a small challenge - optimize this knife fighter [Archive] - Wizards Community

a small challenge - optimize this knife fighter [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
nonsi
11-13-05, 08:42 AM level 1. 1st level human monk that focuses on STR and DEX. take Improved Grapple, Dodge, and Mobility and get a nice chain shirt (mithral when you can afford it) since WIS isn't going to be that high anyway.
level 2. continue to 2nd monk level for Combat Reflexes & evasion. gain 5 Tumble Ranks.

. . . . . . abandon monk and continue with fighter.

level 3. Combat Expertise & Improved Trip.
level 4: save feat slot.
level 5: use feat for Spring Attack.
level 6: Whirlwind Attack & Improved Critical.

level 8: Improved Disarm.
level 9: Weapon Focus.
level 10: Weapon Speciallization.

level 12: Greater Weapon Focus / Speciallization.

levels 13-14: 2 barbarian levels for increased movement, Uncanny Dodge and extra skill points.

levels 15-20: continue as a fighter and use your imagination for the remaining 5 feats.

if you play strictly core rules, use 2 kukri for the nice critical rage.
if your DM is opened minded, go to www.d20srd.ord take a peek at weapon-groups varian rules. this will allow you to gain proficiancy with the SAPARA (complete warrior), a small sword that does slashing damage and can trip.

and there you have it, a nice and effective knife butcher. and because you started as a monk, you maximize STR bonus with both hands (monks have no off hand).......
all at a "terrible cost" of -1 BAB.
prototype00
11-13-05, 10:38 AM Now I am the last person to hose monks, I think that they're one of the most RPable classes. However in the SRD, it says

There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed

however, you say

and there you have it, a nice and effective knife butcher. and because you started as a monk, you maximize STR bonus with both hands (monks have no off hand).......

According to the rules, this doesn't really fly. The monk Str bonus only applies to unarmed strikes, not strikes with a weapon thats not even a special monk weapon (kukris, daggers and the like)

If you want a better knife fighter, monk isn't the way to go, unfortunately. *Which brings me to the conclusion that crack must have been involved when Danica was written up.*

prototype00
Xeraph
11-13-05, 10:48 AM Yah, its a no go.

Unarmed Strike is an unarmed strike. No daggers or knives.

You could actually take TWF with your Unarmed Strike just like any other weapon, then you would have a "off-hand hand" hehe.
nittanytbone
11-13-05, 12:18 PM From the SRD on Grappling:

Attack Your Opponent
You can make an attack with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light weapon against another character you are grappling. You take a -4 penalty on such attacks.

You can’t attack with two weapons while grappling, even if both are light weapons.

I don't know why you'd want Improved Grapple with your monk level. You could only make one knife attack per round at -4 nonetheless which seems pretty underwhelming.

You might be better off with TWF and some rogue levels to boost sneak attack damage, maybe even some ranger levels to gain favored enemy damage (and free TWF as a feat...); two sickles could be interesting with Improved Trip thrown in there, as they are light weapons, do decent damage (for a light weapon), and can trip.
Ty
11-13-05, 06:00 PM Knifefigher from the Players Guide to Faerun. No negatives to hit while grappling and attacking with a light weapon and retain the ability to make a full attack.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nonsi 11-13-05, 08:42 AM	level 1. 1st level human monk that focuses on STR and DEX. take Improved Grapple, Dodge, and Mobility and get a nice chain shirt (mithral when you can afford it) since WIS isn't going to be that high anyway. level 2. continue to 2nd monk level for Combat Reflexes & evasion. gain 5 Tumble Ranks. . . . . . . abandon monk and continue with fighter. level 3. Combat Expertise & Improved Trip. level 4: save feat slot. level 5: use feat for Spring Attack. level 6: Whirlwind Attack & Improved Critical. level 8: Improved Disarm. level 9: Weapon Focus. level 10: Weapon Speciallization. level 12: Greater Weapon Focus / Speciallization. levels 13-14: 2 barbarian levels for increased movement, Uncanny Dodge and extra skill points. levels 15-20: continue as a fighter and use your imagination for the remaining 5 feats. if you play strictly core rules, use 2 kukri for the nice critical rage. if your DM is opened minded, go to www.d20srd.ord take a peek at weapon-groups varian rules. this will allow you to gain proficiancy with the SAPARA (complete warrior), a small sword that does slashing damage and can trip. and there you have it, a nice and effective knife butcher. and because you started as a monk, you maximize STR bonus with both hands (monks have no off hand)....... all at a "terrible cost" of -1 BAB.
prototype00 11-13-05, 10:38 AM	Now I am the last person to hose monks, I think that they're one of the most RPable classes. However in the SRD, it says There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed however, you say and there you have it, a nice and effective knife butcher. and because you started as a monk, you maximize STR bonus with both hands (monks have no off hand)....... According to the rules, this doesn't really fly. The monk Str bonus only applies to unarmed strikes, not strikes with a weapon thats not even a special monk weapon (kukris, daggers and the like) If you want a better knife fighter, monk isn't the way to go, unfortunately. Which brings me to the conclusion that crack must have been involved when Danica was written up. prototype00
Xeraph 11-13-05, 10:48 AM	Yah, its a no go. Unarmed Strike is an unarmed strike. No daggers or knives. You could actually take TWF with your Unarmed Strike just like any other weapon, then you would have a "off-hand hand" hehe.
nittanytbone 11-13-05, 12:18 PM	From the SRD on Grappling: Attack Your Opponent You can make an attack with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light weapon against another character you are grappling. You take a -4 penalty on such attacks. You can’t attack with two weapons while grappling, even if both are light weapons. I don't know why you'd want Improved Grapple with your monk level. You could only make one knife attack per round at -4 nonetheless which seems pretty underwhelming. You might be better off with TWF and some rogue levels to boost sneak attack damage, maybe even some ranger levels to gain favored enemy damage (and free TWF as a feat...); two sickles could be interesting with Improved Trip thrown in there, as they are light weapons, do decent damage (for a light weapon), and can trip.
Ty 11-13-05, 06:00 PM	Knifefigher from the Players Guide to Faerun. No negatives to hit while grappling and attacking with a light weapon and retain the ability to make a full attack.