hi guys,
i am currently playing a Monk of the 4 Winds in the a Kingmaker campaing with a Wizard, a witch, a inquisitor and a druid. I am the DM in Rivers Run Red so i will be back in the next chapter being level 7 or 8.
I just want to know, after readying that everyone thinks that the monk is one of the weakest classes, if you think my build is ok.
I am pretty happy with my monk from the roleplaying perspective and when it comes to fights i am probably ok with him right now. If you could perhaps give me some tips for feats, or adjustment because i still can choose the feats for lvl 5, 7 and the bonus feat from 6.
Jaoh San
7st Level Human Monk (15 pb)
Init +6 (4 impro. Ini.) ,
AC 17, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+3Wis, +2 dex, +1 dodge, +1Monk)
Hp 48
Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +8
Speed 20ft
Melee: Unarmed Strike +8 (1d8+3) or FoB +8/+8/+3 (1d8+3)
Str 17 (+1 fromlvl4, Belt +2), Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8
BAB +5, CMB +9, CMD 17
MY initial stats were from a 15 pb :
Str 14, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8
Feats :
1 MOTFW Elemental fist
1 Human: Hardness (+1 Hp, dont know if this is the right name of the feat)
1MonkBonus: Dodge
1improved Ini
2 Monk bonus: deflect arrows
3 Power attack
LVL4 +1 STR
5 Dragon Style
6 (no clue what to take)
LVL 8 +1 STR
7 Dragon Ferocity
9 Weapon Focus Unarmed Strike / or stunning fist
10 Monk Bonus: medusas wraith
11Crane Style
LVL12 +1 WIS
13 Crane Wing
14 Monk Bonus: Mobility
15 hammer the gap
LVL16 +1 WIS
17 Touch of serenity
18 Monk Bonus: improved critical
19 Crane Riposte
LVL 20: +1 STR
For now i am looking at a monk who goes into dragon Style/Ferocity to get 2x STR on his charge/first attack to get into range, and then stays in dragon Style to have x1,5 on his flurry attacks. I am going to flurry with power attack if the target doesnt have to much AC, otherwise i will attack normally.
If i see the enemie being stronger or if the group has to retreat i activate crane style to avoid incoming attacks with crane wing and deflect arrows.
I dont want to focus on Maneuvers like grappling or trip because i dont find them that much fun. i dont like the picture of three heroes fighting like hell and one monk lying on the floor cuddling the mage in the back. Still good to know i am a better grappler then our Inquisitor, becasuse he likes to call himself the choker wich is his finishing move on some NPCs. I just want to be shure that i dont get choked if he gets angry.
I would like to take Touch of serenety on lvl 11 but my dm isnt allowing me to have a feat with the pre. of 18 WIS when i have 16 Wis +2 from a headband. He says i have to get WIS for that circumstance by upgrading my stats on level ups and not from items.
Speaking of items. My DM also forbids items like monks robe and such, because he likes to get in special items through quests. So i dont need advice on itembuys since i probably wont get them.
Thanks you for your help guys!
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improved grapple and bull rush are nice to get for free because those are the only 2 combat manuevers that you don't need combat expertise to get the Greater versions of.
I would read thru Revel's guide. It has a lot of good insight and covers a lot of feats. Revel's Monk
The human feat would be Toughness I think? +3 Hp until 4th when you start to add +1 Hp per/ level. (so +1 HP per level with the first +3 upfront)
level six take improved trip. and level 9 take Greater improved trip. You get to trip and get an extra AOO when they go down :)
"I would like to take Touch of serenety on lvl 11 but my dm isnt allowing me to have a feat with the pre. of 18 WIS when i have 16 Wis +2 from a headband. He says i have to get WIS for that circumstance by upgrading my stats on level ups and not from items.
Speaking of items. My DM also forbids items like monks robe and such, because he likes to get in special items through quests. So i dont need advice on itembuys since i probably wont get them."
Honestly...I suggest you play a different class. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear. Your DM's houserules/nerfs, monk already sucking, and what I've heard of Kingmaker being very frequently one encounter a day... are you willing to entertain the idea of a different class?
How about a Synthesist Summoner, and you refluff his natural attacks as super kung fu?
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That's not with a vanilla or Four Winds monk that you'll change people's minds on the class. 17 AC and 48 HP at 7th level is... incredibly weak.
Dragon Style is worthless in this build, as it only provides you with a +1 to damage for two feats if you have 14 str.
Drop 14 Str to 10, increase Dex, get Weapon finesse and an Agile amulet of mighty fists, and you have more to-hit, more AC, same base damage, and may use another style instead. What I'm suggesting is not even optimization, it's giving your character a chance to survive in an average 7th level game ; as a level 11 monk may easily reach 40 AC and I'm not even suggesting awesome build advices right now.
Qinggong archetype replaces sucky class features for Barkskin, True Strike, Spring Attack. Level 11, you may quicken True Strike 3/day, allowing you to auto-hit on a run/disarm/run away tactic without provoking AoO from the target. That's a BBEG weapon wielder killer tactic if you succeed at your check.
I would like to take Touch of serenety on lvl 11 but my dm isnt allowing me to have a feat with the pre. of 18 WIS when i have 16 Wis +2 from a headband. He says i have to get WIS for that circumstance by upgrading my stats on level ups and not from items.
And he's wrong. Bonuses from items become permanent after 24 hours. The only drawback is that you may not use your feat anymore if your stat is lowered, or not before waiting for the bonus to become permanent again if the item is removed/dispelled and put back. And honestly, that's not like Touch of serenity is incredibly overpowered, especially for the character you are playing right now...
That's not with a vanilla or Four Winds monk that you'll change people's minds on the class. 17 AC and 48 HP at 7th level is... incredibly weak.
Dragon Style is worthless in this build, as it only provides you with a +1 to damage for two feats if you have 14 str.
Drop 14 Str to 10, increase Dex, get Weapon finesse and an Agile amulet of mighty fists, and you have more to-hit, more AC, same base damage, and may use another style instead. What I'm suggesting is not even optimization, it's giving your character a chance to survive in an average 7th level game ; as a level 11 monk may easily reach 40 AC and I'm not even suggesting awesome build advices right now.
I forgot to add the hp from lvl 6 and 7 for that. still took my hp from lvl 5.
Also i didnt counted armor items, since i am currently lvl 5 and didnt found anything yet.When im lvl 8 i will have 18 str.
With Dragon Strike my first attack will be
FoB and Power attack, Elemental fist and 1Ki Point for an Attack:
lvl8:
+10 (1d10+10+2d6 Elemental fist (+4STR+2PA+4 Dragon Style)),
+10 (1d10+8 (+4STR+2PA+2 Dragon Style))
+10 (1d10+8 (+4STR+2PA+2 Dragon Style))
+5 (1d10+8 (+4STR+2PA+2 Dragon Style))
+5 (1d10+8 (+4STR+2PA+2 Dragon Style))
if it hits that is +10 dmg in a round because of Dragon Style. I think it is a fair trade for two feats. But i get your point.
At lvl 8 I should have a AC of 21 counting +1 NA and some minor AC items. But still no 40 :)
Still im happy with my monk. In the first two adventures from lvl 1 to 5 i did pretty well in combat and social playing. But after reading your post im kinda wondering if it will stay that fun.
I read revels guide and it i checked with my stats. It seems fine with me. he also Went for STR-WIS-DEX.
"I would like to take Touch of serenety on lvl 11 but my dm isnt allowing me to have a feat with the pre. of 18 WIS when i have 16 Wis +2 from a headband. He says i have to get WIS for that circumstance by upgrading my stats on level ups and not from items.
Speaking of items. My DM also forbids items like monks robe and such, because he likes to get in special items through quests. So i dont need advice on itembuys since i probably wont get them."
Honestly...I suggest you play a different class. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear. Your DM's houserules/nerfs, monk already sucking, and what I've heard of Kingmaker being very frequently one encounter a day... are you willing to entertain the idea of a different class?
How about a Synthesist Summoner, and you refluff his natural attacks as super kung fu?
I thank you for thinking of another class for me but i will try to play my monk for a few levels. If hes really that bad he should die in a few games so i still can look for other classes then.
i always wanted to try out a dwarven barbarian....my poor monk. I will miss you.
Actually, if he has a high defense and no real offensive threat, chances are the monsters will just ignore him and you'll be doomed with "sucky character immortality." ;)
Actually, if he has a high defense and no real offensive threat, chances are the monsters will just ignore him and you'll be doomed with "sucky character immortality." ;)
Also true :)
i edited the damage for lvl8:
"With Dragon Strike my first attack will be
FoB and Power attack, Elemental fist and 1Ki Point for an Attack:
lvl8:
+10 (1d10+10+2d6 Elemental fist (+4STR+2PA+4 Dragon Style)),
+10 (1d10+8 (+4STR+2PA+2 Dragon Style))
+10 (1d10+8 (+4STR+2PA+2 Dragon Style))
+5 (1d10+8 (+4STR+2PA+2 Dragon Style))
+5 (1d10+8 (+4STR+2PA+2 Dragon Style))"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLAY A DWARVEN BABARIAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!