Monk Assistance [Archive] - Wizards Community

Monk Assistance [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kelvinaw273
05-06-06, 08:49 AM Hi all,

I'm currently running a Kalashtar monk in an Eberron campaign who has just hit the giddy heights of third level, and I am looking at long term prospects here for future developement. Yes, I could post in the CO boards, but I don't want to know that I should have maxed out on strength or that if I take two levels of fighter blah blah etc., I am looking for coherent character developement here, not uber-kill.

My character's background is that she was deposited by an unknown person at the monestary of the Broken Blade in Starilaskar, eastern Breland, and was probably a refugee from Cyre. She does not even realise that she is a Kalashtar yet, but I have decided that in a few levels time she will naturally branch into the Fist of Zuoken PrC as a natural developement of her abilities (she has met a part-time-PC psion, so has encountered psionics). It will take two more levels to stack up her Concentration to enough ranks to qualify. What I am then looking for is how to develope feats at higher levels, and which way might be best to turn.

Her stats are:
STR 12, DEX 16, CON 10, INT 10, WIS 15, CHA 10 from a 26-point buy, made by the DM.
(No, I don't want to know what I should have taken, this is what I have to work with)

Her feat choices so far are:
1st level: Stunning Fist, Improved Initiative
2nd level: Deflect Arrows
3rd level: Weapon Finesse

Over the next few levels I am looking at:
4th level: +1 to Wisdom for the +3 mod to AC and skills.
5th level: none
6th level: Combat Manifestation and take level 1 Fist of Zuoken

What would other players recomend for development beyond this?

Currently I feel I have several options:

1) Boost STR and go for feats such as Psionic Fist, Unavoidable Attack and Greater Psionic Fist etc. (Need 13 STR to qualify). Alternate levels between Monk and Fist of Zuoken.

2) Boost DEX and go for Improved Natural Attack (if I can pursuade the DM - I know it's legal, but he may not agree) then Aligned Attack, Fist of Iron, Axiomatic Strike etc. Alternate levels between Monk and Fist of Zuoken.

3) Boost WIS and concentrate purely on Fist of Zuoken and psionics rather than alternating levels, go for feats improving psionic abilities.

4) Turn 180 degrees and Boost Intelligence, take Monk Training and at higher level start adding in levels of Psion into the mix (probably max out on Fist of Zuoken first).

Can anyone think of any other options it might be good to follow, or let me know their preferences from above?
Orchomenos
05-08-06, 10:58 AM What is a Kalashtar?

Instead of boosting your (limited) intelligence and going Psion, you could go Psychic Warrior. Powers such as Force Screen, Inertial Armor, Thicker Skin or Precognition Defense would help your AC. You could take 2 levels of Psychic Warrior in order to explore your "psionic side", and then reconcile this psionic side with your monk training, becoming a Fist of Zuoken.
Need_A_Life
05-09-06, 09:03 AM Kensai.

Works perfectly with monks, if you don't take any flashy abilities it'll all be about combat styles.

Bane, Speed, Axiomatic etc.

Try going PsyWar instead of Psion, otherwise you'll miss out on manifesting. PsyWars use wisdom, psions use intelligence.
bookwurmneo
05-09-06, 02:42 PM If you have Complete Psionic, the Divine Mind base class with it's auras could be useful, while the Zerth Cenobite as it offers some interesting combat options while building up the psionic and monk abilities.
kelvinaw273
05-09-06, 05:35 PM Thanks Guys!

I'll try to pick up Complete Psionic anyhow, but the reason I queried Psion is that Kalashtar are an Eberron race with Psion as their favoured class - hence going Fist of Zuoken rather than Psychic Warrior: besides it offers faster power progression and stacked levels for some monk abilities as well, making it very worthwhile. I believe that Kensai requires combat expertise, which requires 13 Intelligence, otherwise a perfect choice I do agree.

Going for Psion was an outside shot, because the part has NO spellcasters at the moment. Still I think I can wrangle things a little better. I'll get my hands on Complete Psionic and see how it all works out.

Ta,

Kelvin
kelvinaw273
05-21-06, 06:05 PM Well, I picked up Complete Psionic and some of the new classes definitely have spin on them! The Zerth Cenobite is ... interesting, but I don't think the DM would allow it - I'd need a teacher, and we haven't even encountered a another monk yet!

In terms of developing psionic potential the Fist of Zuoken is still the best shortcut, but then there is the Divine Mind (thanks Bookwormneo) or better, the Ardent. For a party with no cleric or full time wizard, ardent looks REALLy good ... if I can talk the DM around the multi-class rules ... and work in a feat for cross-training ardent and monk ....

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kelvinaw273 05-06-06, 08:49 AM	Hi all, I'm currently running a Kalashtar monk in an Eberron campaign who has just hit the giddy heights of third level, and I am looking at long term prospects here for future developement. Yes, I could post in the CO boards, but I don't want to know that I should have maxed out on strength or that if I take two levels of fighter blah blah etc., I am looking for coherent character developement here, not uber-kill. My character's background is that she was deposited by an unknown person at the monestary of the Broken Blade in Starilaskar, eastern Breland, and was probably a refugee from Cyre. She does not even realise that she is a Kalashtar yet, but I have decided that in a few levels time she will naturally branch into the Fist of Zuoken PrC as a natural developement of her abilities (she has met a part-time-PC psion, so has encountered psionics). It will take two more levels to stack up her Concentration to enough ranks to qualify. What I am then looking for is how to develope feats at higher levels, and which way might be best to turn. Her stats are: STR 12, DEX 16, CON 10, INT 10, WIS 15, CHA 10 from a 26-point buy, made by the DM. (No, I don't want to know what I should have taken, this is what I have to work with) Her feat choices so far are: 1st level: Stunning Fist, Improved Initiative 2nd level: Deflect Arrows 3rd level: Weapon Finesse Over the next few levels I am looking at: 4th level: +1 to Wisdom for the +3 mod to AC and skills. 5th level: none 6th level: Combat Manifestation and take level 1 Fist of Zuoken What would other players recomend for development beyond this? Currently I feel I have several options: 1) Boost STR and go for feats such as Psionic Fist, Unavoidable Attack and Greater Psionic Fist etc. (Need 13 STR to qualify). Alternate levels between Monk and Fist of Zuoken. 2) Boost DEX and go for Improved Natural Attack (if I can pursuade the DM - I know it's legal, but he may not agree) then Aligned Attack, Fist of Iron, Axiomatic Strike etc. Alternate levels between Monk and Fist of Zuoken. 3) Boost WIS and concentrate purely on Fist of Zuoken and psionics rather than alternating levels, go for feats improving psionic abilities. 4) Turn 180 degrees and Boost Intelligence, take Monk Training and at higher level start adding in levels of Psion into the mix (probably max out on Fist of Zuoken first). Can anyone think of any other options it might be good to follow, or let me know their preferences from above?
Orchomenos 05-08-06, 10:58 AM	What is a Kalashtar? Instead of boosting your (limited) intelligence and going Psion, you could go Psychic Warrior. Powers such as Force Screen, Inertial Armor, Thicker Skin or Precognition Defense would help your AC. You could take 2 levels of Psychic Warrior in order to explore your "psionic side", and then reconcile this psionic side with your monk training, becoming a Fist of Zuoken.
Need_A_Life 05-09-06, 09:03 AM	Kensai. Works perfectly with monks, if you don't take any flashy abilities it'll all be about combat styles. Bane, Speed, Axiomatic etc. Try going PsyWar instead of Psion, otherwise you'll miss out on manifesting. PsyWars use wisdom, psions use intelligence.
bookwurmneo 05-09-06, 02:42 PM	If you have Complete Psionic, the Divine Mind base class with it's auras could be useful, while the Zerth Cenobite as it offers some interesting combat options while building up the psionic and monk abilities.
kelvinaw273 05-09-06, 05:35 PM	Thanks Guys! I'll try to pick up Complete Psionic anyhow, but the reason I queried Psion is that Kalashtar are an Eberron race with Psion as their favoured class - hence going Fist of Zuoken rather than Psychic Warrior: besides it offers faster power progression and stacked levels for some monk abilities as well, making it very worthwhile. I believe that Kensai requires combat expertise, which requires 13 Intelligence, otherwise a perfect choice I do agree. Going for Psion was an outside shot, because the part has NO spellcasters at the moment. Still I think I can wrangle things a little better. I'll get my hands on Complete Psionic and see how it all works out. Ta, Kelvin
kelvinaw273 05-21-06, 06:05 PM	Well, I picked up Complete Psionic and some of the new classes definitely have spin on them! The Zerth Cenobite is ... interesting, but I don't think the DM would allow it - I'd need a teacher, and we haven't even encountered a another monk yet! In terms of developing psionic potential the Fist of Zuoken is still the best shortcut, but then there is the Divine Mind (thanks Bookwormneo) or better, the Ardent. For a party with no cleric or full time wizard, ardent looks REALLy good ... if I can talk the DM around the multi-class rules ... and work in a feat for cross-training ardent and monk ....