Starting a homebrew campaign shortly where we're starting at lvl 3. I'm a bugbear bear totem barb and am thinking of multiclassing to make things a bit more interesting.
We rolled stats and I rolled well: 18, 17, 16, 13, 9 and 9. Right off the bat, I have 20 Str, 18 Dex, 16 Con, 9 Int, 13 Wis and 9 Cha. I want to develop the character into a sneaky boogeyman who gets really angry when stealth fails.
I'm thinking of going monk and becoming a grapply, punchy nightmare. With my longlimbs I'll have reach to grab people from a distance and pull them into the shadows.
Anyone make a similar character or class combo? What levels in each class do you all think would be ideal? I know it's not an optimal pairing but does seem like ridiculous fun.
UPDATE: I decided to start as a 1barb/2 monk and have since leveled to 1barb/3monk and chose the Way of Shadow. Combat is great fun with 39hp, AC 17 and 40 move speed. Rage, martial arts and FoB is pumping out good damage with solid durability and paired with Long limbs has allowed for near guaranteed reach grappling. Out of combat, the WoS abilities have already been useful. The plan is to hit 6 Monk for the Shadow Step before dipping back to barb till I reach totem barb and then back to monk. I'm leaning towards bear spirit but elk's bonus move speed paired with barb's and monk's ms increases would permit some stupid mobility.
I would jump into monk right away as they really need the levels to perform well. Also, you might consider switching the 16 from CON to WIS. You'll lose HP, but your AC will remain the same and your monk Ki save DC will increase nicely.
If you’re only doing it for the RP, then monk it up!
However, it is a pretty suboptimal pairing, as you seem to be aware. You’ll have competing versions of unarmoured defence, and since rage only gives bonus damage to strength attacks, I assume that you’ll still be attacking with strength?
Given your high stats this build is viable, but I would just put one lvl into barb and then focus on building monk levels as you need ki points as quickly as possible. Also, I would put the 16 into wisdom and the 13 into dex, since you will be using strength for attacks.
If you are doing it for the fun of roleplaying, then just do it. (This is the most important part)
However, mechanically Barbarian + Monk is a very bad combo.
unarmoured defence doesn't work with each other. You can have stealth skill from the background or muti-class to rogue or ranger.
If you want to hit people more often, consider picking up the fighter or ranger and takes Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style. You actually do more damage this way.
Martial Arts' Bonus Action damage: lv1~4: 1d4+dex, lv5~10: 1d6+dex, lv11~16: 1d8+dex. (the level are monk class level)
Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style Bonus Action damage:: lv1(for fighter) or lv2 (for ranger): 1d6+str+rage damage with Shortsword/Scimitar. After you pick up the Dual Wielder feat, use can use higher damage 1 hand or Versatile weapon and deal 1d8+str+rage damage.
side note: Monk can deal two attacks in the Bonus Action by spending Ki. However, you won't have that many Ki with muti-classing
If you want to play stealth, consider pick up Rogue or Ranger's subclass, Gloom Stalker. Keep in mind, Finesse means using str or dex. It doesn't have to be using dex.
Sounds fun! I've tried to come up with an interesting way to make a strength brawler that wasn't just painful to play, and this sounds like it has enough toys to stay fresh for a while.
If you are doing it for the fun of roleplaying, then just do it. (This is the most important part)
However, mechanically Barbarian + Monk is a very bad combo.
unarmoured defence doesn't work with each other. You can have stealth skill from the background or muti-class to rogue or ranger.
If you want to hit people more often, consider picking up the fighter or ranger and takes Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style. You actually do more damage this way.
Martial Arts' Bonus Action damage: lv1~4: 1d4+dex, lv5~10: 1d6+dex, lv11~16: 1d8+dex. (the level are monk class level)
Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style Bonus Action damage:: lv1(for fighter) or lv2 (for ranger): 1d6+str+rage damage with Shortsword/Scimitar. After you pick up the Dual Wielder feat, use can use higher damage 1 hand or Versatile weapon and deal 1d8+str+rage damage.
side note: Monk can deal two attacks in the Bonus Action by spending Ki. However, you won't have that many Ki with muti-classing
If you want to play stealth, consider pick up Rogue or Ranger's subclass, Gloom Stalker. Keep in mind, Finesse means using str or dex. It doesn't have to be using dex.
Just a reminder that the martial arts damage die don't have to use dex. Since you will be relying on Either Dex and Con or Dex and Wis for your AC, the point might be moot (at least after level 4), but there may be times where your strength is higher and your barbarian features will key off of it. Barbarians can use up to medium armor and can wield shields with their features, but both turn off martial arts. Your stats will make up for some of this and give you great flexibility.
Since you won't be using a shield, you can go with a quarterstaff and wield it with both hands to maximize your damage. That will give you 1d8+5 damage on your Attack action while leaving your unarmed strikes at 1d4+5. The average damage would be the same as dual wielding 1d6+5 weapons on average over the course of the two attacks without having to dip 1 level of fighter or two of ranger to get two weapon fighting style. At fifth level monk your d4 would become a d6 and at eleventh level monk it would become a d8. Depending on how you leveled the different builds, that would either put you on par with the ranger or fighter builds, or slightly ahead or slightly behind for a level or two. In other words, if you're going mostly monk, you'll be competitive damage wise. As long as you're having fun with it, you should be having a fair amount of fun with it.
I wouldn't go higher than 4th level with 1 of the classes due to extra attack not stacking, but you can get some decent options either way. Just remember that your unarmed attacks that trigger off a bonus action will compete with rage (not often a big deal) and some features like the fire damage aura of storm herald. That's not a bad thing per se, but many people are willing to forgo flexibility to ensure that everything stacks. Berserker would be a bad option with a monk multiclass considering your main feature wouldn't likely lead to a damage increase for your build that frequently and wouldn't be a significant increase otherwise. The exhaustion penalty ensures that the damage is almost not worth it unless you are great weapon fighting. Otherwise, pick your favorite flavor and enjoy. It sounds like Shadow Monk should be your pick for monk.
Just a note, if you look at rogue for sneak attack, you just need a finesse weapon to trigger sneak attack so you can still attack with strength. It would also let you play up the sneaky side and gain expertise in athletics to play up the grappling side. So all you would need is a dagger, short sword, or Rapier and you could play up this concept(sadly without teleporting through shadows).
Rogue barbarian bugbear sounds pretty good, right? Advantage whenever you need it and with Assassin and the bugbear's ambush skills and sneak attack...
Edit: Just try never to get surprised yourself. That would be really annoying.
It gets pretty crazy. In terms of RP, I've always liked utility wizard/barbarian characters because they're just a lot of fun.
When you gain a new level in a class, you get its features for that level. You don't, however, receive the class's starting equipment, and a few features have additional rules when you're multiclassing: Channel Divinity, Extra Attack, Unarmored Defense, and Spellcasting.
Unarmored Defense If you already have the Unarmored Defense feature, you can't gain it again from another class.
I will point out though that D&D Beyond doesn't enforce this rule, as our character builder doesn't remember the order that you gained the levels in the classes.
For a bugbear barbarian... I would definitely consider gloom stalker as opposed to monk. The features will synch up all too well... especially if you're going stealth. Being invisible to darkvision is crazy, and perfect for a bugbear boogyman.
If you are doing it for the fun of roleplaying, then just do it. (This is the most important part)
However, mechanically Barbarian + Monk is a very bad combo.
It can be bad but it can also be very good.
barbarian gives ancestral guardian, gives ancestral protectors (awesome) If DM's allow it, Tasha's dedicated weapon would give monks dedicated weapon to allow you to use something like a katana, (a longsword two-handed being something like a katana), and you can still do things like kick or hit with a hilt holding hand with those unarmed strikes getting those sweet monk buffs. You also get +10 feet unarmoured movement as your raging monk charges in kicking and sword swinging. monk 3 gives deflect missiles and Mercy subclass for hand of healing, or harm... (kensei alternatively gives ac buff) the heal can be used within a flurry of blows. slow fall is more than cool, extra cool if you flavour it as diving into whatever situation and hero landing unharmed. (Stunning strike could be good for mage killing, but allows con saving throws, burgh!), still super awesome when it works). Stillness of mind can end frightened or charmed condition. Evasion negates damage if making some dex saves and half damage on fail. You can run up walls and across water. get immunity to disease and poison. Flurry of healing and harm, nice
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Starting a homebrew campaign shortly where we're starting at lvl 3. I'm a bugbear bear totem barb and am thinking of multiclassing to make things a bit more interesting.
We rolled stats and I rolled well: 18, 17, 16, 13, 9 and 9. Right off the bat, I have 20 Str, 18 Dex, 16 Con, 9 Int, 13 Wis and 9 Cha. I want to develop the character into a sneaky boogeyman who gets really angry when stealth fails.
I'm thinking of going monk and becoming a grapply, punchy nightmare. With my longlimbs I'll have reach to grab people from a distance and pull them into the shadows.
Anyone make a similar character or class combo? What levels in each class do you all think would be ideal? I know it's not an optimal pairing but does seem like ridiculous fun.
UPDATE: I decided to start as a 1barb/2 monk and have since leveled to 1barb/3monk and chose the Way of Shadow. Combat is great fun with 39hp, AC 17 and 40 move speed. Rage, martial arts and FoB is pumping out good damage with solid durability and paired with Long limbs has allowed for near guaranteed reach grappling. Out of combat, the WoS abilities have already been useful. The plan is to hit 6 Monk for the Shadow Step before dipping back to barb till I reach totem barb and then back to monk. I'm leaning towards bear spirit but elk's bonus move speed paired with barb's and monk's ms increases would permit some stupid mobility.
I would jump into monk right away as they really need the levels to perform well. Also, you might consider switching the 16 from CON to WIS. You'll lose HP, but your AC will remain the same and your monk Ki save DC will increase nicely.
If you’re only doing it for the RP, then monk it up!
However, it is a pretty suboptimal pairing, as you seem to be aware. You’ll have competing versions of unarmoured defence, and since rage only gives bonus damage to strength attacks, I assume that you’ll still be attacking with strength?
Given your high stats this build is viable, but I would just put one lvl into barb and then focus on building monk levels as you need ki points as quickly as possible. Also, I would put the 16 into wisdom and the 13 into dex, since you will be using strength for attacks.
If you are doing it for the fun of roleplaying, then just do it. (This is the most important part)
However, mechanically Barbarian + Monk is a very bad combo.
unarmoured defence doesn't work with each other. You can have stealth skill from the background or muti-class to rogue or ranger.
If you want to hit people more often, consider picking up the fighter or ranger and takes Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style. You actually do more damage this way.
If you want to play stealth, consider pick up Rogue or Ranger's subclass, Gloom Stalker. Keep in mind, Finesse means using str or dex. It doesn't have to be using dex.
Sounds fun! I've tried to come up with an interesting way to make a strength brawler that wasn't just painful to play, and this sounds like it has enough toys to stay fresh for a while.
Just a reminder that the martial arts damage die don't have to use dex. Since you will be relying on Either Dex and Con or Dex and Wis for your AC, the point might be moot (at least after level 4), but there may be times where your strength is higher and your barbarian features will key off of it. Barbarians can use up to medium armor and can wield shields with their features, but both turn off martial arts. Your stats will make up for some of this and give you great flexibility.
Since you won't be using a shield, you can go with a quarterstaff and wield it with both hands to maximize your damage. That will give you 1d8+5 damage on your Attack action while leaving your unarmed strikes at 1d4+5. The average damage would be the same as dual wielding 1d6+5 weapons on average over the course of the two attacks without having to dip 1 level of fighter or two of ranger to get two weapon fighting style. At fifth level monk your d4 would become a d6 and at eleventh level monk it would become a d8. Depending on how you leveled the different builds, that would either put you on par with the ranger or fighter builds, or slightly ahead or slightly behind for a level or two. In other words, if you're going mostly monk, you'll be competitive damage wise. As long as you're having fun with it, you should be having a fair amount of fun with it.
I wouldn't go higher than 4th level with 1 of the classes due to extra attack not stacking, but you can get some decent options either way. Just remember that your unarmed attacks that trigger off a bonus action will compete with rage (not often a big deal) and some features like the fire damage aura of storm herald. That's not a bad thing per se, but many people are willing to forgo flexibility to ensure that everything stacks. Berserker would be a bad option with a monk multiclass considering your main feature wouldn't likely lead to a damage increase for your build that frequently and wouldn't be a significant increase otherwise. The exhaustion penalty ensures that the damage is almost not worth it unless you are great weapon fighting. Otherwise, pick your favorite flavor and enjoy. It sounds like Shadow Monk should be your pick for monk.
Just a note, if you look at rogue for sneak attack, you just need a finesse weapon to trigger sneak attack so you can still attack with strength. It would also let you play up the sneaky side and gain expertise in athletics to play up the grappling side. So all you would need is a dagger, short sword, or Rapier and you could play up this concept(sadly without teleporting through shadows).
Martial arts can be used with Dex or Str so you can add the rage bonus if you did Str martial arts.
In terms of anything more interesting...
Rogue barbarian bugbear sounds pretty good, right? Advantage whenever you need it and with Assassin and the bugbear's ambush skills and sneak attack...
Edit: Just try never to get surprised yourself. That would be really annoying.
It gets pretty crazy. In terms of RP, I've always liked utility wizard/barbarian characters because they're just a lot of fun.
Chilling kinda vibe.
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D&D Beyond FoundersOne thing to note, in multiclassing from Barbarian to Monk, is the you do NOT pick up the Monk Unarmored Defense feature.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/customization-options#ClassFeatures
I will point out though that D&D Beyond doesn't enforce this rule, as our character builder doesn't remember the order that you gained the levels in the classes.
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For a bugbear barbarian... I would definitely consider gloom stalker as opposed to monk. The features will synch up all too well... especially if you're going stealth. Being invisible to darkvision is crazy, and perfect for a bugbear boogyman.
It can be bad but it can also be very good.
barbarian gives ancestral guardian, gives ancestral protectors (awesome)
If DM's allow it, Tasha's dedicated weapon would give monks dedicated weapon to allow you to use something like a katana, (a longsword two-handed being something like a katana), and you can still do things like kick or hit with a hilt holding hand with those unarmed strikes getting those sweet monk buffs. You also get +10 feet unarmoured movement as your raging monk charges in kicking and sword swinging.
monk 3 gives deflect missiles and Mercy subclass for hand of healing, or harm... (kensei alternatively gives ac buff) the heal can be used within a flurry of blows.
slow fall is more than cool, extra cool if you flavour it as diving into whatever situation and hero landing unharmed.
(Stunning strike could be good for mage killing, but allows con saving throws, burgh!), still super awesome when it works).
Stillness of mind can end frightened or charmed condition.
Evasion negates damage if making some dex saves and half damage on fail.
You can run up walls and across water.
get immunity to disease and poison.
Flurry of healing and harm, nice