Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RainerNader 11-26-06, 10:52 PM	Hey guys, I'm currently in a campaign playing a 8th level Monk with the Vow of Poverty. Here's currently what how I've constructed my character. STR 10, DEX 16, CON 14, INT 10, WIS 22, CHA 8 Regular feats: Combat Reflexes, Improved Natural Attack Monk bonus feats: Stunning Fist, Fiery Fist, Ki Blast Poverty bonus feats: Intuitive Attack (and a bunch of others, but not worth mentioning) I'm posting this because I feel like I'm going to have some major decisions to make in the next couple levels. Right now I like how I've constructed my character. I made CHA his dump stat so I could jack up his DEX and WIS. So my character has an awesome AC and a good attack bonus because Intuitive Attack allows him to apply his WIS bonus to his attack roll. Improved Natural Attack has him doing decent damage, and Ki Blast is great because it handles a lot of the limitations that Vow of Poverty monks usually have (it's a ranged force attack, so no worrying about flying creatures, incorporeal creatures, or damage reduction). We have a ninja, cleric, wizard, and bard in the party, so ironically my character is the party "tank." Yet obviously the party spellcasters will easily start to outshine him in battle, and I'm fine with that... such is the life of a melee character. But I'm trying to think of ways to give my character more "options" in combat. Just extra tactics he can use to at least continue to hold his weight on the front lines. Here are some ideas that came to mind: Here's a couple ideas I was mulling... - Take Ascetic Rogue and take a few levels of rogue. However, I'll be delaying some cool monk abilities, like the extra Flurry of Blows attack, Spell Resistance, etc. Not sure if that's worth the extra sneak attack damage (although I'd be drooling over the extra skill points). - Take the Sun School feat. Looks like it has some cool "flair" potential, but overall not very optimized. - Take Improved Grapple at 9th level, put the +2 stat boost into STR, put another +1 into STR at 12th level, and take Power Attack with the 12th level feat. I know my character will still be a mediocre grappler, but at least he'll be able to grapple enemies he "should." Right now a weakling goblin would still have a 50/50 chance of beating him in a grapple check. - Take Combat Casting at 9th level with a level of cleric and jump into Sacred Fist. - Become a Saint. My DM likes how I've been role-playing my character and he offered this to me as an option to work into our next adventure. Cool benefits, but it's a +2 LA. My DM is fine with multiclassing, but usually there has to be some sort of "justification" involved. Multiclassing into rogue or cleric would be fine because the party has a rogue and cleric. But I've received advice to take levels in something like Fist of Zuoken or Swordsage, and my DM would probably consider that "coming out of the blue" and not allow it. So... thoughts? Sorry for the long post, but hopefully you guys can give me a little advice. If you need any other information and/or feel I've left some stuff out, just let me know. -Nate
Neptunehero 11-26-06, 11:15 PM	Well, it's worth it if you can justify swordsage for a level or two dip. More specifically, it's worth it if you can swing the shadow blade feat. Throw in weapon finesse if you don't have it already, and jack your Dex way up for trememdous lack of MAD.
KiDevil 11-26-06, 11:24 PM	You definally go with Saint, it's an amazing template, one of the best in the game. For the +2 modifer you get your wisdom to AC, again, DR, immunties, fast healing, stat bonuses among a handful of other great super natural abilties.
Kapalen 11-26-06, 11:29 PM	You definally go with Saint, it's an amazing template, one of the best in the game. For the +2 modifer you get your wisdom to AC, again, DR, immunties, fast healing, stat bonuses among a handful of other great super natural abilties. Sainthood is dependant on the DM and very hard to RP. But, yeah, it's a sweet template.
KiDevil 11-26-06, 11:33 PM	Sainthood is dependant on the DM and very hard to RP. But, yeah, it's a sweet template. I know but in his post he said that his DM was offering this to him as an option. And from an optimzing standpoint it seems like his best bet compared to his other options. And if his DM is offering it to him I would assume that he is capable/up to roleplaying the it.
Riodrian 11-26-06, 11:45 PM	Your DM if offering you the Saint template on a VOP Monk? By all means, take it! It is well worth that LA...one of the few templates worth it. I also second the Shadow Blade feat for Dex to damage. Take advanatge of that high dex and offset your lower strength. I wouldn't bother with Weapon Finesse since your Wisdom is higher (unless it's a preq. for Shadow Blade, I don't remember offhand). If you can get two levels of swordsage to help get this feat, you would get Wis to AC yet again (I think it stacks, not sure) Also is a feat that improves your unarmed strike even more so you can pump out some more damage. Now, if you could only get your DM to let you use Oriental Adventures, you'd be set. Shiba Protector would let you use Wis to hit and damage. Well, it seems I should wait until I am around my books before trying to help since I am not sure about much I have posted. lol
tiejaz 11-26-06, 11:52 PM	I'd go with the Sacred Fist idea, it's just amazing, allowing a cleric/monk/fighter mix essentially, with pretty good skill points, full BAB, good HD, 2 good saves, and FULL casting (see text). Monk 6 / Cleric 1 / Sacred Fist 10 is your best bet for a monk-focus, while Clr 4 / Mnk 2 / SF 10 is a more balanced/spellcasting combo
epifreak 11-27-06, 01:39 AM	Hmm...as you're pretty much stuck tanking, you might want to think about damage potential. As it is, you're dealing nice large dice, but it's the bonuses that really count, so perhaps you should start looking for something that adds either dex or wisdom (preferably wisdom obviously) to damage so that you can hit harder. Offhand nothing comes to mind for the wisdom add, but I hardly have the encyclopedic knowledge that some on the boards have.
RainerNader 11-27-06, 04:11 PM	Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. Just my comments... Swordsage - Like I said, my DM isn't a fan of "random" multiclasses like this. Plus a monk can't "dip" into other classes without permanently giving up his monk progression. Plus my character's DEX is 16, which is good but may not worth it. Shiba Protector - This would have been awesome since it looks like it does indeed use WIS for attack and damage. But again, my DM is unlikely to allow it, not just because it's out of the blue, but also using 3.0 material. Sacred Fist - This could be cool... I'll have to give it some thought. Saint - Sounds like you guys are very bullish on the idea. Well, cool! As I said before, my DM has offered me this option. I've been role-playing the Vow of Poverty/exalted stuff pretty well (if I may say so) and always urged the party to take the "good" path, which I think makes my DM's life infinitely easier (it's easier to motivate heroes instead of mercenaries). And in our last adventure my character did something that could be constructed as the "sacrifice" necessary to become a Saint. In any event... for my 9th level feat, any other suggestions? Do any of you guys like the Sun School feat? Should I just pick something "safe" like Ability Focus (Stunning Fist)? Any more advice would be much appreciated... -Nate