I created a level 3 character, two levels in Ranger and a level in monk. Which allows me to get the fine AC of 16 with a free hand.
I then started experimenting with a spear with the trident's topple and nets. Because if I net someone with my free hand then topple them with the spear, I would have effectively made a ranged grapple + shove with a better condition!
So how well would a beastmaster monk go? What level would be the best to have the monk dip and is it worth it for that free hand?
Toppling doesn't do anything for you, the enemy being Restrained does everything Topple does and more. - e.g. if you have an ally with a ranged attack they have advantage on a creature in a net but disadvantage on one that is prone.
Beastmaster and Monk don't go together because both of them get much more powerful the more levels you take of each, so a level 10 monk > 5-monk 5-beastmaster but also 10-beastmaster > 5-monk and 5 beastmaster. They are both also super bonus action heavy, Ranger has two-weapon fighting, hunter's mark, and commanding your beast companion which all use a bonus action, monk has unarmed strike, flurry of blow, dash, disengage and dodge all as bonus actions. But you only get one bonus action per turn. Really the only thing in Monk that would be significantly beneficial to ranger is Deflect Attacks.
Were you taking the monk just for the AC boost? Because barkskin now gives you AC 17 without concentration. And an 18 dex and off-the-shelf studded leather will get you to a 16 with a free hand.
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I created a level 3 character, two levels in Ranger and a level in monk. Which allows me to get the fine AC of 16 with a free hand.
I then started experimenting with a spear with the trident's topple and nets. Because if I net someone with my free hand then topple them with the spear, I would have effectively made a ranged grapple + shove with a better condition!
So how well would a beastmaster monk go? What level would be the best to have the monk dip and is it worth it for that free hand?
Toppling doesn't do anything for you, the enemy being Restrained does everything Topple does and more. - e.g. if you have an ally with a ranged attack they have advantage on a creature in a net but disadvantage on one that is prone.
Beastmaster and Monk don't go together because both of them get much more powerful the more levels you take of each, so a level 10 monk > 5-monk 5-beastmaster but also 10-beastmaster > 5-monk and 5 beastmaster. They are both also super bonus action heavy, Ranger has two-weapon fighting, hunter's mark, and commanding your beast companion which all use a bonus action, monk has unarmed strike, flurry of blow, dash, disengage and dodge all as bonus actions. But you only get one bonus action per turn. Really the only thing in Monk that would be significantly beneficial to ranger is Deflect Attacks.
Were you taking the monk just for the AC boost? Because barkskin now gives you AC 17 without concentration. And an 18 dex and off-the-shelf studded leather will get you to a 16 with a free hand.