Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ShinAkuma2 12-18-06, 01:22 AM	So, my Tattooed Monk, Will, died for the first time recently. He went from 9 back to 8, and happily regained that level one convention later. It's now time to pick a new feat. I previously had the Crab tattoo (DR 2/magic per tattoo, so 4 at the time) and the Weakening Touch feat (use one Stunning Fist attempt, a successful attack imposes a -6 to Str instead of damage). I decided to replace Crab with Centipede (Alter Self 1/day per tattoo, lasts for 1 hour/level...Mostly for Troglodyte's 6 Nat. Armor). However, I just can't decide what to do for the feat. I never got to use Weakening Touch because I seem to fight nothing but undead and elementals, or things that I can only hit on ridiculously high rolls. As much as I love the feat, it's just not working for me. I've considered Blind-Fight, Power Attack (to use along with Armbands of Might that I would purchase), Defensive Throw (if my Dodge buddy misses me, I get a trip attempt), even Martial Throw (if I hit a guy, we grapple, if I win, we switch positions...It's minor battlefield control)...Any suggestions? I currently have Dodge, Endurance (prereq feat, I'm not that useless a player), Improved Grapple, Stunning Fist, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip. My MO is tripping and grappling what I can, and for what I can't, I play bodyguard for those that need it, and provide flanks where I can with Tumble. Any comments would be appreciated...
JamesMaissen 12-18-06, 01:46 AM	I currently have Dodge, Endurance (prereq feat, I'm not that useless a player), Improved Grapple, Stunning Fist, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip. My MO is tripping and grappling what I can, and for what I can't, I play bodyguard for those that need it, and provide flanks where I can with Tumble. Any comments would be appreciated... Defensive Throw is nice, and so is Rapid Stunning. Personally I love Weakening Touch but it does have it's limitations, James
Gwumph 12-18-06, 03:09 AM	Not sure if this is legal But earth's embrace, is a great feat if you are grappling alot (+1D12 when pinning) or FAQ says that improved natural attack works for a monks fist. (all you unarmed attacks do damage as if 1 size larger) again at my desk so not sure if will work. Just ideas. Gwumph
jstorrie 12-18-06, 03:55 AM	If you have Dodge, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip, take Defensive Throw. It's a no-brainer. You might want to consider a level of Fighter at 12 for the bonus feat, to pick up Mobility + Elusive Target, as well.
solbergb 12-18-06, 01:37 PM	Earth Embrace is a bad feat in LG, because nobody can agree on what it does. Ask 6 people you'll get 6 different answers. Even the more liberal interpretations...you don't pin people to damage them. You pin them to take them out of the fight. Your party kills them for you, when they get around to it. Improved natural attack is NPC only in LG unless you're an animal companion or similar bonded creature. I'd look at all the feats that have "dodge" as a prereq. Since you seem to have trouble hitting, I'd avoid feats that require attack penalties. Rapid stunning might seem an obvious choice but not if you only fight nonstunnable critters. I kind of like martial throw myself. And you're right about alter self. It not only gives you nat armor, it gives you 3 natural attacks that you can use in addition to your full flurry AND gives you multiattack so those 3 secondary attacks are only at -2 to hit.
ShinAkuma2 12-18-06, 02:49 PM	Earth Embrace is a bad feat in LG, because nobody can agree on what it does. Ask 6 people you'll get 6 different answers. Even the more liberal interpretations...you don't pin people to damage them. You pin them to take them out of the fight. Your party kills them for you, when they get around to it. Agreed, it's why I haven't taken it. I'm pretty sure I understand it, but if I'm pinning, damage is not as important as removing an opponent from combat. It seems Defensive Throw is at the top of the list right now. Hopefully I can combine it with the Scorpion tattoo to great effect.
Jay_Ibero_911 12-18-06, 10:55 PM	Agreed, it's why I haven't taken it. I'm pretty sure I understand it, but if I'm pinning, damage is not as important as removing an opponent from combat. It seems Defensive Throw is at the top of the list right now. Hopefully I can combine it with the Scorpion tattoo to great effect. THAT is actually a pretty cool idea. Now you've got something...And I have to remember to give you an extended greater magic fang next time you adventure with my druid...I feel like an idiot for not offering durring the convention...I've grown selfish with my buffs...
ShinAkuma2 12-19-06, 01:52 AM	Hm, I guess I should have thought to ask for it...Funny that neither of us thought of it after I used the Magic Fang potion on myself. But yeah, GMF is a future must-have.
UMiskatonic 12-20-06, 12:24 PM	You are in the weak spot for monk builds, I'm sorry to say. It'll pick up at 10th-11th, when you get another attack, do more damage, etc. That's when tripping/grappling becomes a little more iffy. A group of orc shamen, and you are set. Fiendinsh Tyrannosaur, and you will be better off with a flurry. I'd go back to either weaking touch (its really stellar, just not right now), or power attack. I'd want to have them both by 12th level. IDEA: Your forehead isn't the best weapon in all circumstances. Give some thought to buying, for example, an adamantine kama, or a +1 holy quarterstaff. For that matter, a silver greatsword (-4 np) might be more effective vs. DR10/silver than anything else you've got. IDEA: If the party makeup has primary fighters, you can tumble, flank, disarm, trip, grapple, and aid another. Most of that can also be done defensively, if needed. Allowing the fighter to power attack for +4 more is a help. Standing in the middle so that you take half of the attacks is an ENORMOUS help. IDEA: Take a look at the spells which will help you quite a lot, and/or which last a long time. These include mage armor, enlarge person, barkskin, greater magic vestment, greater magic armor, greater magic fang, stalwart pact. Many of these are cheap enough that you can either buy the scroll for it yourself, or you can buy the pearl of power that would let the caster hit you and themself. IDEA: Weaking touch/stunning fist can be used with spring attack. You could go in that direction. It'll keep you pretty safe, and monk speed can move you across the entire battlefield easily, esp. with tumble. IDEA: Holding a reachweapon in your hand, like a spiked chain or glaive, would allow AO's. You have Combat Reflexes, so you'll get even more AO's. You could also use them to trip/disarm/whatever. Even non-proficient, it's a free attack. Should someone say "Aha, I'll step close to the reach weapon guy!", just kick him in the face four times.
budleiser 12-27-06, 03:55 AM	IDEA: Holding a reachweapon in your hand, like a spiked chain or glaive, would allow AO's. You have Combat Reflexes, so you'll get even more AO's. You could also use them to trip/disarm/whatever. Even non-proficient, it's a free attack. Should someone say "Aha, I'll step close to the reach weapon guy!", just kick him in the face four times. I would hope he is doing this already. Or atleast having someone cast enlarge giving him reach and a bonus to his tactics.
TWG_Prometheus 12-29-06, 03:12 PM	Just because no one else has suggested it yet... If you're having trouble hitting things, Weapon Focus(Unarmed Strike).