I have a level 6 tabaxi monk of the kensai weapon. She has 20Dex 11Str 12Con and 13Wis. She wields a longsword and sometimes a longbow. I’m considering a dip into barbarian for mostly roleplay reasons.
For roleplay, the dip makes perfect sense. Her ideal is inner peace but she is very terrible at it. When she fights, she tends to go crazy, forgetting her goal and turning into a furry ball of fury. She has an extremely quick temper both in and out of combat, and certain party members irk her a bit. You can tell she’s getting mad when she starts muttering ‘Inner peace. INNER PEACE!’ A barbarian dip would highlight this anger that contrasts with her goals and show her beginning to wield it to her advantage.
Stats wise, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Most of the barbarian features rely on strength attacks and monks focus on dex attacks. Her strength is terrible. However, while raging won’t get her a damage bonus, it will get her resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. This would be huge, since she tends to be up in melee with big damage enemies and gets knocked unconscious A LOT. Four times in one combat is her record, I believe. The party rogue relies on her for sneak attack, so it would benefit her also. Additionally, we tend to have one or two combats per day since there’s quite a bit of travel, so two rages would mean resistance a lot of the time.
When we’re talking about armor class, both versions of unarmored defense get her the same result, but using the barbarian one would allow her to increase her hit points and armor class at the same time with a con increases. I’ve pretty much given up on her wisdom- she never stuns things and I picked one of the only subclasses that doesn’t use it. A hit point increase with a d12 would also be very beneficial.
Do you think this could work? I’m worried about being behind in effectiveness since I won’t be able to take advantage of the rage damage bonus or go up to second level for reckless attack, since both require strength attacks.
I realize I would have to wait until 9th level, since I would need to spend an 8th level ASI to get my strength up. With that in mind- what do you think?
A dip in Barbarian, in your case, would basically only give you resistance to B,P,S damage, as you’ve stated. Some make the argument that per the multiclass rules you only benefit from unarmored defense from the first class that grants it
Unarmored Defense
If you already have the Unarmored Defense feature, you can't gain it again from another class.
Edit: sorry hit post before I was finished. So depending on how your DM rules it you increasing con will give you mor HP but not AC.
Just stick with Monk and pump WIS. Losing 2 WIS (or maybe a WIS half feat) to get your STR to 13 for the multiclass is a bad tradeoff. You lose 1 AC and Monk skills like Stunning Strike key off your WIS. You also lose a Ki point.
I'm all about making a multiclass dip for the sake of RP, and I think its a great idea.
Rage has three benefits, and the only one you can't use is at its weakest at first level. The thematic fit sounds perfect, and if you strength sucks, then having advantage on saving throws for it sounds like a great addition. So does damage resistance, especially if you are the damage sponge while your rogue does his or her job :)
I agree that one level is probably the best, as its also true that you want to bump up your monk abilities as best as you can.
I have a level 6 tabaxi monk of the kensai weapon. She has 20Dex 11Str 12Con and 13Wis. She wields a longsword and sometimes a longbow. I’m considering a dip into barbarian for mostly roleplay reasons.
For roleplay, the dip makes perfect sense. Her ideal is inner peace but she is very terrible at it. When she fights, she tends to go crazy, forgetting her goal and turning into a furry ball of fury. She has an extremely quick temper both in and out of combat, and certain party members irk her a bit. You can tell she’s getting mad when she starts muttering ‘Inner peace. INNER PEACE!’ A barbarian dip would highlight this anger that contrasts with her goals and show her beginning to wield it to her advantage.
Stats wise, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Most of the barbarian features rely on strength attacks and monks focus on dex attacks. Her strength is terrible. However, while raging won’t get her a damage bonus, it will get her resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. This would be huge, since she tends to be up in melee with big damage enemies and gets knocked unconscious A LOT. Four times in one combat is her record, I believe. The party rogue relies on her for sneak attack, so it would benefit her also. Additionally, we tend to have one or two combats per day since there’s quite a bit of travel, so two rages would mean resistance a lot of the time.
When we’re talking about armor class, both versions of unarmored defense get her the same result, but using the barbarian one would allow her to increase her hit points and armor class at the same time with a con increases. I’ve pretty much given up on her wisdom- she never stuns things and I picked one of the only subclasses that doesn’t use it. A hit point increase with a d12 would also be very beneficial.
Do you think this could work? I’m worried about being behind in effectiveness since I won’t be able to take advantage of the rage damage bonus or go up to second level for reckless attack, since both require strength attacks.
Only spilt the party if you see something shiny.
Ariendela Sneakerson, Half-elf Rogue (8); Harmony Wolfsbane, Tiefling Bard (10); Agnomally, Gnomish Sorcerer (3); Breeze, Tabaxi Monk (8); Grace, Dragonborn Barbarian (7); DM, Homebrew- The Sequestered Lands/Underwater Explorers; Candlekeep
I realize I would have to wait until 9th level, since I would need to spend an 8th level ASI to get my strength up. With that in mind- what do you think?
Only spilt the party if you see something shiny.
Ariendela Sneakerson, Half-elf Rogue (8); Harmony Wolfsbane, Tiefling Bard (10); Agnomally, Gnomish Sorcerer (3); Breeze, Tabaxi Monk (8); Grace, Dragonborn Barbarian (7); DM, Homebrew- The Sequestered Lands/Underwater Explorers; Candlekeep
A dip in Barbarian, in your case, would basically only give you resistance to B,P,S damage, as you’ve stated. Some make the argument that per the multiclass rules you only benefit from unarmored defense from the first class that grants it
Edit: sorry hit post before I was finished. So depending on how your DM rules it you increasing con will give you mor HP but not AC.
How far do you plan on taking Barbarian?
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Just 1st- the second level feature is pretty much useless for me.
Only spilt the party if you see something shiny.
Ariendela Sneakerson, Half-elf Rogue (8); Harmony Wolfsbane, Tiefling Bard (10); Agnomally, Gnomish Sorcerer (3); Breeze, Tabaxi Monk (8); Grace, Dragonborn Barbarian (7); DM, Homebrew- The Sequestered Lands/Underwater Explorers; Candlekeep
Just stick with Monk and pump WIS. Losing 2 WIS (or maybe a WIS half feat) to get your STR to 13 for the multiclass is a bad tradeoff. You lose 1 AC and Monk skills like Stunning Strike key off your WIS. You also lose a Ki point.
I'm all about making a multiclass dip for the sake of RP, and I think its a great idea.
Rage has three benefits, and the only one you can't use is at its weakest at first level. The thematic fit sounds perfect, and if you strength sucks, then having advantage on saving throws for it sounds like a great addition. So does damage resistance, especially if you are the damage sponge while your rogue does his or her job :)
I agree that one level is probably the best, as its also true that you want to bump up your monk abilities as best as you can.