Superior Unarmed Strike and Monk Dip

[Tibbaerrohwen]

A question regarding Superior Unarmed Strike from p. 33 of ToB. It states under special that, if you're a Monk, you instead add 4 to your Monk level when determining you unarmed attack damage. If you are taking a dip in Monk, are you stuck with the Monk damage, even if it would be lower than the damage for your level on the chart?

Thanks.

[Eldariel]

A question regarding Superior Unarmed Strike from p. 33 of ToB. It states under special that, if you're a Monk, you instead add 4 to your Monk level when determining you unarmed attack damage. If you are taking a dip in Monk, are you stuck with the Monk damage, even if it would be lower than the damage for your level on the chart?

Thanks.

By RAW, yes. Probably not unreasonable or even against intent to rule otherwise tho; as a DM I'd always use the higher of SUS table or Monk-level.

[Darrin]

A question regarding Superior Unarmed Strike from p. 33 of ToB. It states under special that, if you're a Monk, you instead add 4 to your Monk level when determining you unarmed attack damage. If you are taking a dip in Monk, are you stuck with the Monk damage, even if it would be lower than the damage for your level on the chart?

Yes, if you have any levels of Monk, by RAW you can't use the chart on ToB p. 33. However, there are several ways to acquire a monk's unarmed strike without taking any levels of monk:

Battle Dancer (Dragon Compendium)
Fist of the Forest (Complete Champion)
Shou Disciple (Unapproachable East)
Unarmed Swordsage variant (ToB)

[Keld Denar]

Frostrager (Frostburn)

Well, its not "monk" UAS damage, per se, but it is advanced UAS damage.

[Tibbaerrohwen]

Besides a Monk's Belt, are there other items that give Monk UAS progression?

[FMArthur]

Well, there's the Fanged Ring from Dragon Magic. 10,000gp for an item that gives you Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Natural Attack (Unarmed Strike) and 1 Con damage on a critical with unarmed strikes.

[Tibbaerrohwen]

Well, there's the Fanged Ring from Dragon Magic. 10,000gp for an item that gives you Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Natural Attack (Unarmed Strike) and 1 Con damage on a critical with unarmed strikes.

It's a little pricy for a 4th level character, but it is something to keep in mind for later.

Though it doesn't list it under "Feats" in UA, under generic classes, could you get Monk UAS from the Warrior class?

[Curmudgeon]

Your best option, if you want significant unarmed damage, is to avoid Monk levels entirely. Superior Unarmed Strike will give you the unarmed damage progression of a Small Monk through level 19, for just the cost of one extra feat and no class levels. This damage doesn't vary with your character size, so if you're already Small you're doing as well as a Monk for unarmed damage, and you've got all the benefits of whatever class levels you choose in addition. Pick a Tiny race and you're doing even better. :smallcool: