Enlarge Person, Mage Armor, Guidance, Resistance and having any cannon fodder (doesn't matter if it has 1hp) are all very useful all the way to 20. Also a flanker can die in 1 round and still be of enormous benefit if you get the bonus.Possibly, just barely at low levels. But as you go up in levels the Eidolon falls further and further behind.
Unless you're building a Gestalt character the Summoner is the most multi-classing unfriendly class I've ever seen.
You can get those spells from wands as well, either invest in Use Magic Device or carry wands around and ask the party caster to use them on you before combat.
You'd actually be better off taking a one level dip into a Wizard than a Summoner, but if you really want to squeeze as much performance out of your monk as you can, you should generally stay pure.
BTW, I'm glad somebody found my musings on HG monks useful. You're welcome, fellas.
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The reality on Monks is dumping stats is needed to be competitive. The Zen archer cheats here a little, since they are Wis / Str, but front line is much harder (Need str/wis/dex in high amounts, and a 12 Con).
Str: 18
Int: 12
Wis: 14
Dex: 14
Con: 12
Chr: 7
is a general build (human) If you want to talk just take a trait to make Diplomacy class skill (with a +1) and put a point at each level; at level 1 you'll have a +3, which will be far above most.... and you don't really use most other Cha skills.
drunken master mountain route is considered the best front line. You get good AC skills and a steady flow of ki points. High str will keep your damage high, and knuckles or monk's sword remove the old material issue.
Enjoy; you'll be fine, even useful. Just make sure you don't lower that 18 str
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Int: 12
Enjoy; you'll be fine, even useful. Just make sure you don't lower that 18 strI'd see how many skills you really want.
Do you need 6?
How would 3 work for you?
The 6pts that you 'spend' by having a 12INT rather than a 7INT, could easily go towards a 14CON and 19 starting STR.
It's fine to go with a higher INT like Thalin is suggesting, but decide what's worth the cost here. Make an informed choice on how extra skills will impact the rest of your PC.
You are unlikely to be taking INT skills, or do well with them even if you do so the INT score is simply going to be the number of skills you will have. Make the choice on that.
-James
This would truly be optimal, especially in PFS, but I was catering to his lack of desire to dump int / wants to be able to be semi-talkative. Dump stats are tough, but you are playing the former "worst class" (APG boosted them nicely over rogues, barbarians, cavaliers, and alchemists). They are good, but you need those stat points.
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I have a Zen Archer monk with high wisdom and low intelligence in a campaign (25-point build). I didn't plan it this way, but I find myself sounding like Forrest Gump when I play the character. Should we buy a wand of cure light wounds? "I'm not a smart man, but I know what hurt means."
Anyway, even though I don't like to dump stats, I ended up with:
Human monk, weapon adept
STR - 14 (5)
DEX - 14 (5)
CON - 14 (5)
INT - 9 (-1)
WIS - 18 (10) (16+2)
CHA - 7 (-4)
Feats:
Skill Focus (Escape Artist)
Dodge
Improved Grapple
Traits:
Anatomist (+1 to confirm crits)
(Still thinking)
I tend to like Reactionary as a trait, the bonus to initiative is nice if you're planning on acting before anyone else. However, since you already took anatomist, you can't take reactionary, as they are both Combat traits. Which faction are you going with for PFS? There may be something in there. If you have the APG, look at Veteran of Battle, a religion trait for those who worship Gorum; you get a +1 to initiative, and if you can act during a surprise round you can draw a weapon for free, if you're interested in the initiative bonus. Otherwise, pick something that flavors your character a bit. It's what I did taking Vagabond Child for Disable Device.
PFS is a 20 point build.
You should consider taking Hunter's Eye if you're doing a character from the Andoran faction. Not taking a range penalty on the second range increment is pretty sweet.
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I tend to like Reactionary as a trait, the bonus to initiative is nice if you're planning on acting before anyone else. However, since you already took anatomist, you can't take reactionary, as they are both Combat traits. Which faction are you going with for PFS? There may be something in there. If you have the APG, look at Veteran of Battle, a religion trait for those who worship Gorum; you get a +1 to initiative, and if you can act during a surprise round you can draw a weapon for free, if you're interested in the initiative bonus. Otherwise, pick something that flavors your character a bit. It's what I did taking Vagabond Child for Disable Device.
I like Reactionary, too. I may take it instead of Anatomist. Anatomist is really a vestige from my original build, a Hungry Ghost monk. I had a great background story, but I really would rather play the Weapon Adept. I think I'll take Wisdom in the Flesh as a second trait. My monk will be Osirion, and Irori seems to be a good fit both for the faction and for a monk. The trait allows me to use my WIS bonus on any one skill instead of STR, DEX or CON. Combining good Escape Artist (in case a grapple goes wrong) with good Acrobatics (get around without provoking) should make him a formidable foe, both armed (temple sword) and unarmed (strike or grapple). All I need now is a chance to play...
I tend to like Reactionary as a trait, the bonus to initiative is nice if you're planning on acting before anyone else. However, since you already took anatomist, you can't take reactionary, as they are both Combat traits. Which faction are you going with for PFS? There may be something in there. If you have the APG, look at Veteran of Battle, a religion trait for those who worship Gorum; you get a +1 to initiative, and if you can act during a surprise round you can draw a weapon for free, if you're interested in the initiative bonus. Otherwise, pick something that flavors your character a bit. It's what I did taking Vagabond Child for Disable Device.I like Reactionary, too. I may take it instead of Anatomist. Anatomist is really a vestige from my original build, a Hungry Ghost monk. I had a great background story, but I really would rather play the Weapon Adept. I think I'll take Wisdom in the Flesh as a second trait. My monk will be Osirion, and Irori seems to be a good fit both for the faction and for a monk. The trait allows me to use my WIS bonus on any one skill instead of STR, DEX or CON. Combining good Escape Artist (in case a grapple goes wrong) with good Acrobatics (get around without provoking) should make him a formidable foe, both armed (temple sword) and unarmed (strike or grapple). All I need now is a chance to play...
Ah yes, I saw that trait when I was perusing for my own. Had I not been attached to the character's concept of worshiping Sarenrae and multiclassing into Cleric, I may have done that as well. I've played Osirion with my Fighter, which can be a bit interesting at times as I almost never have the skills for one of the faction missions. But it works. Hopefully you get a chance to play soon, I get my first chance with my monk this Sunday.