Flury of blows [Archive] - Wizards Community

Flury of blows [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zedlar
04-24-08, 10:13 AM This one's quick:

A player just asked me about Flurry of blows, and I want to make sure I have it right. I don't know why, but the rules for multiple attacks seem so muddy to me in the PHB.

A flurry of blows for a first level monk with a STR of 10 would be a total attack of -1/-1, right?

Once the monk reaches lvl8 (after the flurry of blows penalty is reduced by one, and a second standard attack is gained), then that becomes +5/+5/+0, right?
tos_shai_hulud
04-24-08, 10:50 AM This one's quick:

A player just asked me about Flurry of blows, and I want to make sure I have it right. I don't know why, but the rules for multiple attacks seem so muddy to me in the PHB.

A flurry of blows for a first level monk with a STR of 10 would be a total attack of -1/-1, right?

Once the monk reaches lvl8 (after the flurry of blows penalty is reduced by one, and a second standard attack is gained), then that becomes +5/+5/+0, right?

Close, at 1st level with a STR of 10, the penalty is -2 to all attacks, so it would be -2/-2. At 8th level with a STR of 10, yes, it would be +5/+5/+0.
Zedlar
04-24-08, 11:27 AM Close, at 1st level with a STR of 10, the penalty is -2 to all attacks, so it would be -2/-2. At 8th level with a STR of 10, yes, it would be +5/+5/+0.

Oh, oops! For some reason, when I was posting, I was thinking that the Monk got a BAB+1 at first level, but now I see that he doesn't. However, I'm glad to see that I understood how flurry of blows works (although the player might be a bit disappointed since he was thinking it was more powerful than that).
Orenmir
04-24-08, 11:53 AM (although the player might be a bit disappointed since he was thinking it was more powerful than that).

He shouldn't be disappointed. FoB is a great ability. It's practically identical to 2WF, plus it scales. It's a Monk's bread & butter, and should be used as often as he can.

Out of curiosity, how did he think it was more powerful?
Zedlar
04-24-08, 11:26 PM He thought that it would make ALL of his attacks as high as the first attack, instead of just the bonus ones.

When I read it, I can see how he interpreted it that way, but I didn't think it was right...
Ace_of_time
04-25-08, 12:01 AM That depends on race and feat choices.

A halfling monk with weapon focus "shuriken", and using master work ones could get upto +2/+2. (most likely higher with the dex mod) Using a reg unarmed attack instead of shuriken would still be +1/+1. Improve NW would up the damage to to medium at third.

just a thought. And before some one says it there are small races with 30' speed too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zedlar 04-24-08, 10:13 AM	This one's quick: A player just asked me about Flurry of blows, and I want to make sure I have it right. I don't know why, but the rules for multiple attacks seem so muddy to me in the PHB. A flurry of blows for a first level monk with a STR of 10 would be a total attack of -1/-1, right? Once the monk reaches lvl8 (after the flurry of blows penalty is reduced by one, and a second standard attack is gained), then that becomes +5/+5/+0, right?
tos_shai_hulud 04-24-08, 10:50 AM	This one's quick: A player just asked me about Flurry of blows, and I want to make sure I have it right. I don't know why, but the rules for multiple attacks seem so muddy to me in the PHB. A flurry of blows for a first level monk with a STR of 10 would be a total attack of -1/-1, right? Once the monk reaches lvl8 (after the flurry of blows penalty is reduced by one, and a second standard attack is gained), then that becomes +5/+5/+0, right? Close, at 1st level with a STR of 10, the penalty is -2 to all attacks, so it would be -2/-2. At 8th level with a STR of 10, yes, it would be +5/+5/+0.
Zedlar 04-24-08, 11:27 AM	Close, at 1st level with a STR of 10, the penalty is -2 to all attacks, so it would be -2/-2. At 8th level with a STR of 10, yes, it would be +5/+5/+0. Oh, oops! For some reason, when I was posting, I was thinking that the Monk got a BAB+1 at first level, but now I see that he doesn't. However, I'm glad to see that I understood how flurry of blows works (although the player might be a bit disappointed since he was thinking it was more powerful than that).
Orenmir 04-24-08, 11:53 AM	(although the player might be a bit disappointed since he was thinking it was more powerful than that). He shouldn't be disappointed. FoB is a great ability. It's practically identical to 2WF, plus it scales. It's a Monk's bread & butter, and should be used as often as he can. Out of curiosity, how did he think it was more powerful?
Zedlar 04-24-08, 11:26 PM	He thought that it would make ALL of his attacks as high as the first attack, instead of just the bonus ones. When I read it, I can see how he interpreted it that way, but I didn't think it was right...
Ace_of_time 04-25-08, 12:01 AM	That depends on race and feat choices. A halfling monk with weapon focus "shuriken", and using master work ones could get upto +2/+2. (most likely higher with the dex mod) Using a reg unarmed attack instead of shuriken would still be +1/+1. Improve NW would up the damage to to medium at third. just a thought. And before some one says it there are small races with 30' speed too.