Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Clinton44 Mar 17, 2015 18:34:49	So here is what i know.   Im going to play a variant human monk (open palm specialization)   i THINK the smart stat array is at follows   STR 10 DEX 15 (16 with human) CON 14 (15 with human) INT 10 WIS 14 CHA 8   i have no experience with stat array (always rolled stats in past games of dnd/pathfinder so is this right?   Im doing this specifically because i want to pick up a feat...but im having a hard time figuring out wich one i want.   Looking at the stats, it kinda begs for a feat that will give me +1 to either CON or WIS so at level 4 i can bump them both to 16.   So my first choices are as follows   Observant-+5 to perception is really nice and the lip readin thing is potentially useful flavor.   alertness, i hate being surprised, and a nice initiation bonus is incredibly helpful...but no stat bonus   mobile...the main thing im looking at for this is its last ability.     "When you make a melee attack against a creature, you don’t provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest o f the turn, whether you hit or not."   from what i understand you still eat opportunity attacks if you try to leave the threatening space of the enemy...thus making the ability you can do in this game that you cant do in pathfinder...risky (what i mean is being able to move...attack...move to next target...attack, move, etc).  if this is being read right.  I would not eat attack of opportunity so long as i could punch them before i move away...that imo is AMAZING AND SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO IN PATHFINDER BUT COULDNT BECAUSE I COULDNT FREAKING MOVE AND FULL ATTACK AT THE SAME TIME.   so i guess my questions are as follows if you couldnt figure it out.   1-is my stat array correct? or am i missing something.   2-what would be the best feat choice for a basic monk with variant human for level 1.  and why.   3-any suggestions on how to play a monk in 5e?  i played a dwarf monk in pathfinder.  any tips, tricks, etc?  doesnt have to be uber munchkin like or anything.  just something a player might not think of.   also i have to decide on a background but that one im sure i can figure out.
#2 SterlingRat Mar 17, 2015 20:01:53	You did the stats correctly and your math is just fine.    "Best" is tough. I recommend knowing what your role in the group will be first. If you are expected to scout, grab observant for +1 wis and trap finding. If they want you to tank, try Dual Wield or Defensive Duelist. If they aren't sure, you might look at Magic Initiate to get Sacred Flame, Guidance & either Bless or Healing Word or Shield of Faith. Lucky and Alert are also fine choices.   When you play a monk, the most important things to do is spend your ki and rest a lot. You will probably need to remind people to take short rests, but don't bother hording Ki. It does you no good unspent.
#3 Clinton44 Mar 17, 2015 21:42:01	what about my question on mobile? seems insanely useful being able to leave a threatened square without worrying about an attack of opportunity.   thankyou for answering the others....tho the more i look at it the more i wonder if i should put that extra point in wisdom instead fo CON.   and is it very bad idea to let my INT/STR go down to 8?
(Reply to #3) Pirate79	Clinton44 wrote:
#5 Macv12 Mar 17, 2015 21:56:25	Don't worry about it. A heavily sub-optimal character is still perfectly viable in 5e. Fretting about where to put a single stat point or exactly which level to get this or that perk won't amount to a whole lot, usually.   Yes, Mobile is pretty great. You can manage a large number of attacks, and you already have good speed, so you should be able to slink across the whole field and hit whoever you want. Of course, it's generally more optimal to concentrate on a single enemy and take it down before moving on, but it's hella fun to shoot by like an invisible breeze and leave bruises all over everyone.   WIS is generally better than CON for a monk. CON means a couple more HP, WIS means a couple fewer attacks that connect and remove that HP. Plus saves on your monk stuffs.   My own taste is to have clear strengths and weaknesses in my stats, rather than everything being average. Yes, I'm a masochist. But optimizationistically, STR is only going to help you not be grabbed or knocked into a wall (rare and usually not game-changing), and INT is worth flumph-all if you're not a walking encyclopedia.   EDIT: Ninja'd by a pirate! Abandon ship!
#6 Byakugan01 Mar 17, 2015 21:58:34	As a monk you dont really need strength, but getting hit by a strength save attack will be more common than inteligence or charisma saves.    Observant on a 16 wisdom monk with prof gives you a passive perception of 20 which means very few things will sneak up on you and you should be noticing most things you come across.
#7 Clinton44 Mar 17, 2015 22:12:31	i come from a home group that did pathfinder for awhile.  So i tend to min/max to a degree.  so 1 point matters to me i should say.    it looks like if i dont take every ability modifier i wont be able to get my stats to 20 on there own (wich annoys me i must admit)  and i havent experienced these feats (As agian, i playe dpathfinder before, different system, greatly different feats)   so possibly just tank my dump stats and deal with the consequences in exchange for better starting main stats.  thats sorta what i was going for first.  tho i dont know how bad STR save effects could be.   so it sounds like observant first, then maybe mobile at 4.  the main thing i think with mobile is attack something, then back out of range of retaliation...next round, run in, attack..then run out again.   i think i like that, will give me 16 to DEX.CON(wich i wont raise past 16, but 16 is a good stopping point imo) and 16 WIS with observant....hmmm   what are the negatives you get for the -1 effect of 8's   i know you get a -1 to the appropriate saves.   for INT, do i get 1 less skill point per level? (are there even skill points? havent gotten to that part of the guide yet)
(Reply to #7) Pirate79	Clinton44 wrote:
#9 Clinton44 Mar 17, 2015 22:59:33	Pirate79 wrote:
(Reply to #9) Pirate79	Clinton44 wrote:
(Reply to #10) SterlingRat	Pirate79 wrote:
(Reply to #11) Pirate79	SterlingRat wrote:
(Reply to #12) SterlingRat	Pirate79 wrote:
(Reply to #13) Pirate79	SterlingRat wrote:
#15 Clinton44 Mar 18, 2015 15:33:45	yes im probably going to go the 3 15's route.  eat the consequences.   and to be fair, from what im readin a 8 is "average" meaning its just not exceptional.   im not weak im average   im not stupid im average   im not hideous/horribly mannered im just average   But for my backstory im choosing outlander, pilgrim, with a strong attachment to nature and a dislike for wealthy/civilized people.   so 8 strength due to my monk way combined with lots of journeying, i dont work out, i walk.  i dont lift weights, i do monk practies like meditation and practicing martial arts.   i have high wisdom due to the things ive seen in my travels, i know elvish and sylvan due to my strong attachment to nature, i have ran into them before, and have learned there languages by being taught by them.  as such im also going to roleplay that i cannot read/write those languages, just speak/understand them.   i have low intelligence as i was never properly schooled, what ive learned is thru my own experiences and word of mouth.    i have low charisma not due to ugliness, but do to poor manners, wich fits with someone who wanders the wilderness, poor manners you could say.   i am dextrous due to my monk training, walking/running everywhere.  my practice of the martial arts.   i have a high constitution on the same aspect...i walk/run everywhnere, i do rigorous training, survival of the fittest, if i did not have a high constitution in my chosen life id more then likely become sick and die.   i have high wisdom because i am somewhat worldly, traveling, experiencing, dealing with different places, people, etc.   so this is how i justify that stat array.
#16 Matau99 Mar 18, 2015 16:14:00	Clinton44 wrote:
#17 Clinton44 Mar 18, 2015 16:29:29	Matau99 wrote:
#18 Matau99 Mar 18, 2015 16:32:34	Clinton44 wrote:
#19 Clinton44 Mar 18, 2015 16:34:35	so they re-did what the roleplay parameters on stats are...great   well then at most id bump strength to 10 and bump con down to 14...i dont have a problem with being mildly dumb intellectually if im a outlander who was trained in monk ways by a exiled monk who lived in the woods.
(Reply to #19) SterlingRat	Clinton44 wrote:
#21 CaliMafioso Mar 19, 2015 17:52:03	I'm currently playing a Human Monk. Here's my stat breakdown:   12, 16, 14, 10, 14, 8 I started with the standard stat array.   DEX and WIS are the high priority for AC. Having a decent STR is a benefit for any Athletic checks. I chose the MOBILE (feat), having a massive amount of movement is very helpful to attack several creatures every turn. I to, am going the way of the Open Palm, come level 3 (currently 2).   My DM is letting me design a Feat for me to choose. I'm reworking DEF DUELIST to include Monk weapons. I figured that would protect me best for melee attacks.