Help With Base Attack Bonuses [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help With Base Attack Bonuses [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Neef
11-05-06, 12:49 PM Ok, well hopefully this is the right place to post this and if there's a search function for the forums, I couldn't find it. :( Ok, here's my questions:

1. If I'm a level 1 Fighter, level 8 Monk, what would my base attack bonus be, according to Third Edition rules? (Fighter was my first class level)

2. Does the level 1 base attack bonus from the Fighter add in on my Unarmed Attack Bonus?

3. Does the level 1 base attack bonus from the Fighter add in on any attacks past the first?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I apolgize if there is indeed a search function.
Tempest Stormwind
11-05-06, 01:04 PM Ok, well hopefully this is the right place to post this and if there's a search function for the forums, I couldn't find it. :( Ok, here's my questions:

1. If I'm a level 1 Fighter, level 8 Monk, what would my base attack bonus be, according to Third Edition rules? (Fighter was my first class level)Order doesn't matter. Just add the final levels together -- Fighter 1 gives +1, Monk 8 gives +6, so your final base attack bonus is +7. 2. Does the level 1 base attack bonus from the Fighter add in on my Unarmed Attack Bonus?Stop using 3.0 monk, move to 3.5. The 3.0 monk rules were confusing as hell and didn't add much to the game at all, while 3.5 cleared that up dramatically. I say this as a person who was playing a monk at the time of the revision.

To see the 3.5 monk, go here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/monk.htm). (In fact, I firmly support the full upgrade to 3.5, but the monk alone will do for now.)

If you're unable to upgrade at all (despite the rules being available for free), the direct answer to your question is both a yes and a no. It added numbers to the unarmed attack bonus, but it didn't count towards the number of attacks. Only levels in monk (or monklike PrCs) actually granted additional unarmed attacks, and the way they did it confused even the developers (try reading the section on monklike PrCs in Oriental Adventures, for instance; it's self-contradictory). Byzantine, I tell you.3. Does the level 1 base attack bonus from the Fighter add in on any attacks past the first?Yes. Your final attack sequence would be +7/+2. A 3.5 monk could flurry at +6/+6/+1 at this point.

(Flurry gives one additional attack, with all attacks at -2. That penalty drops to -1 at 5th level, and at 9th it disappears, while at 11th level they get a second additional attack. That's your level in monk, not overall level, and this is 3.5, not 3e.)Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I apolgize if there is indeed a search function.There isn't but the admins claim to be working on it. We use Google's advanced search in the meantime.
Neef
11-05-06, 02:22 PM Thanks for your quick and complete reply Tempest!

If you're unable to upgrade at all (despite the rules being available for free), the direct answer to your question is both a yes and a no. It added numbers to the unarmed attack bonus, but it didn't count towards the number of attacks.

Since at level 8, Monks get +6/+3 Unarmed Attack Bonus, at Fighter 1/Monk 8, my Unarmed Attack Bonus should be +7/+4 before adding my Str modifier or Flurry of Blows, correct?

Also, I have a Monk's Belt, which you may or may not be familiar with. According to Third Edition:

"Monk's Belt - This simple rope belt, when wrapped around a character's waist, confers great ability in unarmed combat. Any time the wearer engages in unarmed combat, the belt grants him the ability to use both hands as though he possessed the Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats. He may also make a stunning attack (as a monk) once per day. If donned by a monk, the belt grants one additional stunning attack per day and allows the monk to haste herself once per day for up to 10 consecutive rounds."

With that equipped, a Str modifier of +3, if I Flurry of Blows and attack with both hands, would the unarmed attack bonus sequence be +8/+8/+6/+3? I believe I calculated that correctly, but at this point things started getting really confusing, lol. Thanks again for your reply.
Tempest Stormwind
11-05-06, 02:47 PM Since at level 8, Monks get +6/+3 Unarmed Attack Bonus, at Fighter 1/Monk 8, my Unarmed Attack Bonus should be +7/+4 before adding my Str modifier or Flurry of Blows, correct?Correct. Maybe. If you follow the 3e FAQ, that's what happens. If you follow Oriental Adventures, it's +7/+3 (apparently only adding nonmonk base attack bonuses to the first attack). The Player's Handbook, even post-errata, is silent on what happens. This is one of the reasons why I suggested switching to 3.5, where it's streamlined and not byzantine (just because earlier editions were mathematical Gordian knots doesn't mean this version needs to be).Also, I have a Monk's Belt, which you may or may not be familiar with. According to Third Edition:

"Monk's Belt - This simple rope belt, when wrapped around a character's waist, confers great ability in unarmed combat. Any time the wearer engages in unarmed combat, the belt grants him the ability to use both hands as though he possessed the Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats. He may also make a stunning attack (as a monk) once per day. If donned by a monk, the belt grants one additional stunning attack per day and allows the monk to haste herself once per day for up to 10 consecutive rounds."

With that equipped, a Str modifier of +3, if I Flurry of Blows and attack with both hands, would the unarmed attack bonus sequence be +8/+8/+6/+3? I believe I calculated that correctly, but at this point things started getting really confusing, lol. Thanks again for your reply.I'm familiar with the Monk's Belt -- both versions of it, actually. The 3.5 version is here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#beltMonks).

Do note that Ambidexterity and TWF really don't matter to a monk, since there's no such thing as striking with an off-hand -- this was reflected in the rules as Flurry of Blows. The FAQ actually claimed that you couldn't combine the two at all -- apparently, the Ambidex/TWF feats from the monk's belt were meant to be the non-monk's flurry.

Thus, you'd have a +8/+8/+5 attack sequence if you follow the 3e FAQ, or a +8/+8/+4 if you follow OA.

This confusion disappears COMPLETELY in 3.5, where an 8th level monk (flurry note: 1 extra attack, -1 overall) / 1st level fighter with a +3 Strength modifier (the Monk's Belt doesn't affect your attack bonus at all in 3.5) would attack at +10/+5 (regardless of weapon type), or +9/+9/+4 if flurrying (unarmed or monk weapon only).

...Yeah, the slicker monk rules were one of the big reasons I was VERY glad for the 3.5 update (as I said, I was playing a monk at the time).
Neef
11-05-06, 06:29 PM Do note that Ambidexterity and TWF really don't matter to a monk, since there's no such thing as striking with an off-hand -- this was reflected in the rules as Flurry of Blows. The FAQ actually claimed that you couldn't combine the two at all -- apparently, the Ambidex/TWF feats from the monk's belt were meant to be the non-monk's flurry.

Yeah, I remember reading about striking with an off-hand with monks in the 3rd Edition PH. However, the reason I wanted to use it was for an extra attack with my "off-hand" thus giving me 4 attacks. (2 regular, 3 with Flurry of Blows and 1 with my "off-hand".) Is this possible in the realm of 3rd Edition?
Tempest Stormwind
11-05-06, 06:39 PM Yeah, I remember reading about striking with an off-hand with monks in the 3rd Edition PH. However, the reason I wanted to use it was for an extra attack with my "off-hand" thus giving me 4 attacks. (2 regular, 3 with Flurry of Blows and 1 with my "off-hand".) Is this possible in the realm of 3rd Edition?No, which was cleared up in the 3e FAQ. As I've said, in 3e the monk rules in particular (and a lot of other rules in general) are nonsensical and convoluted.

It does work like you mention in 3.5, though (although it's a bit funky there as well, it is, at least, clearer).
Neef
11-06-06, 12:09 AM No, which was cleared up in the 3e FAQ.

Yeah, sorry about that. I read that in the FAQ right before I saw your post online, lol. Ok, thanks for all the help Tempest, you've been great!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Neef 11-05-06, 12:49 PM	Ok, well hopefully this is the right place to post this and if there's a search function for the forums, I couldn't find it. :( Ok, here's my questions: 1. If I'm a level 1 Fighter, level 8 Monk, what would my base attack bonus be, according to Third Edition rules? (Fighter was my first class level) 2. Does the level 1 base attack bonus from the Fighter add in on my Unarmed Attack Bonus? 3. Does the level 1 base attack bonus from the Fighter add in on any attacks past the first? Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I apolgize if there is indeed a search function.
Tempest Stormwind 11-05-06, 01:04 PM	Ok, well hopefully this is the right place to post this and if there's a search function for the forums, I couldn't find it. :( Ok, here's my questions: 1. If I'm a level 1 Fighter, level 8 Monk, what would my base attack bonus be, according to Third Edition rules? (Fighter was my first class level)Order doesn't matter. Just add the final levels together -- Fighter 1 gives +1, Monk 8 gives +6, so your final base attack bonus is +7. 2. Does the level 1 base attack bonus from the Fighter add in on my Unarmed Attack Bonus?Stop using 3.0 monk, move to 3.5. The 3.0 monk rules were confusing as hell and didn't add much to the game at all, while 3.5 cleared that up dramatically. I say this as a person who was playing a monk at the time of the revision. To see the 3.5 monk, go here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/monk.htm). (In fact, I firmly support the full upgrade to 3.5, but the monk alone will do for now.) If you're unable to upgrade at all (despite the rules being available for free), the direct answer to your question is both a yes and a no. It added numbers to the unarmed attack bonus, but it didn't count towards the number of attacks. Only levels in monk (or monklike PrCs) actually granted additional unarmed attacks, and the way they did it confused even the developers (try reading the section on monklike PrCs in Oriental Adventures, for instance; it's self-contradictory). Byzantine, I tell you.3. Does the level 1 base attack bonus from the Fighter add in on any attacks past the first?Yes. Your final attack sequence would be +7/+2. A 3.5 monk could flurry at +6/+6/+1 at this point. (Flurry gives one additional attack, with all attacks at -2. That penalty drops to -1 at 5th level, and at 9th it disappears, while at 11th level they get a second additional attack. That's your level in monk, not overall level, and this is 3.5, not 3e.)Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I apolgize if there is indeed a search function.There isn't but the admins claim to be working on it. We use Google's advanced search in the meantime.
Neef 11-05-06, 02:22 PM	Thanks for your quick and complete reply Tempest! If you're unable to upgrade at all (despite the rules being available for free), the direct answer to your question is both a yes and a no. It added numbers to the unarmed attack bonus, but it didn't count towards the number of attacks. Since at level 8, Monks get +6/+3 Unarmed Attack Bonus, at Fighter 1/Monk 8, my Unarmed Attack Bonus should be +7/+4 before adding my Str modifier or Flurry of Blows, correct? Also, I have a Monk's Belt, which you may or may not be familiar with. According to Third Edition: "Monk's Belt - This simple rope belt, when wrapped around a character's waist, confers great ability in unarmed combat. Any time the wearer engages in unarmed combat, the belt grants him the ability to use both hands as though he possessed the Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats. He may also make a stunning attack (as a monk) once per day. If donned by a monk, the belt grants one additional stunning attack per day and allows the monk to haste herself once per day for up to 10 consecutive rounds." With that equipped, a Str modifier of +3, if I Flurry of Blows and attack with both hands, would the unarmed attack bonus sequence be +8/+8/+6/+3? I believe I calculated that correctly, but at this point things started getting really confusing, lol. Thanks again for your reply.
Tempest Stormwind 11-05-06, 02:47 PM	Since at level 8, Monks get +6/+3 Unarmed Attack Bonus, at Fighter 1/Monk 8, my Unarmed Attack Bonus should be +7/+4 before adding my Str modifier or Flurry of Blows, correct?Correct. Maybe. If you follow the 3e FAQ, that's what happens. If you follow Oriental Adventures, it's +7/+3 (apparently only adding nonmonk base attack bonuses to the first attack). The Player's Handbook, even post-errata, is silent on what happens. This is one of the reasons why I suggested switching to 3.5, where it's streamlined and not byzantine (just because earlier editions were mathematical Gordian knots doesn't mean this version needs to be).Also, I have a Monk's Belt, which you may or may not be familiar with. According to Third Edition: "Monk's Belt - This simple rope belt, when wrapped around a character's waist, confers great ability in unarmed combat. Any time the wearer engages in unarmed combat, the belt grants him the ability to use both hands as though he possessed the Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats. He may also make a stunning attack (as a monk) once per day. If donned by a monk, the belt grants one additional stunning attack per day and allows the monk to haste herself once per day for up to 10 consecutive rounds." With that equipped, a Str modifier of +3, if I Flurry of Blows and attack with both hands, would the unarmed attack bonus sequence be +8/+8/+6/+3? I believe I calculated that correctly, but at this point things started getting really confusing, lol. Thanks again for your reply.I'm familiar with the Monk's Belt -- both versions of it, actually. The 3.5 version is here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#beltMonks). Do note that Ambidexterity and TWF really don't matter to a monk, since there's no such thing as striking with an off-hand -- this was reflected in the rules as Flurry of Blows. The FAQ actually claimed that you couldn't combine the two at all -- apparently, the Ambidex/TWF feats from the monk's belt were meant to be the non-monk's flurry. Thus, you'd have a +8/+8/+5 attack sequence if you follow the 3e FAQ, or a +8/+8/+4 if you follow OA. This confusion disappears COMPLETELY in 3.5, where an 8th level monk (flurry note: 1 extra attack, -1 overall) / 1st level fighter with a +3 Strength modifier (the Monk's Belt doesn't affect your attack bonus at all in 3.5) would attack at +10/+5 (regardless of weapon type), or +9/+9/+4 if flurrying (unarmed or monk weapon only). ...Yeah, the slicker monk rules were one of the big reasons I was VERY glad for the 3.5 update (as I said, I was playing a monk at the time).
Neef 11-05-06, 06:29 PM	Do note that Ambidexterity and TWF really don't matter to a monk, since there's no such thing as striking with an off-hand -- this was reflected in the rules as Flurry of Blows. The FAQ actually claimed that you couldn't combine the two at all -- apparently, the Ambidex/TWF feats from the monk's belt were meant to be the non-monk's flurry. Yeah, I remember reading about striking with an off-hand with monks in the 3rd Edition PH. However, the reason I wanted to use it was for an extra attack with my "off-hand" thus giving me 4 attacks. (2 regular, 3 with Flurry of Blows and 1 with my "off-hand".) Is this possible in the realm of 3rd Edition?
Tempest Stormwind 11-05-06, 06:39 PM	Yeah, I remember reading about striking with an off-hand with monks in the 3rd Edition PH. However, the reason I wanted to use it was for an extra attack with my "off-hand" thus giving me 4 attacks. (2 regular, 3 with Flurry of Blows and 1 with my "off-hand".) Is this possible in the realm of 3rd Edition?No, which was cleared up in the 3e FAQ. As I've said, in 3e the monk rules in particular (and a lot of other rules in general) are nonsensical and convoluted. It does work like you mention in 3.5, though (although it's a bit funky there as well, it is, at least, clearer).
Neef 11-06-06, 12:09 AM	No, which was cleared up in the 3e FAQ. Yeah, sorry about that. I read that in the FAQ right before I saw your post online, lol. Ok, thanks for all the help Tempest, you've been great!