Good Monk Race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Good Monk Race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheDarkPrince
07-31-07, 09:54 PM Never played a monk. So I was wondering what is the best race for a monk. Preferrably no more than +1 LA.

Thanks, Cheers! :D
IdleAltruism
07-31-07, 10:18 PM Human
TurnCloak_Kobold
07-31-07, 10:23 PM hegenkai ((rabbit)) there great if your taking monk for the speed. Lvl AD. +1 they get a +2 to Dex and a -2 to wis. a +4 to jump checks and the ability to have a hybrid form, and a full rabbit form in adition to your base, mostly human form.

Rokugon book.
Shaggy_Shaggs
07-31-07, 10:24 PM Half-orc can be good if you're looking for simple good rather than stressed to the limit need every last skill point and feat oh can I take flaws for the bonus feats this won't work otherwise DM scaring dragon strangling uber good. Monk MAD stings, adding a stat you need for two you don't helps.
AMGriffin
07-31-07, 10:29 PM Every time somebody says "human" for any of these kinds of topics I want to break things.

But um, good Monk Races:

LA+0 Races
Half-orcs are surprisingly good, this is one role they do quite well in as far as PHB races go.

Wood elves and Wild elves both have Dexterity bonuses, which is useful to the monk. You'll have to decide if the +2 Strength at the cost of -2 Constitution a wood elf presents is worth it, however.

LA+1
Catfolk, which have a very high bonus to dexterity and improved landspeed are good choices.

The draconic template seems useful for just about everything

I know you said you were reluctant to go above LA+1, but the LA+2 half-ogre makes for an incredible grappler due to its large size and high strength bonus.

Lastly, there is the Thri-Kreen. It has an LA of+2 and 2 levels of monstrous humanoid, but receives bonuses to Strength/Dexterity/Wisdom, natural armor, and most of all it has 4 Arms which means insane numbers of attacks with flurry of blows.
X0_Lt_0X
07-31-07, 10:36 PM Human (trust me youll need the extra feat)
TheDarkPrince
07-31-07, 10:41 PM Thri Kreen actually sounds cool, but could you envision one meshing into a cult that focuses on maintaining the balance between good and evil? I don't know much about them...

Where can their stats be found, I have MM2, but did it have their playable stats?

Thanks, Cheers! :D
AMGriffin
07-31-07, 11:03 PM Thri-Kreen are a mantis-like race of humanoids, I dunno if one could find their way into such an order, but it is possible I guess.

You can download the Athas 3.5 setting booklet here: http://www.athas.org/releases/ds3/

It stats out Thri-Kreens (and presents a few other interesting races), not sure if its the same one in the MM2 tho.
TheDarkPrince
07-31-07, 11:38 PM Thanks. Anyone else know about Thri-Kreen Society/mindset?

EDIT: what would you change on the Thri-Kreen to make thier LA lower?
Phelix_the_Warrior
08-01-07, 02:18 AM Every time somebody says "human" for any of these kinds of topics I want to break things.
\

I know what you mean, when someone is asking for a race I doubt they are looking for human as their choice, and while humans make good monks, they also make good everything else. Its just really annoying when 50% of the responses in every thread related to "best race for [BLANK]" is Human

as for Monks I think Dwarves, Orcs, Hobgoblins, and Bugbears...I kinda like the idea of strong/tough monks
TheDarkPrince
08-01-07, 03:08 AM Hobgoblins! I forgot about them. That actually would be cool, but I can't think about how to justify them with the flavor I have....any ideas?
Shaggy_Shaggs
08-01-07, 03:35 AM What's the flavour conflict? Is there a problem with the specific character concept or game setting you're playing? If so specifying those might help for folks coming up with ideas.
TheDarkPrince
08-01-07, 03:43 AM I don't think the DM will mind, but could you see a (mainly human) cult, focused on keeping the balance between good and evil, contain a hobgoblin?

I think it would work, because the cult is Lawful N. And Hobgoblins are Lawful in general....so its not a stretch.....but the race thing might work against him....
scienceman47
08-01-07, 03:50 AM Hobgoblins! I forgot about them. That actually would be cool, but I can't think about how to justify them with the flavor I have....any ideas?

Hobgoblins are naturally lawful, and most races can deviate one degree from alignment tendencies without real difficulty, so thats easy enough. All you have to do is get him into the cult. Maybe they find a hobbie baby and decide that he would make a very good monk (he would).
Feredenil
08-01-07, 03:51 AM Also, you might want to take a look at the 'Githzerai' race, page176 in the Manual of the Planes. No Ability adjustment, no inceased LA.
TheDarkPrince
08-01-07, 04:03 AM I was thinking of them....but they're too out there...I think it would fit well if the cult weren't almost entirely human, actually it would work really well.....but it is.

Thanks, Cheers! :D
Shaggy_Shaggs
08-01-07, 04:14 AM Alternately your hobgoblin is individually repentant from his evil ways, and joined this cult as an adult. Being a military man from a military society, he knew the best way to reinforce his new way of life was with strict discipline, and knew of no more disciplined neutrals than the monk cult. He went to them, petitioned to join them, and was of course mistrusted. He was required to perform some service to the monastery as a demonstration of his sincerity, did it, and now he's a member. Some of the more skeptical monks still mistrust him for his race, but he goes out of his way to show his loyalty at every opportunity.
SasoriSama
08-01-07, 07:00 AM Another fun one are the Spikers from the Planar Handbook.

Giving yourself the ability to do Piercing damage at will, armor spikes for free, and 60 ft Darkvision are nice.

There are no stat changes, they get DR 2/Piercing or Slashing, Acid resistance 5, and Natural armor +1.

Also, their type is Humanoid(Extraplanar) because they're from Acheron, so you could say that he's joined a monastery to become stronger for the unending battle on the plane.
Steely_Dan
08-01-07, 08:38 AM Thri Kreen actually sounds cool

Yeah:

18th level thri-kreen monk (2 monstrous humanoid HD) with Greater Multi-Weapon Fighting, Multiattack and a 10 Str:

Full Attack: Unarmed strike +13/+13/+13/+8/+3 with flurry of blows and kama +13/+8/+3 and kama +13/+8/+3 and kama +13/+8/+3 and bite +13

15 attacks per round.
JarionSilverblades
08-01-07, 11:54 PM Halflings. Here's why.
Positive: With their +2 Dex and Small size, they already get a +2 to AC, halflings gain a +1 with thrown weapons and slings, which covers some of the monk's weapons ( dagger, javelin, sai, shuriken, and sling), they also gain a +1 on attack rolls vs any creature larger then small. As for the halfling's speed of 20ft, the monk's speed bonus takes care of that by level 3.

Negative: The only real disadvantage is the halfling's small size, it means they deal less damage with weapons and unarmed strike and are weak grapplers. :twocents:
Legdiwena
08-02-07, 01:19 AM Check races in Expanded Psionic Manual
shadowpavement
08-02-07, 02:05 AM Warforged from the Eberron setting also make great monks. You never need to eat/sleep/breath and you get a +2 to con. You do get a -2 to wisdom however but that is mitigated by the warforged natural +2 to AC leaving you with a net +1 to AC overall which doesn't count as armor for the purposes of class abilities. With a warforged you can also get race specific magical items like the Battlefist which greatly causes our unarmed damage to scale up as if you were a large creature instead of a medium one. Pure awsome :)
TheDarkPrince
08-02-07, 04:30 AM Thanks guys....I had a question about thri-kreen, and the above poster made me think I was right:

Since thri-kreen have two sets of arms....does that mean they get double the attacks? (assuming multi-attack is a feat taken. Or its like)

Thanks, Cheers! :D
Steely_Dan
08-02-07, 04:46 AM Thanks guys....I had a question about thri-kreen, and the above poster made me think I was right:

Since thri-kreen have two sets of arms....does that mean they get double the attacks? (assuming multi-attack is a feat taken. Or its like)

Thanks, Cheers! :D

Yes, a thri-kreen can attacks with all 4 arms and bite in a full attack.

See my earlier post (just up the page a bit).
monkeybone
08-02-07, 04:52 AM Dwarf.
TheDarkPrince
08-02-07, 04:54 AM Man....I think I'll go with that....

What would you guys pull form the Thr-Kreen to lower their LA? Psionics, natural armor, and the poison seem like good ones to take, maybe the bite too....

Thanks, Cheers! :D
Steely_Dan
08-02-07, 06:06 AM What would you guys pull form the Thr-Kreen to lower their LA?

The only way to lower their LA is to use the LA Buy Off rules from Unearthed Arcana.
TheDarkPrince
08-04-07, 05:36 PM I mean for the race as a whole....I'm not really into psionics, and I know I don't have to use them, but as inherent thing for the race, I just don't like it. Also, I don't need the Natural Armor.....it would help, but its not necessary.

So I'm thinking of a "lesser" Thri-Kreen. Any Ideas on what they should lose? (I would like to keep the arms....)
Combichristian
08-04-07, 06:08 PM Buomman arent a bad choice.
Legdiwena
08-04-07, 06:16 PM A thri-keen without four arms is something else
the_poison_elf
08-04-07, 06:20 PM Insectoid [+2LA Template from Savage Species] Human

You get bonuses to all the pertinent ability scores, natural armor, extra limbs, great vision, and a climb speed. Then you can even keep the human bonus feat and skills.

And am I the only one that can perfectly envision insect monks in concealing robes? Anyone? Beuler?
TheDarkPrince
08-04-07, 06:52 PM DO you know if you can legally put those stats on the boards? Like all the numbers and stuff?

If not, I'm sure I can figure it out.

Thats a really cool template, thanks!

Cheers! :D
the_poison_elf
08-04-07, 07:16 PM Nope, it's not SRD material.

I like the Insectoid template. Nice bang for the buck, and can be used on anything. I combined it with the Winged template (also from SS. gives flight, dex and wis bonus. also +2LA) to make a "cicada-like" creature once.
TheDarkPrince
08-05-07, 06:58 PM what did you mean by great vision? Like enhanced vision, or gain darkvision or the like?

Thanks, Cheers! :D
IrishNinja7
08-05-07, 09:00 PM You said that you would prefer LA+1 or less, but the thri-kreen, svirfneblin, and spellwarped template make for really good monks.

Thri-kreen has already been covered.

Spellwarped is a template, most spellwarped creatures are evil, and its spell resistance gets overlapped with a monks, but other than that, it would really make for a good monk.

Svirfneblin, though small and LA+3 or +4, they make for seriously kick-ass monks. Your AC and saves will be incredible, and if you focus on stealth, you will be nigh undetectable. They also have natural SR, so that will get overlapped when you get it from monk levels, which is kinda a waste. Check them out though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheDarkPrince 07-31-07, 09:54 PM	Never played a monk. So I was wondering what is the best race for a monk. Preferrably no more than +1 LA. Thanks, Cheers! :D
IdleAltruism 07-31-07, 10:18 PM	Human
TurnCloak_Kobold 07-31-07, 10:23 PM	hegenkai ((rabbit)) there great if your taking monk for the speed. Lvl AD. +1 they get a +2 to Dex and a -2 to wis. a +4 to jump checks and the ability to have a hybrid form, and a full rabbit form in adition to your base, mostly human form. Rokugon book.
Shaggy_Shaggs 07-31-07, 10:24 PM	Half-orc can be good if you're looking for simple good rather than stressed to the limit need every last skill point and feat oh can I take flaws for the bonus feats this won't work otherwise DM scaring dragon strangling uber good. Monk MAD stings, adding a stat you need for two you don't helps.
AMGriffin 07-31-07, 10:29 PM	Every time somebody says "human" for any of these kinds of topics I want to break things. But um, good Monk Races: LA+0 Races Half-orcs are surprisingly good, this is one role they do quite well in as far as PHB races go. Wood elves and Wild elves both have Dexterity bonuses, which is useful to the monk. You'll have to decide if the +2 Strength at the cost of -2 Constitution a wood elf presents is worth it, however. LA+1 Catfolk, which have a very high bonus to dexterity and improved landspeed are good choices. The draconic template seems useful for just about everything I know you said you were reluctant to go above LA+1, but the LA+2 half-ogre makes for an incredible grappler due to its large size and high strength bonus. Lastly, there is the Thri-Kreen. It has an LA of+2 and 2 levels of monstrous humanoid, but receives bonuses to Strength/Dexterity/Wisdom, natural armor, and most of all it has 4 Arms which means insane numbers of attacks with flurry of blows.
X0_Lt_0X 07-31-07, 10:36 PM	Human (trust me youll need the extra feat)
TheDarkPrince 07-31-07, 10:41 PM	Thri Kreen actually sounds cool, but could you envision one meshing into a cult that focuses on maintaining the balance between good and evil? I don't know much about them... Where can their stats be found, I have MM2, but did it have their playable stats? Thanks, Cheers! :D
AMGriffin 07-31-07, 11:03 PM	Thri-Kreen are a mantis-like race of humanoids, I dunno if one could find their way into such an order, but it is possible I guess. You can download the Athas 3.5 setting booklet here: http://www.athas.org/releases/ds3/ It stats out Thri-Kreens (and presents a few other interesting races), not sure if its the same one in the MM2 tho.
TheDarkPrince 07-31-07, 11:38 PM	Thanks. Anyone else know about Thri-Kreen Society/mindset? EDIT: what would you change on the Thri-Kreen to make thier LA lower?
Phelix_the_Warrior 08-01-07, 02:18 AM	Every time somebody says "human" for any of these kinds of topics I want to break things. \ I know what you mean, when someone is asking for a race I doubt they are looking for human as their choice, and while humans make good monks, they also make good everything else. Its just really annoying when 50% of the responses in every thread related to "best race for [BLANK]" is Human as for Monks I think Dwarves, Orcs, Hobgoblins, and Bugbears...I kinda like the idea of strong/tough monks
TheDarkPrince 08-01-07, 03:08 AM	Hobgoblins! I forgot about them. That actually would be cool, but I can't think about how to justify them with the flavor I have....any ideas?
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-01-07, 03:35 AM	What's the flavour conflict? Is there a problem with the specific character concept or game setting you're playing? If so specifying those might help for folks coming up with ideas.
TheDarkPrince 08-01-07, 03:43 AM	I don't think the DM will mind, but could you see a (mainly human) cult, focused on keeping the balance between good and evil, contain a hobgoblin? I think it would work, because the cult is Lawful N. And Hobgoblins are Lawful in general....so its not a stretch.....but the race thing might work against him....
scienceman47 08-01-07, 03:50 AM	Hobgoblins! I forgot about them. That actually would be cool, but I can't think about how to justify them with the flavor I have....any ideas? Hobgoblins are naturally lawful, and most races can deviate one degree from alignment tendencies without real difficulty, so thats easy enough. All you have to do is get him into the cult. Maybe they find a hobbie baby and decide that he would make a very good monk (he would).
Feredenil 08-01-07, 03:51 AM	Also, you might want to take a look at the 'Githzerai' race, page176 in the Manual of the Planes. No Ability adjustment, no inceased LA.
TheDarkPrince 08-01-07, 04:03 AM	I was thinking of them....but they're too out there...I think it would fit well if the cult weren't almost entirely human, actually it would work really well.....but it is. Thanks, Cheers! :D
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-01-07, 04:14 AM	Alternately your hobgoblin is individually repentant from his evil ways, and joined this cult as an adult. Being a military man from a military society, he knew the best way to reinforce his new way of life was with strict discipline, and knew of no more disciplined neutrals than the monk cult. He went to them, petitioned to join them, and was of course mistrusted. He was required to perform some service to the monastery as a demonstration of his sincerity, did it, and now he's a member. Some of the more skeptical monks still mistrust him for his race, but he goes out of his way to show his loyalty at every opportunity.
SasoriSama 08-01-07, 07:00 AM	Another fun one are the Spikers from the Planar Handbook. Giving yourself the ability to do Piercing damage at will, armor spikes for free, and 60 ft Darkvision are nice. There are no stat changes, they get DR 2/Piercing or Slashing, Acid resistance 5, and Natural armor +1. Also, their type is Humanoid(Extraplanar) because they're from Acheron, so you could say that he's joined a monastery to become stronger for the unending battle on the plane.
Steely_Dan 08-01-07, 08:38 AM	Thri Kreen actually sounds cool Yeah: 18th level thri-kreen monk (2 monstrous humanoid HD) with Greater Multi-Weapon Fighting, Multiattack and a 10 Str: Full Attack: Unarmed strike +13/+13/+13/+8/+3 with flurry of blows and kama +13/+8/+3 and kama +13/+8/+3 and kama +13/+8/+3 and bite +13 15 attacks per round.
JarionSilverblades 08-01-07, 11:54 PM	Halflings. Here's why. Positive: With their +2 Dex and Small size, they already get a +2 to AC, halflings gain a +1 with thrown weapons and slings, which covers some of the monk's weapons ( dagger, javelin, sai, shuriken, and sling), they also gain a +1 on attack rolls vs any creature larger then small. As for the halfling's speed of 20ft, the monk's speed bonus takes care of that by level 3. Negative: The only real disadvantage is the halfling's small size, it means they deal less damage with weapons and unarmed strike and are weak grapplers. :twocents:
Legdiwena 08-02-07, 01:19 AM	Check races in Expanded Psionic Manual
shadowpavement 08-02-07, 02:05 AM	Warforged from the Eberron setting also make great monks. You never need to eat/sleep/breath and you get a +2 to con. You do get a -2 to wisdom however but that is mitigated by the warforged natural +2 to AC leaving you with a net +1 to AC overall which doesn't count as armor for the purposes of class abilities. With a warforged you can also get race specific magical items like the Battlefist which greatly causes our unarmed damage to scale up as if you were a large creature instead of a medium one. Pure awsome :)
TheDarkPrince 08-02-07, 04:30 AM	Thanks guys....I had a question about thri-kreen, and the above poster made me think I was right: Since thri-kreen have two sets of arms....does that mean they get double the attacks? (assuming multi-attack is a feat taken. Or its like) Thanks, Cheers! :D
Steely_Dan 08-02-07, 04:46 AM	Thanks guys....I had a question about thri-kreen, and the above poster made me think I was right: Since thri-kreen have two sets of arms....does that mean they get double the attacks? (assuming multi-attack is a feat taken. Or its like) Thanks, Cheers! :D Yes, a thri-kreen can attacks with all 4 arms and bite in a full attack. See my earlier post (just up the page a bit).
monkeybone 08-02-07, 04:52 AM	Dwarf.
TheDarkPrince 08-02-07, 04:54 AM	Man....I think I'll go with that.... What would you guys pull form the Thr-Kreen to lower their LA? Psionics, natural armor, and the poison seem like good ones to take, maybe the bite too.... Thanks, Cheers! :D
Steely_Dan 08-02-07, 06:06 AM	What would you guys pull form the Thr-Kreen to lower their LA? The only way to lower their LA is to use the LA Buy Off rules from Unearthed Arcana.
TheDarkPrince 08-04-07, 05:36 PM	I mean for the race as a whole....I'm not really into psionics, and I know I don't have to use them, but as inherent thing for the race, I just don't like it. Also, I don't need the Natural Armor.....it would help, but its not necessary. So I'm thinking of a "lesser" Thri-Kreen. Any Ideas on what they should lose? (I would like to keep the arms....)
Combichristian 08-04-07, 06:08 PM	Buomman arent a bad choice.
Legdiwena 08-04-07, 06:16 PM	A thri-keen without four arms is something else
the_poison_elf 08-04-07, 06:20 PM	Insectoid [+2LA Template from Savage Species] Human You get bonuses to all the pertinent ability scores, natural armor, extra limbs, great vision, and a climb speed. Then you can even keep the human bonus feat and skills. And am I the only one that can perfectly envision insect monks in concealing robes? Anyone? Beuler?
TheDarkPrince 08-04-07, 06:52 PM	DO you know if you can legally put those stats on the boards? Like all the numbers and stuff? If not, I'm sure I can figure it out. Thats a really cool template, thanks! Cheers! :D
the_poison_elf 08-04-07, 07:16 PM	Nope, it's not SRD material. I like the Insectoid template. Nice bang for the buck, and can be used on anything. I combined it with the Winged template (also from SS. gives flight, dex and wis bonus. also +2LA) to make a "cicada-like" creature once.
TheDarkPrince 08-05-07, 06:58 PM	what did you mean by great vision? Like enhanced vision, or gain darkvision or the like? Thanks, Cheers! :D
IrishNinja7 08-05-07, 09:00 PM	You said that you would prefer LA+1 or less, but the thri-kreen, svirfneblin, and spellwarped template make for really good monks. Thri-kreen has already been covered. Spellwarped is a template, most spellwarped creatures are evil, and its spell resistance gets overlapped with a monks, but other than that, it would really make for a good monk. Svirfneblin, though small and LA+3 or +4, they make for seriously kick-ass monks. Your AC and saves will be incredible, and if you focus on stealth, you will be nigh undetectable. They also have natural SR, so that will get overlapped when you get it from monk levels, which is kinda a waste. Check them out though.