Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fghj171983 02-12-07, 04:53 AM	Looking at making a monk for LG with some of the new feats in the new LGCS. First one is straight monk. Liking the stunning aspect. Half-orc Str 16 Dex 14 Con 14 Int 8 Wis 15 Cha 6 1 Stunning fist, Ability focus 2 Combat Reflexes 3 Pain touch 4 pump wis 5 - 6 Imp Trip, Imp Natural Att. 7- 8 Pump wis 9 Rapid Stunning 10- 11- 12 Power Attack, again pumping wis 13 14 15 Imp Toughness 2nd build - Monk type that goes into Pious templar of Zuoken ended up cutting Sacred fist Dwarf Str 15 Dex 15 Con 16 Int 8 Wis 14 Cha 6 Mnk 1 Stunning Fist, True Believer Mnk 2 Fiery Fist Mnk 3 Two Weapon Fighting Mnk 4 - Pump str Ftr 5 Wep Foc Unarmed Ftr 6 Imp Nat Attack , Power Attack PT 7 - PT 8 - Pump str PT 9 Wep Spec. , Melee Wep Mastery bludgeoning PT 10 Improved Two Weapon Fighting (with gloves of Dex +2) PT 11 - PT 12 Two Weapon Rend, pump str PT 13 PT 14 Greater Two Weapon Fighting (gloves of Dex +4) PT 15 Crushing Strikes Edited the 2nd build so there wasn't an exp penalty. Also cut sacred fist and added the two weapon fighting chain to maximize crushing strikes. The paladin spells from PT end up letting you bypass good, cold iron, and adamantine DR.
Munkwunk 02-12-07, 12:54 PM	If you're going to focus on stunning then you'll probably want a higher Wis than, say, Dexterity. I'd swap those two at first level, unless you're dead set on breaking even in that stat by 15th. Sacred Fist is a great prestige class if you're willing to put up with the restrictions. If for nothing else, you will eventually gain access to Divine Power and Righteous Might as a monk. If you went that route though, you'd be better off as a grappling monk than a stunning monk. IMO, straight monk is just a mroe interesting option if only for the fact that nobody does it anymore. :)
fghj171983 02-13-07, 03:40 AM	Well I've done some thinking and I don't think Sacred Fist will be worth it. Punching with holy swords on my fists seems cool but probly not enough. Leaning to a doing a mostly monk build as I originally posted, now with 3 lvls of pious templar in the end. I really dont like lvls 13-15 for monk. I am focusing on trying to be a stunner here. Seems like it would help the party especially the rogue. The stunning DCs should be reasonable with this build. Half-Orc Str 16 Dex 14 Con 14 Int 8 Wis 15 Cha 6 1 Monk: Stunning Fist, Ability Focus (stunning fist) 2 Monk: Fiery Fist 3 Monk: Pain Touch 4 Monk Pump wis 5 Monk 6 Monk: Imp Trip, Imp Natural Attack 7 Monk 8 Monk Pump wis 9 Monk: Wep Foc unarmed strike 10 Monk 11 Monk 12 Monk: True Believer, pump wis 13 Pious Templar 14 Pious Templar 15 Pious Templar: Wep Spec unarmed strike, Melee Weapon Mastery Bludg BAB +12 Fort +11 Ref +9 Will +11 Eventually my unarmed strikes unbuffed will be hitting for 3d6+8 at +19/+19/+19/+14/+9. I will have the ability to bypass Magic, Lawful, and Evil DR. As well as cold iron, silver and adamantine (with access) with weapons or silversheen. Feat wise I am up in the air about Ability Focus thinking of moving feats around for Power Attack or Sun School instead. I have also thought about going Pious Templar at 12 instead of 13 though monk lvl 12 seems very solid. Any feed back or ideas are welcome.
Japangirl 02-13-07, 12:00 PM	The second is a good build. Evasion + Mettle is always fun. I never liked 13 monk, SR is just too much of a hassle and often hurts you more than it helps.
Archwolf 02-13-07, 02:00 PM	You know, I'm right there with you on the Sacred Fist. The weapon restriction without some helpful ways to overcome Dr is just too brutal. Plus, as you say, the burned feat. Perhaps in some distant D&D 4.0 (and may it be distant) sacred fist will acquire a ki strike progression. Anyway, I don't know anything about pious templar, so PT may be superior, but you might consider working in a level of something with sneak attack. As I understand it, you get the extra d6 on each attack, and monks get to attack a ton. Either position to flank, punch and sneak, or stun the enemy, then each subsequent hit gets the sneak damage. The ideal way to get the sneak die in would be Night Song Enforcer, since it doesn't hurt the BAB, but I think you need to find access. You can always take a level of rogue.
Iswald 02-14-07, 09:35 AM	You know, I'm right there with you on the Sacred Fist. The weapon restriction without some helpful ways to overcome Dr is just too brutal. Plus, as you say, the burned feat. Perhaps in some distant D&D 4.0 (and may it be distant) sacred fist will acquire a ki strike progression. The ki strike advancement was removed when converting from 3.0 to 3.5.
Munkwunk 02-14-07, 01:50 PM	Ability Focus (Stunning Fist) is an *amazing* idea, but I'm not sure if it works. Ability Focus may be applied to any of a creature's "special attacks", which Stunning Fist is not (it's a feat, which is listed in a seperate section on a monster stat block). Does anyone know if I'm missing anything here? I think it's an awesome idea, but I would suggest making sure it's rules-legal before pulling a trick like that.
fghj171983 02-14-07, 04:39 PM	I am pretty sure stunning fist counts as a special attack. It is a DC based attack even though it is a feat. I am pretty sure I have heard of people using this outside greyhawk. Though I would apprechiate any information regarding this.
fghj171983 02-16-07, 04:02 AM	I found that the 3.5 faq specifically states monk's stunning fist as a valid use for ability focus on page 21. :D
fghj171983 02-16-07, 04:25 PM	I am debating now between going the stunning route or the TWF route for more attacks. Which do you guys would be more effective? If I go TWF I would probly still take stunning fist for fiery fist and the utility but not the feats that improve stunning fist. Thoughts?
solbergb 02-16-07, 04:36 PM	If you go TWF, watch your attack mod. Make sure you can still hit things (this usually means massive strength). Stun fist opens a lot of feats and it adds a tactical option. It should never be dismissed lightly on a monk with 14+ wisdom.