Hello, I've just hit level two with my monk.. and I'm curious as to what items I should get... I play in the Pathfinder Society, so I cannot just get anything I want. I have to unlock it. I have been playing up... (Playing a tier higher) with a group of 5-6 people. I have 3000 gold points, and I wanted to spend it on something to increase my armor class. Does anyone have knowledge about what needs to be unlocked, and what can just be bought?
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mage armor potions = 1 hour of +4 AC
owl's wisdom potions = 3 min of +2 AC
barkskin potion = (CL 3) 30 min of +2 AC (CL 6) 1 hour of +3 AC
all of these stack.
Potions are your friends in PFS!
I'm running CoT at home and there's a level 8 monk who still uses mage armor potions.
This post should probably be switched to the PFS threads.
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I personally don't know anything about PFS games but if you are looking for something to help out your survivability then wands of Mage Armor and Shield are an amazing investment for you.
Other options include Rings of Protection, Bracers of Armor, or an Amulet of Natural Armor.
At low levels, you won't have access to these.
I forgot:
Potion of Shield of Faith 1 min for +2 AC (CL 6) 6 min for +3 AC
Alternatively, Protection from Evil = 1 min for +2 AC against evil creatures only - hedges out evil outsiders and prevents mind control
so far:
mage armor = armor bonus
barkskin = natural armor bonus
owl's wisdom = enhancement bonus to WIS, which gives an insight bonus to AC
shield of faith OR pro evil = deflection bonus
You could buy a masterwork temple sword -- it would do better damage with a better attack modifier and a better critical multiplier than just using your fists (at least for one level).
You could buy a masterwork temple sword -- it would do better damage with a better attack modifier and a better critical multiplier than just using your fists (at least for one level).
I believe that my fists do more than the temple sword.
I get +5 to attack, and do 1d6+4 damage (per fist). I use flurry of blows and Power Attack EVERY time I can. That's 1d6+4x2 Without the bonuses..
Let's say that I only hit with one attack, alright..
Even if I only roll a one on my 1d6 roll, I end up doing... (1+4+2) 7 damage.
That's WITHOUT flank, and.. that's only hitting with one attack.
If I have flanking bonus, from my feat (Dirty Fighting/Fighter?) I have +1 damage.
If I hit with both attacks, while flanking, I do (2+8+4+2) And that's MINIMUM damage.
Edit: The reason that my fists are better is because of Power Attack, that's +2 damage PER fist. With the sword, I could only attack once, and I would not have the ability to gain the full potential of Power Attack/FoF.
You can FoB with a Temple Sword btw.
I would have at least one slashing monk weapon, and cestus are pretty good too. That way you've got a counter to DR/weapon type.
Apart from that, grab an Amulet of Mighty Fists, or improve the one you've got.
And it's gold pieces /nitpick.
You can FoB with a Temple Sword btw.
I would have at least one slashing monk weapon, and cestus are pretty good too. That way you've got a counter to DR/weapon type.
Apart from that, grab an Amulet of Mighty Fists, or improve the one you've got.
And it's gold pieces /nitpick.
But Power Attack does not apply to offhand weapons, and that is two points of damage.
You don't have to wield the TS in your off-hand tho, and really, why would you?
If I use Power Attack, and flurry of blows, the Power Attack only applies to my mainhand. If I were to dual wield two weapons, the power attack would only apply to one of the weapons, and it applies to all of my unarmed blows.
Core p.57, Flurry of Blows: 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.
As such, full PA applies.
Sorry, I was typing on my android phone.. But, let me explain my concern.
Power Attack applies to the main hand only. If I have two weapons, the Temple Sword is the main hand. The ???? is the off hand. The ???? does not get Power Attack while FoB'ing.
And I actually have another question for you..
The Quarterstaff gives two attacks.. 1d6/1d6. Would I be able to attack four times with it, while FoB was active?
Sorry, I was typing on my android phone.. But, let me explain my concern.
Power Attack applies to the main hand only. If I have two weapons, the Temple Sword is the main hand. The ???? is the off hand. The ???? does not get Power Attack while FoB'ing.
If your offhand attacks are punches and kicks you still get it on them, yes.
If your offhand attacks are punches and kicks you still get it on them, yes.Sorry, I was typing on my android phone.. But, let me explain my concern.
Power Attack applies to the main hand only. If I have two weapons, the Temple Sword is the main hand. The ???? is the off hand. The ???? does not get Power Attack while FoB'ing.
So, that is a potential of +2 damage. The problem I have with holding anything is this: (No Deflect Arrows, or Shuriken) This is pretty tricky..
Sorry, I was typing on my android phone.. But, let me explain my concern.
Power Attack applies to the main hand only. If I have two weapons, the Temple Sword is the main hand. The ???? is the off hand. The ???? does not get Power Attack while FoB'ing.
And I actually have another question for you..
The Quarterstaff gives two attacks.. 1d6/1d6. Would I be able to attack four times with it, while FoB was active?
No, the quarterstaff can be wielded as a double weapon, in which case you get 1 attack with each end, like TWF. If your Monk level was 8 you would get the 4 attacks with the 2 ends when FoB was active.
So, that is a potential of +2 damage. The problem I have with holding anything is this: (No Deflect Arrows, or Shuriken) This is pretty tricky..If your offhand attacks are punches and kicks you still get it on them, yes.Sorry, I was typing on my android phone.. But, let me explain my concern.
Power Attack applies to the main hand only. If I have two weapons, the Temple Sword is the main hand. The ???? is the off hand. The ???? does not get Power Attack while FoB'ing.
Deflect Arrows requires only 1 hand free to utilize.
I would not be able to Flurry of Blows throw Shuriken though. That takes two hands. Correct?
I would not be able to Flurry of Blows throw Shuriken though. That takes two hands. Correct?
Incorrect. Shuriken only need 1 hand to wield.
Oh, wow.. So.. spending a little bit of gold on this Temple sword is really worth it then. Is that right?
Oh, wow.. So.. spending a little bit of gold on this Temple sword is really worth it then. Is that right?
To give yourself the slashing damage type for DR/slashing(zombies anyone?) its worth the trivial expense. You lose nothing in combat viability by carrying one.
Do I lose any + to hit? I have +5 right now, at second level.
And would I need to upgrade the Temple Sword to +1?
Do I lose any + to hit? I have +5 right now, at second level.
And would I need to upgrade the Temple Sword to +1?
The monk has proficiency, so there would be no penalty to hit from wielding one. Getting it Masterwork or even +1 would mean you actually hit better with it than just using your fists.
Alright. I have 3100 gold pieces saved up at the moment though.. wouldn't it be better to save up for Amulet of Mighty Fists so I can purchase it when I unlock it?
Alright. I have 3100 gold pieces saved up at the moment though.. wouldn't it be better to save up for Amulet of Mighty Fists so I can purchase it when I unlock it?
Entirely a judgement call on your part. I would say that buying the basic one is peanuts in price and worth having just because of the versatility.
As a side note, if you move and only get one attack (can't FoB) you can 2 handed swing the temple sword for the improved damage.
I plan to purchase the basic Temple Sword, but I will not upgrade it.. I'll save the gold for the Amulet.
So, thanks for all of your help! It really helped.... I don't know much about this class, apparently. Good night.
Another thing you can do that's fairly popular is grab yourself some sort of reach weapon (I'm not sure what race your monk is or anything, but it's possible you could have gotten proficiency in one so you wouldn't have to use a feat or take the -4 hit penalty). That lets you threaten at 10' with your reach weapon (so means you're likely to get a bunch more AoOs)...and adjacent, since you can kick for flurry of blows.
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Another thing you can do that's fairly popular is grab yourself some sort of reach weapon...That lets you threaten at 10' with your reach weapon (so means you're likely to get a bunch more AoOs)...and adjacent, since you can kick for flurry of blows.
OMG...that's brilliant. I'm pretty sure there aren't any reach weapons granted by race but at the cost of a single feat it's worth it.
If you pick a weapon with reach that does two different types of damage thats even better. If you can find something with piercing and slashing you have all your mundane DRs covered since unarmed is bludgeoning.
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You didnt qualify for power attack at level 1 as you didn't have the BAB+1 prequisite though.
I'd also recommend +1 brass knuckles over amulet of mighty fists- you already have the 2,300ish gold for it.
Edit: Just saw it is PFS so my second sentence is void, but aren't PFS games quite strict? Has no one asked how a level 1 Monk with BAB+0 got power attack?
Alright. I have 3100 gold pieces saved up at the moment though.. wouldn't it be better to save up for Amulet of Mighty Fists so I can purchase it when I unlock it?
Masterwork is fine; it'll cost 330 gp (360 gp for a cold iron temple sword), and if you like, you can sell it later.
I know you asked specifically about AC-boosting items, but I've also got a high-strength power-attacking monk (who used a temple sword at low levels, as recommended here). I highly recommend a vicious amulet of might fists +0, which is only 5,000 gp. You'll absolutely take more damage, but your damage output becomes pretty astronomical.
My monk is 11th level now, and still uses (and buys, once they get empty) wands of mage armor, infernal healing, and cure light wounds (to offer to good-aligned clerics instead of the wand of infernal healing).
Plimsolls? and maybe some Rice Paper, they love that stuff.
I am level two. :D So.. that's why I have +1 BAB
I am level two. :D So.. that's why I have +1 BAB
Yes, but you don't get a feat at level 2. Well, you get a monk bonus feat, but Power Attack isn't on the monk bonus feat list.
I am level two. :D So.. that's why I have +1 BABYes, but you don't get a feat at level 2. Well, you get a monk bonus feat, but Power Attack isn't on the monk bonus feat list.
I'm a human.
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I'm a human.
Completely irrelevant. The only time you have been awarded feats is level 1, where you had BAB+0.
Level 2 you get the bonus feats yes, but you couldn't get power attack. Sorry. I play a lot of medium BAB classes (Monk, Cleric, Inquisitor etc.) and the slog to level 3 where I can finally pick up power attack is familiar to me.
Temple Sword wielded in both hands gets you d8+strength x1.5 for a one handed weapon wielded in two hands. It's cheaper to enchant than Amulet of Mighty Fists and since it's a flurry weapon can be used at full rate.
Personally I like the Temple Sword + Weapon Adept alternative features for boosting the value of the Monk significantly.
Temple Sword wielded in both hands gets you d8+strength x1.5 for a one handed weapon wielded in two hands.
Not while flurrying, though.
Temple Sword wielded in both hands gets you d8+strength x1.5 for a one handed weapon wielded in two hands.Not while flurrying, though.
Ahh I see where the problem occurs
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.
The bolded statement caps the strength modifier at x1 even though the property of a two-handed weapon wielded in both hands would normally give a 1.5 modifier.
So even though I think the intent of the ability is to make a floor of x1 even with offhand strikes (unlike the normal modifier of X0.5 for off-hand strikes) this also functions as a upward cap on damage modifier.
I guess it would really come down to whether the order of operations (modifier for two-hands) comes into play after and independent of the full strength clause. If the specific is the monk flurry ability and the general is one-handed weapon x1.5 then the monk flurry cap should take primacy. If the one-handed is more specific than the general of the monk flurry then I think it could possibly be concluded that a flurry with the temple sword allows x number of attacks at x1.5 damage modifier because the x1.5 is applied after and independently of the base damage modifier.
Interesting conundrum. I would assume that any clarification would probably go with the x1.0 interpretation but I wouldn't think that allowing x1.5 with a flurry of temple sword would be game breaking.
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Temple Sword wielded in both hands gets you d8+strength x1.5 for a one handed weapon wielded in two hands.Not while flurrying, though.Ahh I see where the problem occurs
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.The bolded statement caps the strength modifier at x1 even though the property of a two-handed weapon wielded in both hands would normally give a 1.5 modifier.
So even though I think the intent of the ability is to make a floor of x1 even with offhand strikes (unlike the normal modifier of X0.5 for off-hand strikes) this also functions as a upward cap on damage modifier.
I guess it would really come down to whether the order of operations (modifier for two-hands) comes into play after and independent of the full strength clause. If the specific is the monk flurry ability and the general is one-handed weapon x1.5 then the monk flurry cap should take primacy. If the one-handed is more specific than the general of the monk flurry then I think it could possibly be concluded that a flurry with the temple sword allows x number of attacks at x1.5 damage modifier because the x1.5 is applied after and independently of the base damage modifier.
Interesting conundrum. I would assume that any clarification would probably go with the x1.0 interpretation but I wouldn't think that allowing x1.5 with a flurry of temple sword would be game breaking.
This has come up countless times over the past ten years or so. Its been clarified countless times to always be 1x strength when flurrying. If you wish to house rule otherwise thats fine, but this is PFS.
This has come up countless times over the past ten years or so. Its been clarified countless times to always be 1x strength when flurrying. If you wish to house rule otherwise thats fine, but this is PFS.
Ahh you're right I didn't realize we were talking about a PFS character. Yeah no x1.5 (even though it would be imminently reasonable) but that doesn't change that the Temple Sword is still a pretty good choice primarily for it's reduced cost vis-a-vis the Amulet.
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This has come up countless times over the past ten years or so. Its been clarified countless times to always be 1x strength when flurrying. If you wish to house rule otherwise thats fine, but this is PFS.Ahh you're right I didn't realize we were talking about a PFS character. Yeah no x1.5 (even though it would be imminently reasonable) but that doesn't change that the Temple Sword is still a pretty good choice primarily for it's reduced cost vis-a-vis the Amulet.
For flurrying, brass knuckles is better later on.
At low levels, for a standard action or a charge (these come up more than flurries do in my experience...) the temple sword is great. Possibly for low level AOO's too, can't remember if that is constrained to 1.x strength off the top of my head but I believe not.
OMG...that's brilliant. I'm pretty sure there aren't any reach weapons granted by race but at the cost of a single feat it's worth it.
If you pick a weapon with reach that does two different types of damage thats even better. If you can find something with piercing and slashing you have all your mundane DRs covered since unarmed is bludgeoning.
The only way I'm aware of to get it by race is to use the half-elf alternate feature for weapon proficiency, yeah. And as far as I know, there are no P/S reach weapons...but the fauchard is a good choice, with reach, trip, and 1d10, 18-20/x2.
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The only way I'm aware of to get it by race is to use the half-elf alternate feature for weapon proficiency, yeah. And as far as I know, there are no P/S reach weapons...but the fauchard is a good choice, with reach, trip, and 1d10, 18-20/x2.
I'm not familiar with that feature, I'll have to look it up. It's in the APG?
I wasn't sure if there was any reach weapons with P/S.
That was my next thought, something with reach and trip. Monks can excel at tripping.
I'm away from my books right now and I can't remember the name or location of the feat, but in 3.5 there was a feat that allowed you to change the damage type of your unarmed attacks. It probably wouldn't help the OP since he's playing in PFS but a nice GM might allow it to be used. That way you could have the bases covered.