Optimal Large Race, and Maximizing Unarmed Damage...

[dman11235]

Nope, it's 3.  Otherwise you wouldn't get that second damage bump.  And trust me, that damage bump is key, it can increase your damage by a full 8d8.

[Sunic_Flames]

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

You missed the humor.

Fist =/= First.

Anyways, Ring of Sustenance?

[EjoThims]

Nope, it's 3.  Otherwise you wouldn't get that second damage bump.  And trust me, that damage bump is key, it can increase your damage by a full 8d8.

Whoops. I had read it as 1d8 for all 3 levels.

So it's either a 1 level or a 3 level class. Taking just 2 levels would be like taking 3 levels of fighter.

[dman11235]

iirc level 2 gets you Uncanny Dodge and Untamed Strike.  Untamed Strike isn't all that great, but UD is pretty nice.  So it's like taking wizard 6.  Still gets you more good stuff, just not as good as it can be (another spell level).

[ksbsnowowl]

Untamed Strike isn't all that great...

Depends.  Did you read the whole ability?  If you are facing off against incorporeal foes, one Magic Fang spell makes you the best able to deal consistent damage to said foe.

You missed the humor.

Fist =/= First.

*Facepalm*

[dman11235]

It's better than Ki Strike, that's for sure, but I didn't see anything about free Ghost Touch if you just give yourself an enhancement bonus somehow.  Way I read it, just making your body magical has the exact same effect.

[ksbsnowowl]

Ah, but you get to apply such things in the most beneficial way possible.  Thus, if your unarmed strikes become magical, the untamed strike then shifts to greater ghost touch mode.

[dman11235]

Lesser Ghost Touch isn't an item property as far as I know.  The only place I have seen it is in this class, and it's not a bonus or anything, it just makes your US treated as a magic weapon for the purposes of striking incorporeal.  So applying magic first would let you...strike incorporeal as a magic weapon.  Yipee?

[Eldariel]

*Facepalm*

We really need the *facepalm* smiley in the small list.

[ksbsnowowl]

So applying magic first would let you...strike incorporeal as a magic weapon.  Yipee?

Wrong.  A magic weapon gives you a 50% chance to deal damage to the incorporeal foe (as opposed to no chance with a non-magic weapon), and a 50% chance to deal no damage to the incorporeal foe.  The ability granted by Untamed Strike means you always deal at least half damage, if not full damage.

[dman11235]

Ah, I see.  It's still not all that big though.  Given the very small number of incorporeal foes, and the even smaller still number of incorporeal foes that will let you melee them.  And I say just get a Truedeath Crystal.

[ksbsnowowl]

And I say just get a Truedeath Crystal.

Can you use such crystals with unarmed strikes?

[dman11235]

Well, they ARE weapons...

[Caelic]

Seems like it would fall under the clause concerning a Monk's unarmed strikes being considered both manufactured and natural weapons for purposes of enhancements, no?  Now, mind you, embedding the crystals could be painful.  I suppose he could wear one in a pinky ring.

[Sunic_Flames]

What about those wraps martial artists use? Couldn't he slip one in there?

[ZeroSum]