Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sluggo 04-12-07, 10:18 PM	At first level the Monk can pick two of those 4 abilities - Flury of Blows or Decisive Strike and Stunning Fist or Draconic Fist. Which is the best combo? I'm leaning toward Flury of Blows and Draconic Fist.
Kouk 04-13-07, 03:37 AM	I'm not familiar with Draconic Fist. The main reason to go with stunning fist is because it specifically is a prerequisite for many feats. If Draconic Fist says it works for the sake of qualifying for feats then I guess that main reason doesn't matter. Stunning Fist itself doesn't usually work all that often, because many things you will be able to use it on have high fort saves and can resist it. But it is awesome if you do manage to stun something. I have not played a 3.5 monk myself (yet) but another player in my group does.
Katana_Uno 04-14-07, 01:24 AM	My previous Monks have all had Stunning Fist, when it works it is nice to have. True you won't be able to take any feats with the Stunning Fist Prereq, but you will be adding immediate damage if you declare and hit with Draconic Fist. My current Monk chose Flurry of Blows with Draconic Fists. I took Fire as my energy type. Look to add Improved Natural Attack when you qualify for it. You will see arguments against being able to use it, but it is a legitimate feat for a Monk. I also grabbed Dodge, Combat Reflexes, Defensive Throw and Backstab. Human with up to two Flaws from the Unearthed Arcana can give you up to three additional feats, very nice when starting out. When Enlarged I'm a trippin machine with Reach and damage increases by size catagory. You can always take Stunning Fist later when you qualify for it. Probably not a bad idea.
Tectorman 04-14-07, 01:50 AM	Here's one way of looking at it. Take Stunning Fist at first level and Fiery Fist (PHB II) at second. Continue to 20th level Monk. With a full flurry and activating Fiery Fist, you get 5 individual chances to add +1d6 fire to damage (odds are good that not all 5 attempts will succeed). With the Draconic Fist at 20th level, you declare one attack to be your Draconic Fist for that round. If it hits, you deal +5d6 (for argument's sake) fire damage plus whatever else (which is what hitting with all 5 flurry attacks with the Stunning Fiery method would do). If it fails, you do not get to attempt it again until your next turn. It's really all about how cautious you are versus your tendency to take risks. Since I really like the Chaos Monk alternative class (potential for 9 attacks by 15th level), I'd go with the Stunning Fiery method myself.
sluggo 04-15-07, 10:27 AM	My previous Monks have all had Stunning Fist, when it works it is nice to have. True you won't be able to take any feats with the Stunning Fist Prereq, but you will be adding immediate damage if you declare and hit with Draconic Fist. My current Monk chose Flurry of Blows with Draconic Fists. I took Fire as my energy type. Look to add Improved Natural Attack when you qualify for it. You will see arguments against being able to use it, but it is a legitimate feat for a Monk. I also grabbed Dodge, Combat Reflexes, Defensive Throw and Backstab. Human with up to two Flaws from the Unearthed Arcana can give you up to three additional feats, very nice when starting out. When Enlarged I'm a trippin machine with Reach and damage increases by size catagory. You can always take Stunning Fist later when you qualify for it. Probably not a bad idea. Just on needed the stunning fist as a prereq. nothing to stop me from taking the feat later if I need it. I don't know of the Improve Natural Attack, what book is it from?
teshen 04-15-07, 12:53 PM	I don't know of the Improve Natural Attack, what book is it from? Monster Manual. It requires a base attack of +4... so, as a pure monk you can get it with your sixth level character feat.
Grimmsfeld 04-15-07, 05:29 PM	you deal +5d6 (for argument's sake) fire damage Which is super weak when you consider at 20th level, about 90% of everthing is immune to fire damage or at least has resistance 5. Fire=Most Common form of energy damage, ergo, Fire-Most Common form of energy resistance.
sluggo 04-15-07, 08:22 PM	Which is super weak when you consider at 20th level, about 90% of everthing is immune to fire damage or at least has resistance 5. Fire=Most Common form of energy damage, ergo, Fire-Most Common form of energy resistance. The Draconic Fist allows you to pick Fire, Cold, Electric or Acid damage. You can also use the DF once per day per level. Where as the stunning fist/fiery attack can only be used oncer per every 4 levels.