RP aspects of race/class/background are always up to the player, within reason. Monk doesn't restrict you to Lawful alignment like it used to or anything like that.
Check out the Sun Soul Monk from Xanathar's if you want a monk who can fire radiant energy from his hands at will. Since you aren't prioritizing WIS, you might want to dip Barbarian for the unarmored defense from CON as well, though in that case it won't stack on the radiant bolts from Sun Soul because they're DEX-based. Seems thematic, though.
Yeah, use your background to guide how you approach being a Monk. I wouldn't just make it "I'm a Fighter but I punch things instead" - try to figure out how your particular style of "monkiness" translates to your abilities.
Be careful about taking a different class level before 5, because Monks get Extra Attack then (and an ability score increase at 4 too!). But delaying one level before going back to Monk isn't so bad, play it by ear. You'll be a bit behind other players' damage output at character level 5, but you'll also be getting damage resistance during Rage and boosting your unarmored AC, which might come as a relief.
Humans make good well-rounded Monks because they help with boosting a bunch of stats under point buy - you can start a number of ability scores at 13 and get a cheap boost up to +2 in a few stats. Stout Halflings and Air Genasi get DEX and CON, while Half-Orcs or Earth Genasi get STR and CON, so each also fit the physical theme. Or just go with what feels right for your concept. If you do go Barbarian, remember you only get your Rage damage bonus on STR-based attacks, so you'll want to prioritize that more than DEX.
You only get the first Unarmored Defense. So if you start out as monk you can't get the Barbarian and Visa v... I think it's stupid, but that's how it works.
You only get the first Unarmored Defense. So if you start out as monk you can't get the Barbarian and Visa v... I think it's stupid, but that's how it works.
This is incorrect. At your first level of Barbarian, you get their Unarmored Defense (Barbarian). At your first level of Monk, you get their Unarmored Defense (Monk). These each provide a method to calculate AC. These do not stack, but you may choose to calculate your AC via either method once you have levels in both. This is correct.
You only get the first Unarmored Defense. So if you start out as monk you can't get the Barbarian and Visa v... I think it's stupid, but that's how it works.
This is incorrect. At your first level of Barbarian, you get their Unarmored Defense (Barbarian). At your first level of Monk, you get their Unarmored Defense (Monk). These each provide a method to calculate AC. These do not stack, but you may choose to calculate your AC via either method once you have levels in both.
RP aspects of race/class/background are always up to the player, within reason. Monk doesn't restrict you to Lawful alignment like it used to or anything like that.
Check out the Sun Soul Monk from Xanathar's if you want a monk who can fire radiant energy from his hands at will. Since you aren't prioritizing WIS, you might want to dip Barbarian for the unarmored defense from CON as well, though in that case it won't stack on the radiant bolts from Sun Soul because they're DEX-based. Seems thematic, though.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
Yeah, use your background to guide how you approach being a Monk. I wouldn't just make it "I'm a Fighter but I punch things instead" - try to figure out how your particular style of "monkiness" translates to your abilities.
Be careful about taking a different class level before 5, because Monks get Extra Attack then (and an ability score increase at 4 too!). But delaying one level before going back to Monk isn't so bad, play it by ear. You'll be a bit behind other players' damage output at character level 5, but you'll also be getting damage resistance during Rage and boosting your unarmored AC, which might come as a relief.
Humans make good well-rounded Monks because they help with boosting a bunch of stats under point buy - you can start a number of ability scores at 13 and get a cheap boost up to +2 in a few stats. Stout Halflings and Air Genasi get DEX and CON, while Half-Orcs or Earth Genasi get STR and CON, so each also fit the physical theme. Or just go with what feels right for your concept. If you do go Barbarian, remember you only get your Rage damage bonus on STR-based attacks, so you'll want to prioritize that more than DEX.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
You will want to be Barbarian first then Monk.
You only get the first Unarmored Defense. So if you start out as monk you can't get the Barbarian and Visa v... I think it's stupid, but that's how it works.
This is incorrect. At your first level of Barbarian, you get their Unarmored Defense (Barbarian). At your first level of Monk, you get their Unarmored Defense (Monk). These each provide a method to calculate AC. These do not stack, but you may choose to calculate your AC via either method once you have levels in both.This is correct.Formatting Tooltips, because I always forget
Formatting Tooltips, because I always forget