Monk/Druid interaction.

[GawainBS]

After reading the Wiki, I just want to ask if I understand it correctly:

Wildshape's number of attacks is determined by your BAB.

While Wildshaped, you can use Flurry of Blows.

While Wildshaped, you use the highest *Enhancement* bonus to AC from either shield or armour or bracers.

While Wildshaped and not wearing shield or armour, you get the Monk's AC bonus.

While being not Lawful Neutral, you still gain XP, but can't level in either class, correct?

Thanks in advance!

[Scottg]

After reading the Wiki, I just want to ask if I understand it correctly:

Wildshape's number of attacks is determined by your BAB.

While Wildshaped, you can use Flurry of Blows.

While Wildshaped, you use the highest *Enhancement* bonus to AC from either shield or armour or bracers.

While Wildshaped and not wearing shield or armour, you get the Monk's AC bonus.

While being not Lawful Neutral, you still gain XP, but can't level in either class, correct?

Thanks in advance!

It's very confusing..

*WRONG* (see discussion in following posts below): Wildshape's number of attacks are dictated by the *form*, not BAB. Note that the form does improve based on specific discreet Druid levels. (..at Druid level 12 your form becomes "dire".. as opposed to normal. Elemental shapes go "elder" at Druid level 20.)


You can add to this with a Monk's Flurry and Greater Flurry, and a FB's Frenzy, and finally via Haste or Battletide or Storm Avatar. I'm fairly certain that if you use Divine Power after assuming your Wild Shape (via Natrual Spell), you should have your number of attacks improved. (..needs to be tested.)

Circle "Kicks" and Cleave(s) also add to the number of attacks per round regardless of form.


AC is a VERY "murky" topic, with conflicts in the description between the Druid page and the Wildshape page.

Natural Armor bonuses from classes stack.. which includes the Monk class.

Monk Wisdom bonus stacks with other sources, and at one time once you were shifted, a shield in hand (at the time shifting), added to your Monk bonus (..and didn't disqualify your Monk AC wisdom bonus because presumably in your shifted form you are no longer "holding" the shield). I don't know if that is correct anymore. (..needs to be tested.)

Alternatively, you could wear armor and "ditch" the bonuses.. as far as I know only Armor and Shield bonuses transfer, though the wikia mentions helmets and any potential deflection bonus they might provide. This apparently does NOT hold true for playing "on-line".

Combat Expertise and Improved Combat Expertise can be added to this, as can any ability from the "right side" function (..like Power Attack and Flurry). Of course it's either Combat Expertise OR Flurry, not both. Even Hellfire Warlock functions work while *shifted* (..though not polymorped as in a Warlock's invocation: Word of Changing).

Magical Enhancements ONLY *on* Armor (including "robes") and Shields transfer, though again the wikia mentions helmet and a potential deflection bonus. In any event, ONLY the highest number from these sources gets added to your AC - so presumably a +2 Helm, and +5 robes, and +4 Shield nets a +5 bonus because it's the highest of the 3.

The wikia states that AC bonus from items from other sources do NOT get added to your AC. So no, bracers apparently don't provide any benefit, nor would Boots of the Sun Soul with a dodge bonus, or an amulet with a natural armor bonus, a ring with deflection bonus, a cape with a deflection bonus, etc..

Spell bonuses to any of the types of armor will add to your AC with their own normal limitations on stacking. What I don't know is how those normal limitations interact with the "highest value" for item enhancements. In other words if it "pulls" from your AC as your highest enhancement bonus, does this mean you can add to your bonus with a shield spell enhancement? If it "pulls" from your Shield, does this mean you can add to your bonus with an Armor spell enhancement? Perhaps the "highest" equipment bonus can be stacked with any spell? (..needs to be tested.)


To continue advancing as a Druid you must have "Neutral" as one of your two types of alignment.

To continue advancing as a Monk you must have "Lawful" as part of your alignment.

IF you only intend to use your first level as Monk then after that point you don't need to be concerned with the "Lawful" portion..

Your Druid levels however need some form of Neutral, either:
Neutral Good, Neutral Evil, True Neutral, Lawful Neutral, or Chaotic Neutral.

[GawainBS]

Monk AC isn't Natural AC. It's untyped. The game probably considers it Dodge?

The strange thing with Bracers is that their + X overlaps with armour + X. Hence my confusion.

Are you sure about the number of attacks being determined by form? It's that way in PnP, but the Wikia contradicts that. It says that the different listed damages are only for that attack. Otherwise, each attack uses the same value.

I know about the alignments, I just wanted to know what happened if I hit an alignment that can advance neither class: I still get the XP, I asssume, but I just can't level up?

[Scottg]

Monk AC isn't Natural AC. It's untyped. The game probably considers it Dodge?

The strange thing with Bracers is that their + X overlaps with armour + X. Hence my confusion.

Are you sure about the number of attacks being determined by form? It's that way in PnP, but the Wikia contradicts that. It says that the different listed damages are only for that attack. Otherwise, each attack uses the same value.

I know about the alignments, I just wanted to know what happened if I hit an alignment that can advance neither class: I still get the XP, I asssume, but I just can't level up?

Not "Natural".. it's just "armor" or perhaps "class armor" - though it stacks.

I haven't tested the effects of spells (other than Divine Power), but the other stuff on AC is correct - including the bit about Helmets and magical enhancements of all items.

The info on a Monk using a "shield" is still correct

You are right about number of attacks.. it was only damage that was form-based. Divine Power of course radically improves this, especially if you are dual or tri-classing a base class.

Yup, can't level up in either class then.

[GawainBS]

Thanks.

So a Monk/Druid with a +5 Shield would get both the +5 from the shield and his WIS & Monk bonus?

I can't level up in either, but when I become, lets say, Neutral Good, I can immediatly level up several levels, if I get enough XP?

[Scottg]

Thanks.

So a Monk/Druid with a +5 Shield would get both the +5 from the shield and his WIS & Monk bonus?

I can't level up in either, but when I become, lets say, Neutral Good, I can immediatly level up several levels, if I get enough XP?

Yup. The +5 would only be added if that was the highest Helmet/Armor/Shield enhancement there was.

Yes - you can immediately level-up in several levels of *Druid* (..not Monk). (..and in fact you could with any Neutral alignment.)


I just finished testing spell contributions.. they stack with item enhancements.

EX.

You have on Robes of the Shinning Hand +4 (..a +4 Armor bonus).

You are also a Cleric with the Magic domain, and as a result have the spell Mage Armor (..which also nets a +4 Armor bonus).

In your normal form you cast Mage Armor on yourself and it results in no gain (..because of your Robes of the Shining Hand.

Shift form however and you'll get an additional +4 from the spell - netting +8. It can be cast before shifting, or after shifting with the feat Natural Spell.

Apparently this doesn't extend to spell Deflection bonuses.. In fact Shield of Faith doesn't "translate" at all in shifted form.

Natural Armor spells like Barkskin and Spiderskin still seem to work.

[Tricky]

I cannot hope to trump Scottg in D&D knowledge, but I do know that shapechanged or polymorphed creatures do not have an animation for flurry of blows in NWN2. The bear / dragon / whatever will just stand next to an enemy in idle animation while it deals FoB damage.

[GawainBS]

Thanks!