Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 marrithl2 May 24, 2008 18:46:59	GRAPPLER BUILD M=MONK F=FIGHTER RM=REAPING MAULER (10 LVL PRC: http://wakinglands.com/htm_files/the_prestige_classes_page.htm) NOTE: CHECK OUT THESE CLASSES AS THEY ARE GREAT VARIANTS Alternative class features used: Fighter - Dungeon Crasher (DungeonScape 10)
#2 ShakaUVM May 24, 2008 23:53:30	This won't work at all. You can't power attack on a grapple check since it's not an attack roll. Since you can't power attack, you can't use knockback. Since you can't use knockback, you can't use dungeoncrasher from inside a grapple. And Reaping Mauler is made of fail. You might want to read my guide to making grapplers in my .sig.
#3 theabyssdragon May 25, 2008 0:33:57	Harsh but true. Unless you can get your DM to bite that grabbing someone by the hair and bashing their head against a wall counts as a bull rush, this won't work. Interesting idea though.
#4 marrithl2 May 25, 2008 10:22:15	Well I knew that the two feat chains didn't work together. I was giving the character more versatility by adding some more flavor to his attack style. I see bullrushing (even though it IS a separate attack action) as a grapple of sorts, so I feel it fits well with this character concept. So the build does work for me. I like the idea of being able to control the fight by putting someone in a grapple and pounding them to death. I also like the idea of running and slamming people into walls if I choose not to grapple them right away. I was really looking for some ideas on different feat selection or possibly what I should do at levels 19 and 20.
#5 ShakaUVM May 26, 2008 11:49:05	Well I knew that the two feat chains didn't work together. I was giving the character more versatility by adding some more flavor to his attack style. I see bullrushing (even though it IS a separate attack action) as a grapple of sorts, so I feel it fits well with this character concept. So the build does work for me. I like the idea of being able to control the fight by putting someone in a grapple and pounding them to death. I also like the idea of running and slamming people into walls if I choose not to grapple them right away. I was really looking for some ideas on different feat selection or possibly what I should do at levels 19 and 20. If you're going with Bull Rush, then the whole Shock Trooper / Combat Brute synergy works really well. That page you linked to is blank, so I have no idea what a 10 level Reaping Mauler would look like, though hopefully they eliminated the Clever Wrestling prereq, which is the main reason why the class sucks. In terms of classes, topping off a martial build with Warblade or Swordsage never hurts, if for no other reason than to be able to roll concentration checks instead of saves (and take steady concentration for automatic saves of 35 or so). Also, why on earth do you not have a level of Barbarian or Singh rager? Rage is the #1 most important ability to have when making strength checks.
#6 marrithl2 May 26, 2008 12:23:37	well for one, you can't take barbarian if you are a monk. I'm planning on staying Lawful the whole time. I was thinking of taking Berserker (which is way better than barbarian) as a prestige class. I also am going to be adding some levels of fist of the forest (Complete Champion) to my build. here is the link again: http://wakinglands.com/htm_files/the_prestige_classes_page.htm As to the clever wrestling pre-req. my DM said it wasn't a big deal, so we skipped it. However, I don't see why you throw such a fit over the feat and dismiss the entire PrC because of it. It is VERY easy to get around the medium requirement. In fact, I can give you three easy options off the bat: 1) Be medium. Who cares if being big makes you better. The build should be enough to make you good at grappling. 2) Be a Goliath. Nice class, qualifies you... since you're actually a medium creature anyways. 3) Be a Human and spend your bonus feat on Jotunbrund. This works the same way as the Goliath.
#7 22_Over_7 May 26, 2008 12:32:50	Is Waking Lands Kolja's site? Anyway, even the "corrected" Reaping Mauler is made of pure fail. One of its 10th level ability can be simply replaced by a POTION OF ENLARGE PERSON. The reason Reaping Mauler sucks is that Clever Wrestling has a size-requirement. Increasing in size is the NUMBER ONE way to improve your grapple mod. Once you increase in size, you lose Clever Wrestling and Reaping Mauler.
#8 ShakaUVM May 28, 2008 14:39:08	well for one, you can't take barbarian if you are a monk. I'm planning on staying Lawful the whole time. I was thinking of taking Berserker (which is way better than barbarian) as a prestige class. I also am going to be adding some levels of fist of the forest (Complete Champion) to my build. You can definitely be a barbarian after you're a monk -- you're an ex-monk either way, and don't lose any abilities. If you need to stay Lawful, Singh Rager is the way to fly... which book is "Berserker" from? Frenzied Berserker requires non-lawful alignment. here is the link again: http://wakinglands.com/htm_files/the_prestige_classes_page.htm The problem with the link is that it appears blank in firefox. IE opened it fine. As to the clever wrestling pre-req. my DM said it wasn't a big deal, so we skipped it. However, I don't see why you throw such a fit over the feat and dismiss the entire PrC because of it. It is VERY easy to get around the medium requirement. The point is that you don't want to get around the medium requirement. You want to be as large as possible when making a grappler. And my main point with the Reaping Mauler is that having a feat which requires medium size (and thus disables the PrC if it turns off) is just completely bass ackwards for a grappling class. It'd be like the class requiring you to maintain a strength of 30 or less at all times. The 10-level Reaping Mauler is not really better than the 5 level one, since it spreads the class benefits over 5 more class levels, while only offering a +2 to strength to make up for the extra 5 levels it's costing. The +3 increases in unarmed damage die is kind of offset by the fact that you have to stay medium. Class levels are about the most valuable thing there is in the game -- for 10 levels, I could take Fist of Zuoken 10, and also pick up +3 unarmed strike damage increases while also getting the ability to turn myself into a huge creature as a swift action and various other nifty psionic powers with my fists. The Monk 10 / Reaping Mauler 10 would be hitting for 4d8 damage, the Monk 10/Fist of Zuoken 10 would be hitting for 6d8 + whatever psionic powers he stacks on top of his fists.
#9 orenmir May 29, 2008 10:37:52	I'll second the nod at Psionics, even if it's just a 2 level dip in Psychic Warrior -- Expansion and Grip of Iron will net you +9 to your grapple check, and they only require a standard and swift action. My suggestion... Monk 2 / PsyWar 18 -- be sure to grab Tashalatora. You'll be grappling mature dragons in mid levels. :D