28 Point Buy Monk.. yes or no? [Archive] - Wizards Community

28 Point Buy Monk.. yes or no? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Brunoli
12-18-05, 11:35 AM Well, I created a 28 point buy monk. After reading some threads on here, I started worrying that this monk won't be very good with such a low amount of ability points. I gave him the following stats: S 12, D 16, C 12, I 8, W 16, Ch 8. Is this monk worth playing with stats like this? Or should I just wait till I play a campaign that allows me to roll for abilities and I get good scores? Anyway, please no replies arguing the validity of the monk, just helpful ones about stats please.
ninjarabbit
12-18-05, 11:46 AM Personally I like monks with a good str and wis and I like to play as half-orc or half-ogre monks. With a good str you don't have to use weapon finesse or intiative attack to hit anything. If you're worried about AC have an arcane caster cast mage armor on you either by him knowing it, scroll, or wand since mage armor has a good duration of 1 hour/level and it's only a level 1 spell.

I'd do a half orc monk like this:

str 16 dex 14 con 14 int 6 wis 16 cha 6 or
str 18 dex 14 con 14 int 6 wis 14 cha 6
Jon of the North
12-18-05, 12:46 PM I agree you should boost str a bit, I guess cutting down dex won't be to bad. As for playablity, sure. Everyone is starting equal, so the GM shouldn't go too overboard with challanges. Those are fine stats, with a little creativity and fun you'll have a great character. Make the monk someone you enjoy playing and you'll be fine. Now if the GM stinks or the other players are jerks, then you should quit, but give it a try.
Brunoli
12-18-05, 12:51 PM Thanks for the input. As far as race is concerned, would the half-orc/half-ogre choice with the extra stats be worth trading the human with extra skills/feats?
Wizu
12-18-05, 01:18 PM If you go human, you will most likely end taking weapon finesse.

If you go half orc/orc/half ogre you wont.

If you go human, enjoy the skills galore.

If you go half orc, be lucky to be able to max tumble.
PhoenixInferno
12-18-05, 01:21 PM Trade some DEX for CON.
Amphetryon
12-18-05, 01:33 PM When I make a Monk, stat priorities are WIS/CON/DEX/STR/INT/CHA. I use Monks as anti-Arcane, which means I want to max out Stunning Fist attempts. With your basis, I'd drop DEX by 2 (as PhoenixInferno hinted), and use 2 of the 4 building points on CON. You need to be able to soak a hit or three, and a 12 CON isn't going to cut it. Bumping your STR up to 14 will enable you to smack just that little bit harder to shorten the fight. It also puts you into the Power Attack range, and the vital 1 1/2x STR bumps for THW like Quarterstaff.
PhaedrusXY
12-18-05, 01:47 PM Did you take a look at Mean_Liar's monk guide? It can be found via the stickied threads at the top of the page. Are you wanting to play a single-classed monk only, or can you multiclass? If you can, what books/sources are available? There are different kinds of monks. I think half-orc bruiser style monks are a bit less stat dependant than stunning-fist tactical style monks, but they certainly aren't necessarily better.
solbergb
12-18-05, 04:19 PM With a 28 point buy I'd probably build a monk like this:

16 in str or wis
14 in wis or str
14 dex
14 con
8 int
8 cha

Mix or match with whatever race you want. You can do a wood elf, for example, with 16 str, 16 wis, 16 dex 12 con, if you don't mind him being dumb as a brick.

What you don't want to do is have a bunch of "12s". don't spend a single point on charisma and spend as little on intelligence as you can stand. Prioritize str and wis over dex and con. Don't underestimate the importance of strength - it powers about 3/4 of your offense, with wis the other 1/4. Wis dex and con provide roughly equal defensive benefits.

(actually I build my own half-orc monk on 28 points with 12 int and 8 wisdom ,but that isn't normally a recommended CO tactic)
ninjarabbit
12-18-05, 09:25 PM Thanks for the input. As far as race is concerned, would the half-orc/half-ogre choice with the extra stats be worth trading the human with extra skills/feats?

Like Wizu said with a human you're most likely going to end up taking weapon finesse or intutative attack so there's no real net difference. As far as skills go the only skill you'll absolutely need is tumble, anything else is nice but not necessary so skill points shouldn't be a big concern for a monk.

If you can go half-ogre over half-orc. The half ogre gives you more str, +2 to con which more than makes up for the hit points you'll lose due to the +2 LA over the course of your career, +4 natural armor which makes up for the -2 dex and -1 AC due to size, and reach which is nice with combat reflexes.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Brunoli 12-18-05, 11:35 AM	Well, I created a 28 point buy monk. After reading some threads on here, I started worrying that this monk won't be very good with such a low amount of ability points. I gave him the following stats: S 12, D 16, C 12, I 8, W 16, Ch 8. Is this monk worth playing with stats like this? Or should I just wait till I play a campaign that allows me to roll for abilities and I get good scores? Anyway, please no replies arguing the validity of the monk, just helpful ones about stats please.
ninjarabbit 12-18-05, 11:46 AM	Personally I like monks with a good str and wis and I like to play as half-orc or half-ogre monks. With a good str you don't have to use weapon finesse or intiative attack to hit anything. If you're worried about AC have an arcane caster cast mage armor on you either by him knowing it, scroll, or wand since mage armor has a good duration of 1 hour/level and it's only a level 1 spell. I'd do a half orc monk like this: str 16 dex 14 con 14 int 6 wis 16 cha 6 or str 18 dex 14 con 14 int 6 wis 14 cha 6
Jon of the North 12-18-05, 12:46 PM	I agree you should boost str a bit, I guess cutting down dex won't be to bad. As for playablity, sure. Everyone is starting equal, so the GM shouldn't go too overboard with challanges. Those are fine stats, with a little creativity and fun you'll have a great character. Make the monk someone you enjoy playing and you'll be fine. Now if the GM stinks or the other players are jerks, then you should quit, but give it a try.
Brunoli 12-18-05, 12:51 PM	Thanks for the input. As far as race is concerned, would the half-orc/half-ogre choice with the extra stats be worth trading the human with extra skills/feats?
Wizu 12-18-05, 01:18 PM	If you go human, you will most likely end taking weapon finesse. If you go half orc/orc/half ogre you wont. If you go human, enjoy the skills galore. If you go half orc, be lucky to be able to max tumble.
PhoenixInferno 12-18-05, 01:21 PM	Trade some DEX for CON.
Amphetryon 12-18-05, 01:33 PM	When I make a Monk, stat priorities are WIS/CON/DEX/STR/INT/CHA. I use Monks as anti-Arcane, which means I want to max out Stunning Fist attempts. With your basis, I'd drop DEX by 2 (as PhoenixInferno hinted), and use 2 of the 4 building points on CON. You need to be able to soak a hit or three, and a 12 CON isn't going to cut it. Bumping your STR up to 14 will enable you to smack just that little bit harder to shorten the fight. It also puts you into the Power Attack range, and the vital 1 1/2x STR bumps for THW like Quarterstaff.
PhaedrusXY 12-18-05, 01:47 PM	Did you take a look at Mean_Liar's monk guide? It can be found via the stickied threads at the top of the page. Are you wanting to play a single-classed monk only, or can you multiclass? If you can, what books/sources are available? There are different kinds of monks. I think half-orc bruiser style monks are a bit less stat dependant than stunning-fist tactical style monks, but they certainly aren't necessarily better.
solbergb 12-18-05, 04:19 PM	With a 28 point buy I'd probably build a monk like this: 16 in str or wis 14 in wis or str 14 dex 14 con 8 int 8 cha Mix or match with whatever race you want. You can do a wood elf, for example, with 16 str, 16 wis, 16 dex 12 con, if you don't mind him being dumb as a brick. What you don't want to do is have a bunch of "12s". don't spend a single point on charisma and spend as little on intelligence as you can stand. Prioritize str and wis over dex and con. Don't underestimate the importance of strength - it powers about 3/4 of your offense, with wis the other 1/4. Wis dex and con provide roughly equal defensive benefits. (actually I build my own half-orc monk on 28 points with 12 int and 8 wisdom ,but that isn't normally a recommended CO tactic)
ninjarabbit 12-18-05, 09:25 PM	Thanks for the input. As far as race is concerned, would the half-orc/half-ogre choice with the extra stats be worth trading the human with extra skills/feats? Like Wizu said with a human you're most likely going to end up taking weapon finesse or intutative attack so there's no real net difference. As far as skills go the only skill you'll absolutely need is tumble, anything else is nice but not necessary so skill points shouldn't be a big concern for a monk. If you can go half-ogre over half-orc. The half ogre gives you more str, +2 to con which more than makes up for the hit points you'll lose due to the +2 LA over the course of your career, +4 natural armor which makes up for the -2 dex and -1 AC due to size, and reach which is nice with combat reflexes.