Post/Author/DateTime	Post
KShaver 04-04-07, 09:21 AM	With the old standards one could only hope to actually get access to one, so I never went through with my build ideas. Now, I can be crazy. Levels looks something like this: 1. Hexblade (Exotic Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus Mancatcher) 2. Monk (Improved Grapple) 3. Monk (Combat Reflexes, Practiced Spellcaster) 4+ Hexblade (Improved Familiar at 6th) Its a decent weapon that allows maximum use with only a little bit of feat expenditure. Its main benefit is of course the ability to grapple at range, as an AoO, and with your weapon focus and/or masterwork/magical weapon properties all added in, making the character an excellent grappler overall. Of course in some situations, one will still have to carry a basic back up weapon like a greatsword for larger creatures or masses of creatures. Yes, I know practiced spellcaster is a bit of a waste on a hexblade, but it is about the only way to take improved familiar at a decent level, since the feat requires combination of base attack and caster level. Improved familiar is normally not that great of an idea (familiars in combat often = bad idea), but with this character the familiar would far more BAB and hit points than your typical wizard familiar. A familiar with BAB and hit points is actually the reason for trying to make a hexblade build to begin with. You'll also notice the basic build is a bit of a save monkey since mettle, evasion, and fairly high saves are all included. Attributes are likely to look something like: 14 or 16 Str 14 Dex 14 Con 8 Int 8 Wis 16 or 14 Cha Assuming the character wasn't wearing any armor, would they still be able to do the grapple flurry bit? The mancatcher isn't a monk weapon, but aside from the initial attack all your attacks in subsequent rounds can technically still be grapple checks.
UMiskatonic 04-04-07, 02:06 PM	Hmm. You can't flurry with a mancatcher, as it's not a monk-approved weapon. You can't attack someone you've grappled with a mancatcher, because you don't have the reach to get him. ------------------------------------------------------- I'd suggest taking the Leadership feat instead. A Hexblade should have enough Charisma to make good use of it. A rogue/ranger cohort would be available at 6th level, and would get sneak attacks against anyone you successfully grappled. With TWF, that will add up quickly. And, you'll have a guy who can search/disable/track as needed. That's not bad either. Plus, it saves you a feat.
KShaver 04-04-07, 02:51 PM	You can't flurry with a mancatcher, as it's not a monk-approved weapon. You can't attack someone you've grappled with a mancatcher, because you don't have the reach to get him. Right, but once you get the initial hit, you aren't attacking with the mancatcher, you're making grapple attempts at a range. Personally I'd rule no flurry, since you are using the mancatchers attack bonus and damage (if dealing damage and not doing some other grapple option). Fortunately its not likely something to come up since I'd use light armor at almost all times, nullifying the ability to flurry anyways. I'd suggest taking the Leadership feat instead. A Hexblade should have enough Charisma to make good use of it. A rogue/ranger cohort would be available at 6th level, and would get sneak attacks against anyone you successfully grappled. With TWF, that will add up quickly. And, you'll have a guy who can search/disable/track as needed. That's not bad either. Plus, it saves you a feat. Not a bad idea, though I'm not generally fond of leadership.
UMiskatonic 04-05-07, 12:22 AM	Ah, making grapple attempts to do damage. I'd rule against flurry, since you're using the mancatcher. You want to flurry, set the mancatcher down and grapple without it.