My monk is re-skinned as a duelist. 1/2 Mwangi, all style from the Shackles. He wears outlandish clothing and usually uses a short sword and sai (swordbreaker). Currently level 3 as a monk and then the last level he was stranded on Smugglers shiv and took a level of Ranger to survive on his own.
At any rate Maneuver Master seems pretty sweet with the extra combat maneuver (improved trip and improved disarm so far) and then two weapon fighting for a flurry.
Any suggestions on where to take him from here as we head into the Mwangi expanse? (please no spoilers)
My monk is re-skinned as a duelist. 1/2 Mwangi, all style from the Shackles. He wears outlandish clothing and usually uses a short sword and sai (swordbreaker). Currently level 3 as a monk and then the last level he was stranded on Smugglers shiv and took a level of Ranger to survive on his own.
At any rate Maneuver Master seems pretty sweet with the extra combat maneuver (improved trip and improved disarm so far) and then two weapon fighting for a flurry.
Any suggestions on where to take him from here as we head into the Mwangi expanse? (please no spoilers)
I've not played that path or in that region, but I am playing a MM Monk.
Speaking in general terms, the true strength of the "free" combat maneuver is using it for maneuvers ordinarily only possible with a standard action, namely grapple and dirty trick. So basically, I'd recommend you used more of those maneuvers, potentially swapping improved maneuver feats if possible. Dirty trick especially has been incredibly versatile and very powerful. Grapple has been more situational, but very powerful when I've used it. Not having to forego a round's attacks to perform either has been incredible.
Trips, disarms, and sunders can already be substituted for normal attacks...not that it's a bad thing to get a free one without forgoing an attack to do so (note however, that you kind of are giving up attacks by virtue of losing flurry of blows). Normal Monks will be almost as good as a MM when using these maneuvers, as they can choose to use their "extra" attacks from FoB to make these maneuvers, just as a MM Monk does (of course, they can also just attack with them if they choose to, something the MM cannot do).
The only advantage of the MM archetype when focusing on trips and/or disarms is qualification of the greater maneuver feats without meeting the prerequisites at level 6+. That's no small matter, since a normal Monk will not likely have Int 13+ or Combat Expertise, and so will have difficulty qualifying at all.
IMO, ideally, a MM Monk will focus on Grapples and/or Dirty Tricks while also picking up Improved/Greater Trip (and perhaps Vicious Stomp) if they really also want to trip. If so, I'd probably choose either Grappling -or- Dirty Trick as the other maneuver, as getting feat lines for more than 2 maneuvers can get very costly.
Dirty trick. Hmm... Free chance to cause a condition. I like it.
I hadn't looked at it since it wasn't in the Core book. Checking it now, that's handy.
Thank you sir.
any other suggestions?
Anyone?
I do it level by level as he encounters things.. he spent 3 years on Smuigglers Shiv so that's why monk 3/ Ranger 1
Since Maneuver Master replaces your Flurry of Blows (as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat ) with Flurry of Maneuvers (At 1st level, as part of a full-attack action, a maneuver master can make one additional combat maneuver, regardless of whether the maneuver normally replaces a melee attack or requires a standard action.) Can you then TAKE two weapon fighting and get two attacks plus the maneuver?
That's how I was reading it today. So 3 attacks a turn (one being a combat maneuver) at first level.
Liking this guy more and more.
Trip first to get the bonus to hit on the two attacks and then hit him again if he stands.