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A group of friends are going to run a game that is a one shot, and I was asked to join. The campaign is 7th level with 20 pt buy and average starting gold. Only 4 people. I have no idea what is in the dungeon or what the story is about it other than it is in a tower in a desert that has a lot of old-school traps. No one has cemented their roles yet, so I talked with a friend about cool combinations we could do. Since we're both into classes that other people aren't big fans on, we decided that it would be good to do Rogue/Shadow dancer and Monk/Shadow dancer. I wanted to do Monk, because I prefer them to Rogue. The bonus to saves makes the Monk real nice, as well as starting out late enough to do a PrC, regardless of how good it really is. I mean... if we have a competent Wizard, we should be fine, right?
Here comes the real issue. I really want to have Janni Style and Janni tempest for my feats, and I also have to make prerequisites for Shadow Dancer. That means out of the 5 basic and 2 additional feats, I have 5 of my 7 feats planned already.
Then there's the fact that, since we're doing a combination of characters, we wanted a teamwork feat. We wanted Stealth Synergy so that we could hide in each other's shadows and get huge bonuses. So that makes 6 of 7 feats.
Because Shadow Dancer relies on Dexterity more so than Strength, I thought I'd take Weapon Finesse and grab an AoMF that is Agile, so that I don't really need a lot of strength. So that's all 7 feats.
But Janni style and Flowing Monk rely on Tripping, and I really wanted to take Agile Maneuvers so that I add my good dex instead of poor Strength score. So that's... 8 of 7...
There's this great feat that compliments the build perfectly called Vicious Stomp. I knock an opponent down and get an AoO that is an Unarmed Strike. I thought I should grab that feat because it works so well with the character. That makes... 9 of 7.
I really need help selecting which feats to take, what my Point buy looks like, and what Items I need to pull this off effectively. The only thing I'm set on is Flowing Monk, Shadow Dancer, and Janni Style. Everything else is subject to change. There currently is no deadline, but it would be nice to know sooner than later. What is the best way to pull this off without shooting myself in the foot?
Why must it be a monk, and a flowing monk specifically?
Consider Dawnflower Dervish (it's "Dervish of Dawn" on d20pfsrd) Bard into Shadowdancer, maybe. That class literally dances when fighting.
If you're just tripping, you don't need Agile Maneuvers; Weapon Finesse will let you use dex for weapons-based maneuvers, of which trip is one. In fact, if you went DD Bard and fought and tripped with a scimitar, you wouldn't even need weapon finesse since Dervish Dance feat uses dex for attack and damage w/ scimitar.
If you guys are using teamwork feats and tripping, you should look into Tandem Trip. Rolling 2d20 take the higher on trip is a big help. Lookout is also a good teamwork feat.
Vicious Stomp is plainly worse than Greater Trip, though I guess you won't have the BAB for the latter...
Assuming you're using dex for attack and damage, as you said... 20 point buy:
Str 9, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 8
Bleh...20 point buy always comes out ugly. Anyway, level 4 point goes to Dex. For a race, if you're not doing Human (it's definitely appealing...extra feat and Bred for War trait), you want a race with +2 Dex/Wis and that penalizes cha or str ideally, though you can take an int hit as well if necessary.
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Weapon Finesse lets you trip with Dex (along with Disarm and Sunder) since those are the maneuvers you can perform with a weapon, and your unarmed strike is a valid weapon, it's in the FAQ somewhere.
So that helps.
Make sure to go Qinggong Monk (Barkskin!), and consider Flowing Monk (which does some fun stuff with Trip and seems well suited thematically).
Always, on all characters ever, eventually get a Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier. Those things are great.
As a Monk...if you have a Wizard, buy a 1st level Pearl of Power so he can share his Mage Armor with you.
EDIT: Semi-ninja'd.
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The reason I want Flowing Monk is because the adventure supposedly has a lot of traps, and a Monk has some great saves. Flowing Monk gets me bonus AC when surrounded, which may happen often since I don't really know the adventure. The Bonus feats also lend to helping me, since I don't have to spend a normal feat slot for Dodge or Weapon Finesse.
I'm not a big fan of Dervish dancing bards because I see them EVERYWHERE, and I don't want to step on anyone's toes if one of the group said "I'm going DD Bard, guys!" I don't know the other 2 people playing, so I have to assume the worse.
I can't get Greater Trip because I can't get Improved Trip, and Vicious Stomp is available at 1 BaB, so I can get it whenever. Although, that feat is pretty low on priority. It's just gravy, not potatoes.
Your point buy is off, by the way. Unless you already put in the human +2, then you're ahead by 2 points.
I counted the Human bonus feat already, otherwise I'd be even MORE starved in feats.
Also, what items would be good for this build? AoMF Agile is probably a must, and a Cloak of Resistance will be up there as well. Belt of Dex, definitely, maybe even headband of Wis.