved Grapple or Stunning Fist as a bonus feat. At 2nd level, she may select either Combat Reflexes or Deflect Arrows as a bonus feat.

As a DM, I'd let him take Stunning Fist at first, and Improved Grapple at 2nd: there's nothing game-breaking about it and it'd be a jerk move not to let him. However, by RAW, this isn't the case.
Rivelstraz
01-14-07, 10:01 AM I see no harm allowing it, but as theotherdraxen said, by RAW, you're forced to take one of those two feats presented at each level (or more if you're using variants from other books that include feats to take at those levels)
The_Shaman
01-14-07, 12:44 PM Would it be too late to take IG at lvl 3?
Mitchell
01-15-07, 01:03 AM You are free to choose any feat that you qualify for at any level that you get a normal feat at (3, 6, 9, etc.). Thus, any feat that you do not choose for a free monk feat can be chosen later if you qualify for it. They aren't lost forever.
When you are offfered a choice of monk feats, you are really only given the listed choices and any inchosen feats must be taken in the more conventional way, and consequently you must qualify.
As others have mentioned, allowing you a choice of previously unchosen free feats is not an unreasonable houserule,but by the same token, nothing I would choose to make a stand over... I would just take them at the normal feat levels if I really wanted them and the DM didn't like the above houserule.
The_Shaman
01-15-07, 08:11 AM IMO the only problem is with stunning fist, as a monk who doesn't take it at level one will have to wait for a while to become eligible.
Mitchell
01-16-07, 12:40 AM So those are the ones to take as free feats. The harder it is to qualify for (or the longer you would have to wait), the more likely it is I would choose it as my free feat, assuming I had any interest in getting it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Toshi 01-14-07, 01:19 AM	I was looking at the bonus feats for a monk. On first level, for instance, he can choose Improved Grapple or Stunning Fist, even if he doesn't meet the requirements. My question is, if he doesn't pick it then on first level, can he not pick it again as another bonus feat instead of another on, say 2nd, or 6th? Once it has been offered as a bonus feat, could he choose it as a regular feat on 3rd level, for instance?
theotherdraxen 01-14-07, 01:24 AM	Wait a minute, if the monk doesn't choose his feat (he picks neither Improved Grapple or Stunning Fist) then he recieves no benefit. At 2nd level, his 2nd level bonus feat options remain the same regardless of the feats she chose (or in this case, didn't choose) at 1st level. At 3rd level, he can choose any feat he qualifies for, but he has to meet the prerequisites of the given feat, since it is not a monk bonus feat that he's receiving.
Toshi 01-14-07, 01:37 AM	Huh? Sorry, you lost me. Let me reexplain the question. If I choose Stunning fist at 1st, but really like Improved grapple as well, could I choose Improved Grapple on 2nd, instead of Deflect Arrows or Combat Reflexes? They are all bonus feats, and if the class was good enough to qualify for Improved Grapple on 1st, he is still as qualified on 2nd, right? He just has to forego picking Deflect Arrows or Combat Reflexes.
Grey_Mage 01-14-07, 02:35 AM	Yes, you can take the feats at another time. Your choice of the bonus feats is not a One or the other, for always choice. Its a one or the other right now choice. So... You take one of them as your bonus feat for second level, and then you take the other at third level as your third level character feat- no problem. You would however have to meet all the prerequisites for it to take it as a third level character, so let that factor into your mind when you look at wich ones to choose ok?
theotherdraxen 01-14-07, 03:12 AM	Yes, you can take the feats at another time. Your choice of the bonus feats is not a One or the other, for always choice. Its a one or the other right now choice. So... You take one of them as your bonus feat for second level, and then you take the other at third level as your third level character feat- no problem. You would however have to meet all the prerequisites for it to take it as a third level character, so let that factor into your mind when you look at wich ones to choose ok? RAW, you cannot take improved grapple as your second level monk bonus feat. At 1st level, a monk may select either Improved Grapple or Stunning Fist as a bonus feat. At 2nd level, she may select either Combat Reflexes or Deflect Arrows as a bonus feat. As a DM, I'd let him take Stunning Fist at first, and Improved Grapple at 2nd: there's nothing game-breaking about it and it'd be a jerk move not to let him. However, by RAW, this isn't the case.
Rivelstraz 01-14-07, 10:01 AM	I see no harm allowing it, but as theotherdraxen said, by RAW, you're forced to take one of those two feats presented at each level (or more if you're using variants from other books that include feats to take at those levels)
The_Shaman 01-14-07, 12:44 PM	Would it be too late to take IG at lvl 3?
Mitchell 01-15-07, 01:03 AM	You are free to choose any feat that you qualify for at any level that you get a normal feat at (3, 6, 9, etc.). Thus, any feat that you do not choose for a free monk feat can be chosen later if you qualify for it. They aren't lost forever. When you are offfered a choice of monk feats, you are really only given the listed choices and any inchosen feats must be taken in the more conventional way, and consequently you must qualify. As others have mentioned, allowing you a choice of previously unchosen free feats is not an unreasonable houserule,but by the same token, nothing I would choose to make a stand over... I would just take them at the normal feat levels if I really wanted them and the DM didn't like the above houserule.
The_Shaman 01-15-07, 08:11 AM	IMO the only problem is with stunning fist, as a monk who doesn't take it at level one will have to wait for a while to become eligible.
Mitchell 01-16-07, 12:40 AM	So those are the ones to take as free feats. The harder it is to qualify for (or the longer you would have to wait), the more likely it is I would choose it as my free feat, assuming I had any interest in getting it.