I've been playing around with a Monk build - something kind of new for me - and I've been eyeing some of the benefits of Feral Combat Training combined with the kind of cool Nimble Guardian Monk archetype. This character was originally being designed for a Mummy's Mask run and I liked the idea of someone being of ancient feline descent... at any rate, what's below is the best I've been able to come up with, and I have some additional questions as well as being open to any and all comments or advice on how to improve the build (without radically altering its concept, of course).
Human Nimble Guardian/Master of Many Styles/Quinggong Monk/Vow of Truth
(FCB to grant additional Ki points)
Attributes:
STR - 15 (+2 racial bonus, +1 @ 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th & 20th level)
DEX - 14
CON - 14
INT - 12
WIS - 14
CHA - 7
Traits:
Reactionary or Honored Fist of the Society
???
Feats:
1st - Racial Heritage (Catfolk)
1st - Improved Unarmed Strike
1st - Toughness
1st - Dragon Style
2nd - Dragon Ferocity
3rd - Improved Initiative
5th - Janni Style
6th - Janni Rush
7th - Weapon Focus: Claws
9th - Feral Combat Training
10th - Snake Style
11th - Horn of the Criosphinx
13th -Multiattack
14th - Snake Fang
15th - Combat Reflexes
17th - ???
18th - ???
19th - ???
The concept will obviously be to focus on the Nimble Guardian's Guardian Feline ability and essentially stay in the form of a great cat (like a Dire Tiger) at all times when combat is likely, utilizing things like Feral Combat Training, Dragon Ferocity, Janni Rush, Horn of the Criosphinx, Pounce, Rake and Multiattack to maximize the combined use of his claws and unarmed strikes in combat.
Now a few issues:
The character doesn't really develop very well early, not until 7th level at least and really not until 9th. I can use Defensive Aid to try and help out allies but I feel like I have very little else to offer on par with what everyone else is doing during that time.
The character would be immeasurably improved if I could take Weapon Focus: Claws sooner, allowing me to take Feral Combat Training at 7th and Multiattack at 9th... but I don't see any way of doing that and remaining Human.
At 9th level the Guardian Feline ability specifically upgrades to allow you to use Beast Shape III (granting the ability to become a Huge animal), but restricts you to using only felines - I don't know of any felines that are Huge. Am I reading that right?
Not sure what to do with those last 4-5 levels...
As I said, any thoughts or comments are welcome.
Just take the "Catfolk Exemplar" feat (sub out Toughness for it), this grants you the Sharp Claws Racial Trait which gives you always on claws.
Warcat is the only huge feline out there, but it doesn't have rake attacks, so choose to be huge or to be large as a dire tiger with rake claws.
prototype00
Edit: Ever considered Improved Bull Rush/Rhino Charge? It lets you ready a charge (which you can pounce and full attack on, and proc Janni Strike).
So you:
1. Pounce at a target (full round action)
2. Next round, move away and ready a charge as a standard (activating condition: When my foe makes a move)
3: Foe goes, your charge activates before, you charge and full attack.
4. Next round, repeat steps 2 and 3.
Thats absolutely great advice. Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!
You might not be the right person to ask - but is there anything listed up there that would be illegal for PFS?
In PFS only characters of a specific race can take racial archetypes?
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2qyn5?Racial-Heritage-Question-for-PFS#1
Thus making Racial Heritage not really work for the Human nimble guardian.
prototype00
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So pooh on PFS. There are so many restrictions its a wonder anyone plays at all.
So perhaps we're looking at something more like this?
.
.
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Human Nimble Guardian/Master of Many Styles/Quinggong Monk/Vow of Truth
(FCB to grant additional Ki points)
Attributes:
STR - 15 (+2 racial bonus, +1 @ 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th & 20th level)
DEX - 14
CON - 14
INT - 12
WIS - 14
CHA - 7
Traits:
Reactionary
Birthmark
Feats:
1st - Racial Heritage (Catfolk)
1st - Improved Unarmed Strike
1st - Catfolk Exemplar
1st - Dragon Style
2nd - Dragon Ferocity
3rd - Weapon Focus: Claws
5th - Janni Style
6th - Janni Rush
7th - Feral Combat Training
9th - Multiattack
10th - Boar Style
11th - Horn of the Criosphinx
13th - Power Attack
14th - Snake Style
15th - Improved Bull Rush
17th - Rhino Charge
18th - Snake Fang
19th - Combat Reflexes
I hashed out a build, and it was mostly like yours except for the following:
1: I took Multiattack at 7th and Feral Combat trining at 5th. Janni Rush and Janni Style I took as bonus style feats so that I didn't have to bother about pre-reqs. (Dragon style and Janni Style are really enough to carry you in this build)
2: I picked up Power attack as a bonus Qinggong feat/power, using that to qualify for Improved Bull Rush and Rhino Charge at 12th level (had to leave Horn of the Criosphinx for 13th level), charging every round is really good for this character.
That said, well done on a streamlined and well made build.
prototype00
That's good advice - hadn't considered Power Attack via Quinggong. Does that satisfy the pre-req?
Also, does a Warcat officially count as a feline for purposes of this build?
Once I've gotten a little sleep I might want to walk through the build so I fully understand the ins and outs of how it works...
Easiest way I can think of to get always on claws in PFS is to go for two levels of Ranger and take Natural Attack Combat Style. It would water down your build some but otherwise I think you would have to get claws from a race and your options are fairly limited.
That's good advice - hadn't considered Power Attack via Quinggong. Does that satisfy the pre-req?
Yes, but apparently only when you activate power attack. For a build that will be using Rhino charge every round, I'd say pick up Power attack legit.
Also, does a Warcat officially count as a feline for purposes of this build?
It is apparently a legit animal and has CAT in its name. I don't know what else you could ask for?
prototype00