So this is a build I've spent the better part of today tinkering with... With Pummeling Charge MoMS 2/Something Else X make for really attractive unarmed strike builds. The Slayer build has several advantages:
+Access to strong DPR boosters with Studied Target, Brawling Armor, and Sneak Attack
+In-Class access to Enlarge Person via Major Magic
+Access to Monastic Legacy via Iroran Combat Style
+Access to both Pummeling Style and Dragon Style in the same build
Here is a link to the build. The build doesn't include anything I'd expect from other players, such as Haste or Bull's Strength. As follows is a break down of how the build works (bolded abilities indicated class abilities and feats gained through class abilities):
Class: Slayer/Monk [MoMS/Iron Mountain]
Race: Half-Orc
Traits: Fate's Favored, Armor Expert
Ability Scores:
STR: 16 (+2 race, +4 belt, +2 size, +1 at 4th and 12th)
DEX: 15 (+4 belt, -2 size)
CON: 12
INT: 10 (+1 at 8th)
WIS: 12
CHA: 7
1: Monk 1: TWF, Pummeling Style, Fuse Style, Stunning Fist, Unarmed Strike
2: Monk 2: Pummeling Charge, Iron Monk, Toughness
3: Slayer 1: Power Attack, 1st Studied Target, Track
4: Slayer 2: Monastic Legacy
5: Slayer 3: Dragon Style, Sneak Attack 1d6
6: Slayer 4: Dragon Ferocity
7: Slayer 5: Improved TWF, 2nd Studied Target
8: Slayer 6: Minor Magic (Prestidigitation), Major Magic (Enlarge Person), Sneak Attack 2d6
9: Slayer 7: Improved Critical (Unarmed Strike), Stalker
10: Slayer 8: Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike)
11: Slayer 9: Iron Will, Sneak Attack 3d6
12: Slayer 10: 3rd Studied Target, Evasion
I don't know how to calculate DPR, but assuming I calculated this right, everything hits and you don't get the tactical nuke that is a Pummeling Style critical hit, your damage on a charge is (6d6+29)+(6d6+18)+(6d6+25)+(6d6+18)+(6d6+25). That, uh, looks like a lot of damage to me. And it's all clustered together for the purposes of DR.
It honestly wouldn't surprise me if I made a mistake in my calcs along the way. Feel free to let me know where I'm wrong, or point out what I didn't do that could have made this build even more stupid than it is.
Iroran Combat Style (Inner Sea Combat) lets you take Monastic Legacy without meeting the prereqs.
It's fortunate that the Combat Style Slayer talent doesn't force you to take the 6th and 10th level talents if you don't want them because the rest of the style is pretty bad.
While we're on the subject of things that probably aren't quite clear as to how I have them, I'm getting 2 Slayer talents at level 6 with the Human FCB.
MoMS2/Brawler X Wins by dint of having any feat needed for the fight. This includes being proficient with any weapon in hand.
Martial Versatility is very good.
I'm trying to do something similar with Swashbuckler in this thread. I would think that with Precise Strike and Weapon Specialization the Swashbuckler is going to outdamage the Slayer, but maybe I'm wrong.
Are you assuming you get Sneak Attack in those damage calculations? If so, how are you doing it? I'm not too familiar with the Slayer class.
Ooo. Someones a clever fox.
Magnificent!
I need to do some reading up on slayer…
He seems like a handy dandy super rogue :)
I don't think that the slayer can take the minor/major magic tricks.
Here is the list:
bleeding attack*, camouflage, combat trick, fast stealth, finesse rogue, firearm training, grit, hard to fool, lasting poison, powerful sneak, rogue crawl, slow reactions*, snap shot, sniper's eye, surprise attack, swift poison, terrain mastery, trap spotter, unwitting ally, or weapon training.
The misunderstanding stems from the this line, I believe:
If the rogue talent has a prerequisite (such as the major magic rogue talent requiring the minor magic talent), the slayer must fulfill the prerequisite before taking that rogue talent.
I don't think that the slayer can take the minor/major magic tricks.
Here is the list:
bleeding attack*, camouflage, combat trick, fast stealth, finesse rogue, firearm training, grit, hard to fool, lasting poison, powerful sneak, rogue crawl, slow reactions*, snap shot, sniper's eye, surprise attack, swift poison, terrain mastery, trap spotter, unwitting ally, or weapon training.The misunderstanding stems from the this line, I believe:
If the rogue talent has a prerequisite (such as the major magic rogue talent requiring the minor magic talent), the slayer must fulfill the prerequisite before taking that rogue talent.
That is... extremely silly. I'm going to call this a victim of bad editing. They removed Feat from the Advanced Talent list, too.
If the Slayer can't get Enlarge Person there's pretty much no reason to pick one over the Brawler for this so... yeah. Everyone go home
The Slayer's choice of talents is pretty weak. In particular since the combat style talents do not continue past the 3rd instance. Once the useful rogue talents (Weapon Training, Combat Trick) have been exhausted, there's not really much to get.
MoMS2, Brawler (Snakebite Striker) 2 is a great base. You could even go dex, take one of the styles that let your unarmed attacks count as slashing, take slashing grace and from then on go Swashbuckler (or another class that grants precise strike).
Or stick with Brawler until CL8, to get improved unarmed strike flurrying. Alternatively, ignore brawler and go with Sacred Fist / MoMS 2.
Unfortunately, Slashing Grace doesn't work with Unarmed Strikes, since unarmed strikes are light weapons. An Agile AoMF still works though.