Aberrant Monk - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Aberrant Monk

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
syserr
Jan 12, 2011 23:41:02 After reading the feats in the book of aberrations, I can't help but imagine a freak monk.

Was thinking of starting with something along the lines of:

Human
L1 Improved Grapple (+4 grapple), Aberrant Blood (flexible limbs; +2 grapple), Inhuman Vision (+3 spot, 15ft darkvision)
L3 Starspawn (5 cold resist, fly speed 1/2 land speed)

Not sure about where to go from there, but 15ft dark vision and 20ft fly speed is neat to get through feats. The fly speed will increase as the monk gains base speed bonus from his class and or items.

I'll need powerful feats to make up for the divergence from the standard monk path though.

Toying with the concept still, input appreciated.
#2
waazraath
Jan 13, 2011 10:58:09 Interesting! Well, question is mostly I think: where do you want to go with your monk? Most powerfull options would be the gishlike route, with enlightened fist (arcane), sacred fist (divine) or fist of zuoken (psionic) OR something with the Tashalarota feat (also Psionic). I think all those routes offer options for size increasement, which you'll want if you'll go out to grapple.

Other option (also combinable with above): vow of poverty is often avoided for monks because then you loose access to fly. Since you already have it (and a pretty good one as well, if it's half base speed), that disadvantage is already overcome and it might be worth it.
#3
syserr
Jan 13, 2011 14:44:08 My original intent was to stay pure monk to gain all the goodies that come along with it.
I guess my goal would be to get back on track with being a melee combatant, but with some extra features not normally availible without magic. (Saves item slots in any case)

Taking a prestige class with spellcasting forces me to spread my abilties pretty thin (except for the divine fist, who doesn't get enlarge person). It would be neat to be able to enlarge myself for purposes of grappling and unarmed damage, but flurry of blows gets kinda gimpy if I try to multiclass.

Starspawn lets you fly for a number of consecutive round equal to your CON bonus +1, then you are required not to fly for 1 round between uses. The monk slowfall ability, a magic item that granted slowfall, or flying high enough you don't hit the ground after 6 seconds of falling could mitigate the delay in flight.
---Grappling would be interesting with a fly speed; Grapple someone and fly strait up then dropping them for unavoidable damage.

Vow of Poverty is an interesting idea, if only the Sacred Vow wasn't a buff to Diplomacy (+2).
You incur a -1 to Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, and Handle Animal for every aberrant feat you possess (so -3 for me), so I'd be countering the benefit completely.
#4
waazraath
Jan 13, 2011 14:54:47 Ow well, I wouldn't look at sacred vow as a feat you want, but as a neccissary evil, just a prereq you need to fill in, just as people need to take dodge, toughness or endurance for some prestige clases.

Further:
- cleric can take strength domain for enlarge person
- righteous might also improves size
- divine might offsets the bonus of having only 3/4 BaB
- druid is also an option, should have plenty of ways to increase size (wildshape), also access to "bite of the ..." spells (huge bonusses to STR)
- psychic warrior also uses wisdom as most important modifier
- idem for ardent (complete psionic)
- in general, monk is considered to be a pretty terrible class, and not recommended to take more then 1, 2 or 6 levels in
- flurry of blows, well... blows with a 3/4 bab class, your to hit will be too low to hit often anyway.

Even if you decide not to go for a casting class, I'd wholeheartedly recommend a different path then "monk 20", at least, if you plan for a campaign that last a while. Gl.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 syserr Jan 12, 2011 23:41:02	After reading the feats in the book of aberrations, I can't help but imagine a freak monk. Was thinking of starting with something along the lines of: Human L1 Improved Grapple (+4 grapple), Aberrant Blood (flexible limbs; +2 grapple), Inhuman Vision (+3 spot, 15ft darkvision) L3 Starspawn (5 cold resist, fly speed 1/2 land speed) Not sure about where to go from there, but 15ft dark vision and 20ft fly speed is neat to get through feats. The fly speed will increase as the monk gains base speed bonus from his class and or items. I'll need powerful feats to make up for the divergence from the standard monk path though. Toying with the concept still, input appreciated.
#2 waazraath Jan 13, 2011 10:58:09	Interesting! Well, question is mostly I think: where do you want to go with your monk? Most powerfull options would be the gishlike route, with enlightened fist (arcane), sacred fist (divine) or fist of zuoken (psionic) OR something with the Tashalarota feat (also Psionic). I think all those routes offer options for size increasement, which you'll want if you'll go out to grapple. Other option (also combinable with above): vow of poverty is often avoided for monks because then you loose access to fly. Since you already have it (and a pretty good one as well, if it's half base speed), that disadvantage is already overcome and it might be worth it.
#3 syserr Jan 13, 2011 14:44:08	My original intent was to stay pure monk to gain all the goodies that come along with it. I guess my goal would be to get back on track with being a melee combatant, but with some extra features not normally availible without magic. (Saves item slots in any case) Taking a prestige class with spellcasting forces me to spread my abilties pretty thin (except for the divine fist, who doesn't get enlarge person). It would be neat to be able to enlarge myself for purposes of grappling and unarmed damage, but flurry of blows gets kinda gimpy if I try to multiclass. Starspawn lets you fly for a number of consecutive round equal to your CON bonus +1, then you are required not to fly for 1 round between uses. The monk slowfall ability, a magic item that granted slowfall, or flying high enough you don't hit the ground after 6 seconds of falling could mitigate the delay in flight. ---Grappling would be interesting with a fly speed; Grapple someone and fly strait up then dropping them for unavoidable damage. Vow of Poverty is an interesting idea, if only the Sacred Vow wasn't a buff to Diplomacy (+2). You incur a -1 to Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, and Handle Animal for every aberrant feat you possess (so -3 for me), so I'd be countering the benefit completely.
#4 waazraath Jan 13, 2011 14:54:47	Ow well, I wouldn't look at sacred vow as a feat you want, but as a neccissary evil, just a prereq you need to fill in, just as people need to take dodge, toughness or endurance for some prestige clases. Further: - cleric can take strength domain for enlarge person - righteous might also improves size - divine might offsets the bonus of having only 3/4 BaB - druid is also an option, should have plenty of ways to increase size (wildshape), also access to "bite of the ..." spells (huge bonusses to STR) - psychic warrior also uses wisdom as most important modifier - idem for ardent (complete psionic) - in general, monk is considered to be a pretty terrible class, and not recommended to take more then 1, 2 or 6 levels in - flurry of blows, well... blows with a 3/4 bab class, your to hit will be too low to hit often anyway. Even if you decide not to go for a casting class, I'd wholeheartedly recommend a different path then "monk 20", at least, if you plan for a campaign that last a while. Gl.