Optimal Large Race, and Maximizing Unarmed Damage...

[SixthDeclension]

What race would give the most benefits(including large size or powerful build) for the smallest LA?
Also, does powerful build effect unarmed damage? It gives most of the benefits of being large, so I assume it would.

What items, feats, templates, and spells would maximize unarmed strike attacks & damage for a monk?

[Bauglir]

My advice is a Half-Minotaur anything Medium. Probably Dwarf, Orc, or Mongrelfolk. Orcs and Mongrelfolk have significant mental penalties, but one gives +4 Str and the other gives +4 Con. Make either one Dragonborn, except you're going for Monk and so probably want Dex (although you could always PrC into Fist of the Forest or Stonewarden or both). You'll have +1 LA, but Large size and (using the Mongrelfolk as an example), +12 Str, +12 Con, -4 Dex, -4 Int, -4 Cha. A higher AC character would lose Dragonborn for -2 Con, +2 Dex, and +4 Natural armor, among other things.

That might be a bit over the top, though.

[ninjarabbit]

No sane DM is going to allow the half-minotaur for only a LA +1.

Personally I'd say it's a toss up between Golaith and Half-Ogre. I prefer half-ogre personally because it can take the Human Heritage feat and benefit from Enlarge Person, becoming huge sized with only a 1st level spell.

And no powerful build doesn't increase unarmed strike damage by RAW, though it would hardly be gamebreaking if it did.

[Ubernoob]

Why doesn't powerful build increase unarmed damage?  I thought it did.  Honest question.

[blargney the second]

If you use the half-minotaur as written in the article, it might slip under a DM's radar.  If you throw on the MM size alterations like some people interpret it will never fly.

Personally I'd go with a changeling half-minotaur and work in some Warshaper love.

[Bauglir]

Hm, you're right. Warshaper is most tasty, especially considering the +4 to both Str and Con. Also, I'd agree with not applying the MM adjustments for balance reasons. The template just explicitly says to, is all. I'd put it at +2 or maybe very low +3 with them.

[heffroncm]

Yeah, it's not so much an "interpretation" as it is the template screaming "DO DIS NAO!!"

[Runestar]

Why doesn't powerful build increase unarmed damage?  I thought it did.  Honest question.

Unarmed damage is calculated off your base size. Powerful build merely lets you be treated as 1 size larger for a very specific list of abilities which are clearly listed out in the respective entries, and unarmed strike damage is not one of them. So you are still your original size with regards to unarmed strike damage.

[blargney the second]

*laugh*

OMG, I didn't realize that line in Size and Type referred to the stat bits!  I thought it was just for space/reach.  Bruuuuutal.  That's what I get for making assumptions!  Even so, 50%minos are nasty business even without that table.

I've been thinking of making a half-mino changeling dungeoncrasher build for a while, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[dman11235]

Aha!  My build of doom for unarmed damage strikes!  All of the important bits can be garnered through here.  Basically, you can get a max of colossal damage through Greater Mighty Whallop, which can be done from a small size or larger, larger sizes just cut down on the wand cost (and CL).  Fist of the Forest 3+Initiate of Draconic Mysteries 8 give you 4 dice increases.  7 effective monk levels+SUS+Monk's Belt+Monk's Tattoo get you 20th level monk damage, the method of gaining 7 effective levels is open.  Unfortunately INA won't stack with this, or else you could increase it beyond 36d8, nor will just about any other dice increase method I have found (they all increase effective size, which won't stack, and even if they did, colossal is the largest size, even if you increase it beyond that it won't do more damage without a HR).

[Sunic_Flames]

Funny how a half mino has on average +4 strength over a full mino eh?

[Bauglir]

Must be some sort of hybrid vigor effect. Or somesuch.

[Rebel7284]

I once built my little brother a Half Minotaur Goliath using the MM stat adjustments.  The DM let him play but gave me a few dirty looks when he outdamaged the whole party by several times.  Huge Keen Jovar didn't help either.

[Caelic]

Well, it's not quite what you're looking for, but I've been futzing with this:

Changeling

Wildshape Ranger 5/Monk 4/Master of Many Forms 7/Fist of the Forest 4

Add in Ascetic Hunter, and fight in War Troll form (which, since you're a Changeling, looks just like you, only bigger.)

Alternately, use Cave Troll form and mix and match unarmed strikes and natural weapons.

[Rebel7284]

Isn't First of the Forest 3 levels long?

[ksbsnowowl]

Isn't First of the Forest 3 levels long?

Yes.

[Sunic_Flames]

First of the Forest eh? Is that like George of the Jungle? (watch out for that tree!)

[ksbsnowowl]

First of the Forest eh? Is that like George of the Jungle? (watch out for that tree!)

It's like one of the best and coolest PrC's for unarmed combat (other than Shou Disciple).  Gain Full BAB, Good Fort and Ref saves, increased unarmed damage, Con to AC, a rage-like ability that grants +4 Dex and a bite attack, scent.  It's awesome.

Only thing is that you have to sleep outside and hunt or beg for your own food.

[Caelic]

Isn't First of the Forest 3 levels long?

Yep.  What I get for kludging builds in my head without my books handy.  Version 1.1:

Wildshape Ranger 5/Monk 4/Master of Many Forms 7/Fist of the Forest 2/Warshaper 2

BAB: +16
Fort: +20
Ref: +17
Will: +8

Unarmed damage winds up being 3d8, if I'm doing the math right...not too shabby. 

[EjoThims]

Isn't First of the Forest 1 level long?

Fixed that for you.