Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Umbra_Kaitou 08-14-07, 03:16 PM	I'm still a ways from it, but I;m seeking advice for what to do when my monk hits 6 for his feat and bonus feat. Right now i'm planning a straight monk, maybe tatooed monk at higher levels, but i don't know and one that focuses on his fists. My current feats are: Versatile Unarmed Strike, Dodge(Human), Mobility. Bonus: Stunning Fist and Deflect Arrows. Now in particular, I've gotten access to Curling Wave Strike out of Stormwrack, that essentially lets you trip another person after you trip the first. I was thinking of retraining my 2nd level bonus feat, and taking Improved trip and Curling Wave Strike at 6th, and curious if people thought that would work well in greyhawk or had other ideas on where to go.
rpgdcj 08-14-07, 06:33 PM	If you want to focus on your fists, look at these options: Improved Natural Attack (Monster Manual) Weapon Focus(Unarmed Strike) Ability Focus(Stunning Fist) (Monster Manual) You might want to retrain Deflect Arrows into Fiery Fist (PHBII) -Dave
Umbra_Kaitou 08-14-07, 06:50 PM	While i do want to remain unarmed specialized, the reason i was thinking against those lines was that i worry about putting all my eggs in one basket, so to speak, when i can't deal that damage to creatures that require the likes of cold iron or silver damage. Unless you side with the gauntlet debate, but i worry thats still too unsteady to devote too. Also by 6 i dont believe i qualify for Improved Natural Attack (unless i m is remember my numbers). One additional thought was to take water splitting stone at i think 9th to help against DR, but thats a ways away yet
rpgdcj 08-14-07, 07:03 PM	Yeah, the DR issue could get you, though the gauntlet debate has a good amount of support from the FAQ. You'd have to take Simple Weapon Proficiency to be totally sure, which might not be worth it. Versatile Unarmed Strike (which you already have) takes care of a lot of the DR situations. Just because you focus on unarmed doesn't mean you can't use specialized weaponry if the situation warrants it. You may not be optimized for that, but you ought to be able to contribute. Incorporeals would be your bane, however (you could take Ki Blast at 6th to help that). By the way, Improved Natural Attack needs BAB +4 to qualify, which is where Monk is at level 6. Water Splitting Stone needs BAB +9, so you can't take it until level 12. -Dave
Archwolf 08-14-07, 07:51 PM	I'm pretty into the gauntlet idea, so my character will be retraining into simple weapon proficiency next level, so I can beat DR with a cold iron and a silver gauntlet. As for the proficiencies, I have to admit, I don't know my monster manual well at all, but I wonder how often you need slashing or piercing (and thus, Versatile unarmed strike). Bludgeon takes care of the undead problem. I guess piercing is needed if you're trapped under water, by my monk grapples in that situation. is there anything out there that requires slashing? I think my plan is to take fighter levels at the end for the extra proficiencies. The way i see it, monks make a million attacks, so any bonus to damage (from weapon specialization and melee weapon mastery) gets multiplied through a lot of attacks. What I can't decide is between fiery defense, ki strike or improved trip at level 6. People like trip a lot, but I don't really carry a reach weapon.
Umbra_Kaitou 08-14-07, 08:00 PM	My rapier weilding rogue has bumped into a couple slashing needed monsters in mods before, one particularly nasty plant monster comes to mind >> No monk reach tripping weapons does kinda suck, but i was thinking with curling wave strike getting in close and tripping multiple might work...though i'm not sure how often that situation arises, hense the asking for opinion. or if people think it would be a more frequent benefit, maybe using my mobility AC to get close to enemy clerics and casters and with improve disarm try to yank holy symbols and/or stun?
Iswald 08-14-07, 10:16 PM	As for the proficiencies, I have to admit, I don't know my monster manual well at all, but I wonder how often you need slashing or piercing (and thus, Versatile unarmed strike). Bludgeon takes care of the undead problem. I guess piercing is needed if you're trapped under water, by my monk grapples in that situation. is there anything out there that requires slashing? Bludgeoning doesn't work with all undead. Not saying versatile unarmed strike is a necessity... However, there are times when it will help with DR.
rpgdcj 08-14-07, 11:20 PM	As for the proficiencies, I have to admit, I don't know my monster manual well at all, but I wonder how often you need slashing or piercing (and thus, Versatile unarmed strike). Bludgeon takes care of the undead problem. I guess piercing is needed if you're trapped under water, by my monk grapples in that situation. is there anything out there that requires slashing? What I can't decide is between fiery defense, ki strike or improved trip at level 6. People like trip a lot, but I don't really carry a reach weapon. Take a look at zombies for an example of undead that need a slashing attack. Fiery Ki Defense is nice because attackers take damage if they hit you, but of course, you take damage too. It becomes less useful the better you get at avoiding being hit. And a ranged attacker takes no damage. Ki Blast is good because it's a ranged touch attack (force effect), so you can hit those nasty undead incorporeals from a distance, and not have a 50% miss chance. 3d6 + WIS damage isn't too shabby, either. If you want to trip, try using a kama. It's not a reach weapon, but it works for tripping, and monks are proficient with it. -Dave
jstorrie 08-15-07, 02:09 AM	Retraining your second-level feat to Combat Reflexes is a good idea whether or not you take Curling Wave Strike; carry a guisarme and just eat the non-proficiency penalty, you'll still land touch attacks to initiate trips. Depending on your stats, multiclassing out of Monk and into Fighter for 7-10 may be a good idea; Tattooed Monk is good, too, better than many people consider it, but I don't think I'd go for it with a 'regular' monk build. It works better for a Wis-dumping Fighter 4 / Monk 2 type.
Umbra_Kaitou 08-15-07, 01:48 PM	I'm curious, if i were to take a dip into fighter like that...then what would there be to do afterward? Personally, i think at 8 or 9 is another damage boost, and 12 is D-dooring, so i dont know if i would dip, but curious as to options