Quick question for ruling and mechanics based on some multiclass crazy players I have. If a character is a level 2 Monk, level 2 Barbarian, level 1 Fighter (I know I hate it too), he has to pick and choose which Unarmored Defence he gets right? Be it the Barbarian's dex+con that allows shields or the Monk's dex+wis that doesn't, at the very least I'm 99% sure he can't stack those. The meat of the topic is I'm convinced the guy's using the Barbarian formula, which as a base, locks him out of any benefit from level 1 Monk aka no Martial Arts and no Monk's Unarmored Defence. But would you say that locks him out of Ki usage?
Lemme give you a better perspective, my group asked for a PvP oneshot kind of setting when our DM wasn't available and I kind of stepped in overnight, to be clear this isn't a situation I think I'd allow in a real campaign but I'm still learning the DM ropes and knots. One of my player is a big Monk fan and argued that because the multiclass monstrosity over there is using a bunch of Barbarian perks, he wouldn't be getting access to Monk features. Now I've explained that by virtue of having a shield on or using a battleaxe with two hands, Frankenstein over here doesn't get the Monk's damage die (though of course he's an Aarakorka with talons) and does not get to use his bonus action to make an unarmed strike cuz battleaxe/shield/no monk weapon or free hand to set this chain. So Monk 1 is a d8 hit die and nothing else here. Ki however, and more importantly Flurry of Blows has no listed tie to the Martial Arts feature, granted if he was anything but a race with natural claws doing 1 damage + STR mod would be pretty pointless, but provided he takes the Attack Action with his battleaxe in 1 hand and didn't have his shield equipped then Flurry of Blows would be possible, right? I do mention the shield being off cuz it feels min maxy that I'd allow Frankenstein to wield an axe, a shield and kick with talons all at once, Unarmed Strike being a punch or a kick is pure flavor and not a mechanical distinction.
I'm trying to see if me explaining to Monkbro that Martial Arts BA Unarmed Strike x1 and Ki Flurry of Blows Unarmed Strike x2 for 1 Ki are 2 different uses of a Bonus Action is incorrect or if I really am unaware of an off book Sage Advice or Tweet or w/e that makes Monkbro right in being pissed off. All I'm saying is I'm so glad these characters are only gonna be used one last time and I'm gonna ask for story reasons for multiclassing when I start session 0 for real.....
Choosing your AC method does not affect ki useage.
Monk Flurry has no restrictions on armor. A third level fighter/ 1 level monk with a fancy +3 Platemail (wealthy father) can wear the armor and still flurry for two non-monk unarmed strikes as a bonus action. They would not however get the martial arts die, nor could he use Dex or get the free single monk unarmed strike.
A Monk's Unarmoured Defence and their Martial Arts features are two distinct features and do not require each other to function. They both do get disabled if they wear a shield or wear armour though.
You are right that the two Unarmoured Defence features of Monk and Barbarian don't stack. They are AC calculations and you cannot use more than one armour calculation at a time. They will generally choose whichever gives them the highest AC (because why wouldn't they?). But - like I said - if they wear a shield it will still disable their Monk Martial Arts.
Ki points and the features it offers don't require the ability to use Martial Arts - so RAW they should be able to continue to use them - even when wearing a shield.
You are correct about unarmored defense being one of the other. In fact, you only get 1, if you multiclass you don't even get to choose the second.
And yeah, monk's martial arts basically don't exist if you are using a shield or non-monk weapon.
Ki can be used freely regardless of equipment. This includes the flurry of blows (though it will be 1+STR damage unless you have another feature like talons).
Aarakocra can use their talons (on their feet) to make unarmed strikes even if their hands are full.
Greetings everyone!
Quick question for ruling and mechanics based on some multiclass crazy players I have.
If a character is a level 2 Monk, level 2 Barbarian, level 1 Fighter (I know I hate it too), he has to pick and choose which Unarmored Defence he gets right? Be it the Barbarian's dex+con that allows shields or the Monk's dex+wis that doesn't, at the very least I'm 99% sure he can't stack those.
The meat of the topic is I'm convinced the guy's using the Barbarian formula, which as a base, locks him out of any benefit from level 1 Monk aka no Martial Arts and no Monk's Unarmored Defence. But would you say that locks him out of Ki usage?
Lemme give you a better perspective, my group asked for a PvP oneshot kind of setting when our DM wasn't available and I kind of stepped in overnight, to be clear this isn't a situation I think I'd allow in a real campaign but I'm still learning the DM ropes and knots. One of my player is a big Monk fan and argued that because the multiclass monstrosity over there is using a bunch of Barbarian perks, he wouldn't be getting access to Monk features.
Now I've explained that by virtue of having a shield on or using a battleaxe with two hands, Frankenstein over here doesn't get the Monk's damage die (though of course he's an Aarakorka with talons) and does not get to use his bonus action to make an unarmed strike cuz battleaxe/shield/no monk weapon or free hand to set this chain. So Monk 1 is a d8 hit die and nothing else here. Ki however, and more importantly Flurry of Blows has no listed tie to the Martial Arts feature, granted if he was anything but a race with natural claws doing 1 damage + STR mod would be pretty pointless, but provided he takes the Attack Action with his battleaxe in 1 hand and didn't have his shield equipped then Flurry of Blows would be possible, right? I do mention the shield being off cuz it feels min maxy that I'd allow Frankenstein to wield an axe, a shield and kick with talons all at once, Unarmed Strike being a punch or a kick is pure flavor and not a mechanical distinction.
I'm trying to see if me explaining to Monkbro that Martial Arts BA Unarmed Strike x1 and Ki Flurry of Blows Unarmed Strike x2 for 1 Ki are 2 different uses of a Bonus Action is incorrect or if I really am unaware of an off book Sage Advice or Tweet or w/e that makes Monkbro right in being pissed off.
All I'm saying is I'm so glad these characters are only gonna be used one last time and I'm gonna ask for story reasons for multiclassing when I start session 0 for real.....
Choosing your AC method does not affect ki useage.
Monk Flurry has no restrictions on armor. A third level fighter/ 1 level monk with a fancy +3 Platemail (wealthy father) can wear the armor and still flurry for two non-monk unarmed strikes as a bonus action. They would not however get the martial arts die, nor could he use Dex or get the free single monk unarmed strike.
A Monk's Unarmoured Defence and their Martial Arts features are two distinct features and do not require each other to function. They both do get disabled if they wear a shield or wear armour though.
You are right that the two Unarmoured Defence features of Monk and Barbarian don't stack. They are AC calculations and you cannot use more than one armour calculation at a time. They will generally choose whichever gives them the highest AC (because why wouldn't they?). But - like I said - if they wear a shield it will still disable their Monk Martial Arts.
Ki points and the features it offers don't require the ability to use Martial Arts - so RAW they should be able to continue to use them - even when wearing a shield.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
You are correct about unarmored defense being one of the other. In fact, you only get 1, if you multiclass you don't even get to choose the second.
And yeah, monk's martial arts basically don't exist if you are using a shield or non-monk weapon.
Ki can be used freely regardless of equipment. This includes the flurry of blows (though it will be 1+STR damage unless you have another feature like talons).
Aarakocra can use their talons (on their feet) to make unarmed strikes even if their hands are full.
I think that is everything.