Babkas Hammerheart's page

So, I've been musing over the Master of Many Styles lately. They give up Flurry of Blows--which is a huge deal! Not only is this a loss of attacks, it's also a significant loss of to-hit. So surely, what they get in return must be amazing?

I'm... actually not sure. The styles are good, but I'm not sure that any combination of styles can make up for that loss. So, is a MoMS straight 20? If so, what combination of styles have you found effective?

Note that this is opposed to just going MoMS 4 / Unarmed Fighter 16 or similar.

So, I have to admit, I don't have Ultimate Combat (yet), but I saw the Maneuver Master and--in it--everything I wanted from the Monk. I'm poking my GM for letting me play one in an upcoming high-level game. I wanted your guy's advice for the build. It's 25pt buy and begins at 10th level.

I'm looking for any commentary/help, especially in regards to feats and traits. The goal of the character is to focus on combat maneuvers and disabling the enemy. He's also a psuedo-tank (expect Mage Armor and GMW as buffs). The Chain Spear is because it works with Flurry of Maneuvers, deals piercing damage, trips, and disarms. So basically, I can do most of my maneuvers with reach. The Siangham exists entirely if I feel the need to use Hamatula Strike in melee combat.

I'd also like people's assessment on how playable this build would be from first level.

Honestly, I love the monk as-is. This isn't some attempt to fix a horribly broken class, nor a tangent on ideas on how to make the monk better. Truthfully, this is the product of me being very bored coupled with contemplating different types of monk-esque concepts. Feel free to tear it to shreds and burn the remains, I have a thick skin, and I'll probably see like 50 things I should have changed when I wake up in the morning anyways.

If possible, I'd like criticism to come from two perspectives, that of "Design Space" and that o "Balance." Design space looks at the approach as a whole and asks whether or not that's a design goal and that's a proper execution. For instance, if I have all monks the ability to grow 50ft tall while playing the guitar, that would not be proper design space.

Balance looks at specific numbers and game balance.

Discipline (Ex)
At the first level, a Monk selects which discipline they hail from. This determines the primary way in which the monk refines their body.
Iron Fist: The Monk receives Power Attack as a bonus feat. Whenever you use Power Attack, you gain an additional +1 bonus to damage.
Fluid Form: The Monk may substitute his Dexterity for Strength when calculating his Attack, CMB, and Damage when wielding a Monk Weapon or using Unarmed Strike. However, because he focuses his body so, he receives a -3 penalty to all other rolls modified by dexterity. This penalty is lessened by the Monk’s Strength Bonus.
Insightful Mind: The Monk may substitute his Wisdom for Strength when calculating his Attack, CMB, and Damage while wielding a Monk Weapon or using Unarmed Strike. However, because he focuses his mind so, he receives a -3 penalty to all other rolls modified by wisdom. This penalty is lessened by the Monk’s Strength Bonus.

AC Bonus (Ex)
When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds his Wisdom bonus (if any) to his AC and his CMD. In addition, a monk gains a +2 bonus to AC and CMD at 1st level. This bonus increases by 1 at level 4, and every four monk levels thereafter, up to a maximum of +7 at 20th level.
These bonuses to AC do not stack with an armor bonus, but they apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.

Flurry of Blows (Ex)
Starting at 1st level, a monk can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action. When doing so he may make one additional attack using any combination of unarmed strikes or attacks with a special monk weapon (kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, and siangham) as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat). For the purpose of these attacks, the monk's base attack bonus is equal to his monk level. For all other purposes, such as qualifying for a feat or a prestige class, the monk uses his normal base attack bonus.

At 8th level, the monk can make two additional attacks when he uses flurry of blows, as if using Improved Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).

At 15th level, the monk can make three additional attacks using flurry of blows, as if using Greater Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).

A monk applies his full Strength bonus to his damage rolls for all successful attacks made with flurry of blows, whether the attacks are made with an off-hand or with a weapon wielded in both hands. A monk may substitute disarm, sunder, and trip combat maneuvers for unarmed attacks as part of a flurry of blows. A monk cannot use any weapon other than an unarmed strike or a special monk weapon as part of a flurry of blows. A monk with natural weapons cannot use such weapons as part of a flurry of blows, nor can he make natural attacks in addition to his flurry of blows attacks.

Unarmed Strike (Ex)
At 1st level, a monk gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat. A monk's attacks may be with fist, elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a monk may make unarmed strikes with his hands full. There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply his full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all his unarmed strikes.

Usually a monk's unarmed strikes deal lethal damage, but he can choose to deal nonlethal damage instead with no penalty on his attack roll. He has the same choice to deal lethal or nonlethal damage while grappling.
A monk's unarmed strike is treated as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.

A monk also deals more damage with his unarmed strikes than a normal person would, as shown above on Table: Monk. The unarmed damage values listed on Table: Monk is for Medium monks. A Small monk deals less damage than the amount given there with his unarmed attacks, while a Large monk deals more damage; see Table: Small or Large Monk Unarmed Damage.

Stunning Fist (Ex)
At 1st level, the monk gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. At 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the monk gains the ability to apply a new condition to the target of his Stunning Fist. This condition replaces stunning the target for 1 round, and a successful saving throw still negates the effect. At 4th level, he can choose to make the target fatigued. At 8th level, he can make the target sickened for 1 minute. At 12th level, he can make the target staggered for 1d6+1 rounds. At 16th level, he can permanently blind or deafen the target. At 20th level, he can paralyze the target for 1d6+1 rounds. The monk must choose which condition will apply before the attack roll is made. These effects do not stack with themselves (a creature sickened by Stunning Fist cannot become nauseated if hit by Stunning Fist again), but additional hits do increase the duration.

Bonus Feat
At 2nd level and every 4 levels thereafter, a monk may select a bonus feat. These feats must be taken from the following list:
Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Deny Death, Dodge, Improved Grapple, Ki Stand, Power Attack, Quick Draw, Scorpion Style, and Throw Anything.

At 6th level, the following feats are added to the list:
Acrobatic Steps, Extra Ki Power, Heroic Recovery, Gorgon’s Fist, all Improved (Combat Maneuver) feats, Mobility, Vital Strike.

At 10th level, the following feats are added to the list:
Gliding Steps, Improved Critical, Ki Throw, Lunge, Medusa’s Wrath, Sidestep, Snatch Arrows, Spring Attack, Wind Stance, and Whirlwind Attack.

At 14th level, the following feats are added to the list:
Disarming Strike, all Greater (Combat Maneuver) feats, Improved Blind-Fight, Improved Ki Throw, Improved Vital Strike, Lightning Stance, Step Up and Strike

At 18th level, the following feats are added to the list:
Greater Blind-Fight, Greater Vital Strike

A monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them. Every time a monk selects a bonus feat, they may also trade out one of their earlier choices for another monk bonus feat they could have selected at that time (meaning you can't switch out a 6th level feat for Greater Vital Strike, because you couldn't have selected it at level 6). You may not switch out feats that are used as a prerequisite for something else, and may not switch out bonus feats from other sources, including Ki Powers.

Evasion (Ex)
At 2nd level or higher, a monk can avoid damage from many area-effect attacks. If a monk makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if a monk is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of evasion.

Fast Movement (Ex)
At 3rd level, a monk gains an enhancement bonus to his land speed, as shown on Table: Monk. A monk in armor or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.

Maneuver Training (Ex)
At 3rd level the Monk is considered to be one size category larger when performing combat maneuvers, but not when defending against them. This means they gain a +2 bonus to CMB from size, and may perform combat maneuvers against creatures that would otherwise be too large for them. For instance, a level 3 Monk may grapple a Huge creature. At level 11 and 19 the Monk is considered an additional size category larger.

Ki Pool (Su)
At 4th level, a monk gains a pool of ki points, supernatural energy he can use to accomplish amazing feats. The number of points in a monk's ki pool is equal to 1/2 his monk level + his Wisdom bonus. As long as a Monk has at least 1 point in his Ki Pool, he gains several benefits:
He may ignore his Strength Bonus from the opponent’s Damage Reduction, even DR/--.
He may ignore twice his Strength Bonus of an object's hardness.
He gains DR (Half Dex Bonus)/--.
He may add his Wisdom Bonus to all intelligence-based checks and to initiative, and Knowledge Skills may be used untrained without penalty (except Knowledge (Local)).

Further, a monk may spend 1 point of Ki as a swift action to gain an extra attack at his highest base attack bonus when using flurry of blows, grant a +20ft movement speed bonus for one round, or a +4 bonus to AC for one round.

Ki Powers (Su)
At level 4, and every 4 levels thereafter the monk may select one Ki Power from the following list. Ki Powers are supernatural capabilities that the monk gains through mastery of their Ki. Each of the following abilities have a Ki Cost. Those with a cost of 0 still require that the monk have at least one Ki Point in their pool to activate it. A monk may only select a particular Ki Power once, unless otherwise specified. The saving throw DC, when applicable, is equal to 10 + Half the Monk's Level + Wisdom Bonus.

Abundant Step (2 Ki): A monk can slip magically between spaces, as if using the spell dimension door. Using this ability is a move action that consumes 2 points from his ki pool. His caster level for this effect is equal to his dexterity score. He cannot take other creatures with him when he uses this ability. A Monk must be at least 8th level before selecting this power.

Bonus Feat (0 Ki): A monk may select a Monk Bonus feat in place of a Ki Power. You may select this option multiple times. They must be the appropriate Monk Level to take the bonus feat, and must meet all prerequisites (unlike normal Monk Bonus Feats).

Cloud Step (1 Ki): As a swift action, the monk gains the benefit of an Airwalk spell until the end of their turn. You must have Slow Fall to take this Ki Power.

Combat Prowess (1 Ki): A Monk may gain a flash of insight as a swift action, granting him the benefits of any one combat feat he qualifies for. The benefits only last 1 round. At level 8, the monk may gain the benefits of any of the Greater (Combat Maneuver) feats, such as Greater Trip or Greater Disarm even if they don’t meet the prerequisites.

Counter-Throw (1 Ki): As an attack of opportunity, a monk may attempt a Combat Maneuver against an opponent that misses them.

Dash (1 Ki): As a swift action, the monk may move up to 5ft, +5ft per +2 Dex Bonus he has.

Elemental Fist (1 Ki): You may spend a point of Ki as a swift action to charge your attacks with one of the four elements: Fire, Cold, Electricity, or Acid. All of your attacks gain +1d6 damage of the chosen type until the end of the turn. On a critical hit, your attack deals +1d10 damage of the chosen element (2d10 on a x3 multiplier, 3d10 on a x4 multiplier). Rather than spend Ki, you may spend one of your uses of Stunning Fist on this ability. You must be at least 8th level to select this ability.

Empty Body (3 Ki): A monk gains the ability to assume an ethereal state for 1 minute as though using the spell etherealness. Using this ability is a move action that consumes 3 points from his ki pool. This ability only affects the monk and cannot be used to make other creatures ethereal. A monk must be at least 16th level to select this ability.

Ki Burst (3 Ki): As a standard action, you can use Ki Wave on all targets in a (Monk Level + Wisdom Modifier)*5ft cone or burst, or twice that distance in a line. Make one attack or CMB roll and apply it equally to all targets. You must be at least 12th level and possess Ki Wave to take this Ki Power. You may not use a Full Attack Action when using Ki Burst.

Ki Wave (1 Ki): As a swift action, you may spend 1 Ki Point to allow your next Unarmed Strike be performed at a distance of up to (Monk Level + Wisdom Modifier)*5ft. You may even perform combat maneuvers with this attack as though it were your unarmed strike, but you take a -4 penalty for doing so. This counts as a melee attack, even though it is at a range. At level 8, a Monk may spend 2 Ki to cause Ki Wave to affect all of the Monk's attacks until the end of his turn, but he can't flurry with Ki Wave. At level 12, a Monk may spend 3 Ki as a swift action to affect all of his attacks until the end of his turn, and he may flurry using Ki Wave. If a target is grappled at a range, the Monk must use Ki Wave on each turn they intend to maintain the grapple.

Open-Wound Palm (1 Ki): You may cause your attack to deeply wound the opponent. This ability must be activated as a swift action. All of your attacks for that round inflict your Strength Bonus (minimum 1) in Bleed damage. This requires Versatile Unarmed Strike.

Open-Wound Style (0 Ki): If you use Open-Wound Palm against a creature that is already suffering from bleed HP damage, than that bleed effect is increased by 1 damage per round. You must have Open Wound Palm and by level 12 before you select this ability.

Powerful Maneuvers (0 Ki): The Monk deals his Strength Bonus in damage to a target he successfully makes a CMB check against.

Punishing Kick (0 Ki): You gain one additional use of Stunning Fist per day. Further, you may spend one use of your Stunning Fist as a free action to make an attack Punishing. A punishing attack causes the same effects of a Combat Maneuver on a successful hit, in addition to normal damage. A Fortitude Save negates the extra effect. You must declare both the use of this ability and which combat maneuver it’s mimicking before the attack is rolled, meaning it is wasted on a missed attack. For combat maneuvers where it matters, you are considered to have beat your opponent’s CMD by your Wisdom Score, regardless of the opponent’s stats. You must be at least 8th level to select this ability.

Redirect Attack (1 Ki): As an attack of opportunity, a Monk may redirect an attack that missed him. The opponent must reroll the attack, except its target is now anyone that the attack could legally target and is in a square threatened by the monk. You may not redirect an attack back onto the attacker.

Slow Fall (0 Ki): A monk reduces his effective distance when falling by 20ft, plus 10ft for every two levels after 4. A monk may move up walls and across ceilings as though they were normal ground. A Monk may cover up to half their Slow Fall distance per move action this way, but the benefits end at the end of their turn, which may cause the monk to fall.

Spell-Like Ability (1 Ki): You may select any of the following spells to cast as a spell-like ability. Your Caster Level is equal to your Monk Level, and DCs are based on your Wisdom Modifier. This may be taken multiple times, selecting a different spell each time. You must have a Monk Level at least twice the spell level you are mimicking to select that spell. You may only target yourself with any of these spells, even if the spell would normally affect multiple people.
Barkskin (1 Ki)
Augury (1 Ki)
Feather Step (1 Ki)
True Strike (1 Ki)
Gaseous Form (1 Ki)
Cloak of Winds (1 Ki)
Remove Disease (2 Ki)
Dragon’s Breath (2 Ki)
Neutralize Poison (1 Ki)
Poison (2 Ki)
Restoration (2 Ki)
Share Memory (0 Ki)
Silk to Steel (1 Ki)
Discordant Blast (2 Ki)
Shadow Step (1 Ki)
Spit Venom (2 Ki)
Battlemind (2 Ki, may link to people other than yourself)
Shadow Walk (3 Ki)
Cold Ice Strike (2 Ki)
Ki Shout (2 Ki)
Sonic thrust (2 Ki)
Strangling Hair (2 Ki)

Touch of Serenity (0 Ki): You gain one additional use of Stunning Fist per day. You may spend one use of your Stunning Fist as a free action to mimic the effects of the Touch of Serenity feat, which does not get its own pool of uses. You must be at least 8th level to select this ability.

Uncanny Dodge (0 Ki): You may gain Uncanny Dodge as a Ki Power.

Versatile Unarmed Strike (0 Ki): You may deal bashing, piercing, or slashing damage with your unarmed strike, and you may attack incorporeal creatures as though you were wielding a magic weapon. Finally, you gain Improved Critical (Unarmed Strike) as a bonus feat, even if you don’t meet the prerequisites.

Wholeness of Body (2 Ki): You may spend 1 Ki as a Swift Action to gain Fast Healing equal to half your monk level for your Wisdom Bonus rounds (minimum 1).

Double-Jump (Su)
Any time a monk makes a jump check while they have at least one point of Ki, they may make another jump check mid-air as a free action. Further, they are always considered to have a running start when making jump checks.

Purity of Body (Ex)
At 5th level, a monk gains immunity to all diseases, including supernatural and magical diseases.

Tongue of the Sun and Moon (Su)
A monk of 7th level or higher can speak with any living creature.

Improved Evasion (Ex)
At 9th level, a monk's evasion ability improves. He still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks, but henceforth he takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.

Diamond Body (Ex)
At 11th level, a monk gains immunity to poisons of all kinds.

Diamond Soul (Su)
At 13th level, a monk gains spell resistance equal to his current monk level + 10. In order to affect the monk with a spell, a spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) that equals or exceeds the monk's spell resistance. A Monk may choose to lower his spell resistance as an Immediate Action and keep it from reasserting itself as a free action.

Quivering Palm (Su)
Starting at 15th level, a monk can set up vibrations within the body of another creature that can thereafter be fatal if the monk so desires. He can use this quivering palm attack once per day, and he must announce his intent before making his attack roll. Creatures immune to critical hits cannot be affected. Otherwise, if the monk strikes successfully and the target takes damage from the blow, the quivering palm attack succeeds. Thereafter, the monk can try to slay the victim at any later time, as long as the attempt is made within a number of days equal to his monk level. To make such an attempt, the monk merely wills the target to die (a free action), and unless the target makes a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 the monk's level + the monk's Wis modifier), it dies. If the saving throw is successful, the target is no longer in danger from that particular quivering palm attack, but it may still be affected by another one at a later time. A monk can have no more than 1 quivering palm in effect at one time. If a monk uses quivering palm while another is still in effect, the previous effect is negated.

Timeless Body (Su)
At 17th level, a monk no longer takes penalties to his ability scores for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that he has already taken, however, remain in place. Age bonuses still accrue, and the monk still dies of old age when his time is up. Furthermore, the monk reduces all ability damage and ability drain he receives by 2, and negative levels by 1.

Slippery Soul (Su)
At 19th level, a monk is capable of rapidly recovering from almost any affliction. Any time a monk fails a save, he may spend 1 Ki as a non-action at the end of his next turn to reroll that save. If the new save is successful, than the effects cease. This effect does not work against effects with an instantaneous duration.

Perfect Self (Ex)
At level 20, the Monk reaches the peak of perfection. They gain a +2 Perfection Bonus to all ability scores, and are treated as an Outsider whenever it is convenient for them. They gain 2 additional Swift Actions per round, and gain 1 Ki Point per round (which may not take them over their maximum).

Hello Paizo Community, I have a few questions regarding the Alchemist class I was hoping for some help on.

1a. Does an Alchemist add their Intelligence to the damage from an Acid Flask on the following round?
1b. How about other misc bonuses to damage (Point Blank Shot, etc)?

2a. Does an Alchemist add their Intelligence to the damage per round from an Explosive Bomb?
2b. How about other misc bonuses to damage (Point Blank Shot, etc)?
2c. Do multiple applications of an Explosive Bomb stack?

3a. Can you launch bombs from a Flask Thrower or Launcher Crossbow?
3b. I must be completely blind for missing this, but what action is it to load a Flask Thrower anyways?
3c. If a Launcher Crossbow / Flask Thrower is enchanted, do those enchantments apply to alchemical items launched by them?

4a. Does the Alchemist's Int bonus to splash apply to alchemist fire and acid flask's damage on the following round?
4b. How about misc bonuses to damage?

5. Does anyone have a list of good potions/elixers to use with Alchemical Allocation? Either in terms of really good (or long-duration) buffs or in terms of situational times where using it wouldn't be impractical? Here is what I have so far:
Greater Magic Fang (Lv3, Hour/Level)
Comprehend Languages (lv2, min/level)
Cloak of Winds (Lv 3, Min/Level)
Good Hope (Lv 3, min/level)
Find Traps (Lv 2, Min/Level)
Shield of Faith (Lv 1, Min/Level, +2+CL/6 Deflection Bonus)
Barkskin (Lv 2, 10min/Level, +2+(CL-3)/3 NA)
Magic Circle Against Evil (Lv 3, 10min/level)
Stoneskin (Lv 3 [Summoner, likely not allowed], 10min/level)
Nondetection (Lv 3, Hour/lvl)
Augury (Lv 2, Instant)
Channel the Gift (Lv 3, Instant)
Glibness (Lv 3, 10min/Level)
Ward the Faithful (Lv 3, 10min/Level)
Paladin Sacrifice (Lv 2, It TECHNICALLY is valid for a potion, but figuring out how it works is hard enough to disallow it.)
Shield Other (Lv 2, See above)
Nap Sack (Lv 3, 8hr, 100gp Material)
Elixir of Shadowalking
Elixir of Vision
Elixir of Hiding