Astetic rogue [Archive] - Wizards Community

Astetic rogue [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DragonMage(xxx)>>>>>
01-28-06, 03:35 PM Ok i've thought about a monk/rogue combination and i realized if its properly funded it can get pretty powerful with monk belt/tatoo. I have no idea how to optimize it so far ive only thought about dipping into monk and then just using the assasin/arcane trickster combo and perhaps getting a simbiote to cast more spells for me. Im allowed to use any books and only Phb races. And for stats its a 32 point buy.
The Grand Mystic
01-28-06, 04:32 PM Since it sounds like you're going more rogue than monk, an interesting combo that comes to mind is to dip 1-2 in Monk, take Rogue for a few, and then go into Ninja of the Crescent Moon (the level of Monk gives you Improved Unarmed - take Quick-Draw and Deflect Arrows to qualify for NotCM). If you really don't mind being evil, Assassin for five levels will be of good benefit. Try something like Rogue 4/Monk 1/Assassin 5/ Ninja of the Crescent Moon 10.
Vaelan
01-28-06, 06:13 PM Keep in mind that Ninja of the Crescent Moon has been errataed.
The Grand Mystic
01-28-06, 06:27 PM Bah, forgot about that. I'm still stuck in a 3.0 world. Silly me. :)

In that case, maybe Invisible Blade, Oppressor, or Spymaster.
DragonMage(xxx)>>>>>
01-30-06, 10:19 PM :bump:
Shadow_Gryphon
01-30-06, 10:58 PM Well, one primary thing to consider is that the Ascetic Rogue feat only stacks your Rogue and your Monk levels for determining a Monk's unarmed damage. This means that moving into other PrCs will lower the damage via your unarmed attack. You're correct, though, in that a monk's belt will offset some of that, so that you could go Monk1/Rogue14, or Monk2/Rogue13 and then have five levels of something else to play with should you wish to keep your unarmed damage maxed. Which I would suggest.

If you go Monk2/Rogue4, at 6th level you will have 4 BAB and thus qualify for the Improved Natural Attack feat, which is quite useful for increasing the damage dealt. Ascetic Rogue at level 3 is vital. You should also take Unbalancing Strike, from Oriental Adventures (should your DM allow it), as with it your unarmed strikes trigger Ref saves on the part of your opponent. If they fail their save they are flatfooted for the rest of the round. In combination with a Flurry of Blows it sets you up for doing Sneak Attack damage on subsequent hits that round. Craven, from Champions of Ruin, is an excellent feat for anyone relying on sneak attack damage.

Try to get your hands on a Fanged Ring (from a Dragon mag, ups the damage of your unarmed attacks by 1 more size category), and then there is always the option of the Quori Limb shard from Eberron, though I believe that you have to be psionically focused to use it. Potions of Enlarge (or a daily Enlarge item if your DM allows it) are also excellent for granting you reach and yet another size increase to the damage dice dealt with your unarmed strikes.

So, in a nutshell - find ways to increase your effective size and ways to maximize your sneak attack damage and your ascetic rogue will be an absolute killer with his bare hands.
Gerdreg
01-31-06, 07:36 AM Simple Monk 1/ Rogue 19 with Ascetic Rogue gives you full Monk Unarmed damage and 10d6 Sneak Attack. I'm not sure any Monk/ Rogue PrC can rival this for raw damage. Add Greater-Two weapon Fighting and Improved Natural Attack and you have a real murderer on your hands.

Damage = 4d8(INA) + 10d6 while flanking
7 attack per round with Greater Two-Weapon Fighting and Flurry
at a -2 to hit with each attack (Flurry -2 + TWF -2 + Flanking 2)

[edit] For any questions about the use of INA and TWF with Monk attacks, please refer to to the FAQ.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DragonMage(xxx)>>>>> 01-28-06, 03:35 PM	Ok i've thought about a monk/rogue combination and i realized if its properly funded it can get pretty powerful with monk belt/tatoo. I have no idea how to optimize it so far ive only thought about dipping into monk and then just using the assasin/arcane trickster combo and perhaps getting a simbiote to cast more spells for me. Im allowed to use any books and only Phb races. And for stats its a 32 point buy.
The Grand Mystic 01-28-06, 04:32 PM	Since it sounds like you're going more rogue than monk, an interesting combo that comes to mind is to dip 1-2 in Monk, take Rogue for a few, and then go into Ninja of the Crescent Moon (the level of Monk gives you Improved Unarmed - take Quick-Draw and Deflect Arrows to qualify for NotCM). If you really don't mind being evil, Assassin for five levels will be of good benefit. Try something like Rogue 4/Monk 1/Assassin 5/ Ninja of the Crescent Moon 10.
Vaelan 01-28-06, 06:13 PM	Keep in mind that Ninja of the Crescent Moon has been errataed.
The Grand Mystic 01-28-06, 06:27 PM	Bah, forgot about that. I'm still stuck in a 3.0 world. Silly me. :) In that case, maybe Invisible Blade, Oppressor, or Spymaster.
DragonMage(xxx)>>>>> 01-30-06, 10:19 PM	:bump:
Shadow_Gryphon 01-30-06, 10:58 PM	Well, one primary thing to consider is that the Ascetic Rogue feat only stacks your Rogue and your Monk levels for determining a Monk's unarmed damage. This means that moving into other PrCs will lower the damage via your unarmed attack. You're correct, though, in that a monk's belt will offset some of that, so that you could go Monk1/Rogue14, or Monk2/Rogue13 and then have five levels of something else to play with should you wish to keep your unarmed damage maxed. Which I would suggest. If you go Monk2/Rogue4, at 6th level you will have 4 BAB and thus qualify for the Improved Natural Attack feat, which is quite useful for increasing the damage dealt. Ascetic Rogue at level 3 is vital. You should also take Unbalancing Strike, from Oriental Adventures (should your DM allow it), as with it your unarmed strikes trigger Ref saves on the part of your opponent. If they fail their save they are flatfooted for the rest of the round. In combination with a Flurry of Blows it sets you up for doing Sneak Attack damage on subsequent hits that round. Craven, from Champions of Ruin, is an excellent feat for anyone relying on sneak attack damage. Try to get your hands on a Fanged Ring (from a Dragon mag, ups the damage of your unarmed attacks by 1 more size category), and then there is always the option of the Quori Limb shard from Eberron, though I believe that you have to be psionically focused to use it. Potions of Enlarge (or a daily Enlarge item if your DM allows it) are also excellent for granting you reach and yet another size increase to the damage dice dealt with your unarmed strikes. So, in a nutshell - find ways to increase your effective size and ways to maximize your sneak attack damage and your ascetic rogue will be an absolute killer with his bare hands.
Gerdreg 01-31-06, 07:36 AM	Simple Monk 1/ Rogue 19 with Ascetic Rogue gives you full Monk Unarmed damage and 10d6 Sneak Attack. I'm not sure any Monk/ Rogue PrC can rival this for raw damage. Add Greater-Two weapon Fighting and Improved Natural Attack and you have a real murderer on your hands. Damage = 4d8(INA) + 10d6 while flanking 7 attack per round with Greater Two-Weapon Fighting and Flurry at a -2 to hit with each attack (Flurry -2 + TWF -2 + Flanking 2) [edit] For any questions about the use of INA and TWF with Monk attacks, please refer to to the FAQ.