Rebuilding options

[Peter J]

I've been having an okay time playing my monk in PFS, but in the last few modules, I've been teaming up with maguses (magi), synthesists, and other heavily min-maxed characters who seem to be just so superior to me in pretty much everything. I know monks aren't a strong class, but it's getting to be not-fun. This along with the recent ruling on Flurry of Blows makes me not want to play this character any more. But he's already got 6 XP, and I really don't want to have to start again from scratch. Do I have any options here due to the rules changing on Flurry?

[Dragnmoon]

Peter J wrote:

I've been having an okay time playing my monk in PFS, but in the last few modules, I've been teaming up with maguses (magi), synthesists, and other heavily min-maxed characters who seem to be just so superior to me in pretty much everything. I know monks aren't a strong class, but it's getting to be not-fun. This along with the recent ruling on Flurry of Blows makes me not want to play this character any more. But he's already got 6 XP, and I really don't want to have to start again from scratch. Do I have any options here due to the rules changing on Flurry?

Only if your Concept was ruined because of the clarification.

If because of the Flurry of Blows clarification nothing changes with your PC then no you can't make any changes. (feats no longer work like you thought they did, you relied on one weapon and spent feats on them, are examples)

Here is his Mike's Post.

Also be aware they are re addressing the Flurry of Blows so things might change in the future, and if you do rebuild you are then stuck with that rebuild if Flurry of Blows changes.

Also, You may want to Clarify what he means by rebuild, I suspect he only means changing thins that got screwed up, and not a full rebuild, but he would need to clarify that.

[Peter J]

It screwed up plans, not choices already made, unless you count rolling a monk in the first place.

But if I want a new class, I'm starting over from scratch, right?

[Alexander_Damocles]

Yep. But, it isn't a bad thing to have a whole mess of characters. And as the other players level up, you might end up with a different group of players, hopefully not optimized and more to your style of play.

[Dragnmoon]

Peter J wrote:

It screwed up plans, not choices already made, unless you count rolling a monk in the first place.

But if I want a new class, I'm starting over from scratch, right?

Correct, you would have to start over from Scratch.

The next version of the Guide will have rebuild options for 1st level characters, but that won't help you either.

I would suggest to continue with what you have, you are low enough level that you can build something you like, and IMO you should not let other players builds discourage you.

I am sure there was a reason you picked the monk in the first place, Theme, RP opportunities, etc. Work with that and not worry about other people doing more damage then you.

[Peter J]

Yeah, just a bit of frustration being vented bring teamed up with people that can do everything I can do, only much better, and a whole lot more.

[CRobledo]

Peter J wrote:

Yeah, just a bit of frustration being vented bring teamed up with people that can do everything I can do, only much better, and a whole lot more.

I think part of it is growing pains. If this was your first PFS character, I can see him not being optimized.

As an addendum to the posters above, the word is that come GenCon we are going to get a new rule that will indeed allow rebuilds, but only at level 1. We don't know the specific details of that rebuild (can we only rebuild skills/feats/scores/gear or also class/race?). Looks like your Monk is already 3, so you can't really wait for this one though.

You also compared yourself to Magi and synthesist, which are regarded as some of the more... "leaning towards overpowered" classes. I have met quite the number of players playing synthesists that the opposite has occurred. They get bored in the mid-high levels because they are destroying everything and nothing is a challenge. They abandon the concept and start new ones. This might change in season 4, where scenarios are built with tables of 6 in mind, but we will see.

[Jiggy]

For what it's worth, my brother's monk ended up in a "secure area" where everyone had to check their weapons at the door and enter an antimagic field.

Guess who rocked the fight that broke out. ;)

[Peter J]

Jiggy wrote:

For what it's worth, my brother's monk ended up in a "secure area" where everyone had to check their weapons at the door and enter an antimagic field.

Guess who rocked the fight that broke out. ;)

Yeah, I was kind of counting on that sort of thing. :)

By the way, have you ever had a use for Stealth? I keep wanting to do sneaky things but I never get the chance, partially because I'm shackled to people in full plate. It seems like a lot of modules can just be powered through, and none require finesse.

[kinevon]

There are scenarios that require more ... finesse ... than others. If you look in the thread about which scenarios have more RP opportunities, those are also the scenarios that don't work well for .... characters that just power through scenarios.

Sure, they have some fights, but I bet you that you'll even have more fun then others during some of those fights, IF the fight breaks out. Monks don't have anywhere near the problems with certain creature powers than, say, a Magus would.

Spoiler:

I know at least one of the RP heavy scenarios mentioned has an encounter with one or two rust monsters. Overall, a monk isn't going to see the same issues fighting a rust monster as a scimitar-wielding, mithral chain wearing Magus would.

[CRobledo]

Peter J wrote:

By the way, have you ever had a use for Stealth? I keep wanting to do sneaky things but I never get the chance, partially because I'm shackled to people in full plate. It seems like a lot of modules can just be powered through, and none require finesse.

There is a lot of recon you can do with stealth. As for sneaking in entire parties or avoiding entire encounters, in my experience this won't happen with full plate people around until at least a few levels in where access to invisibility is more common. But use it to get into a more defensible position and scouting ahead.

[Peter J]

Okay, let me rephrase my initial post.

What I want is more opportunities for me to shine. Not just the min-maxed combat jocks.

[Alexander_Damocles]

See if your group is willing to all pick up a teamwork feat, stealth synergy. The whole group makes a stealth check, and uses the highest. Suddenly, you being sneaky makes a difference.

[BigNorseWolf]

And it's a violation of Kant's Categorical Imperative: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law."

Thats the one where you don't lie to the axe murderer at the door because hey, the circumstances don't matter right?

[Chris Mortika]

Ethics Aside:

That's a pretty serious over-simplification. Kant's position in general -- moreso than just the CI -- is the one where you don't let other people's actions lead you into immorality. If you think punching people is wrong, you don't let outside forces bully you into punching someone.

Put another way: If someone tells you "Punch your child in the face or else I'll shoot her," then you still have a moral choice whether to punch your child in the face or not. You own the punching. The other person owns the threatening / shooting. And Kant argues you should wrestle that guy to the ground, or do whatever else you think is best, but his threats don't make your wrong action suddenly okay.

What's the alternative, that if your goals are noble, then anything goes? That's a different ethical foundation, and Kant was reacting against it.

[Ross Byers]

I removed some posts and the replies to them. Flag it and move on, please.

[BigNorseWolf]

Alexander_Damocles wrote:

See if your group is willing to all pick up a teamwork feat, stealth synergy. The whole group makes a stealth check, and uses the highest. Suddenly, you being sneaky makes a difference.

I believe they use the highest die roll but their own modifiers. (my druid and his pet have that one)

[Eric Clingenpeel]

I think it was badly worded.

UC wrote:

Stealth Synergy (Teamwork)

Working closely with an ally, you are able to move like
twin shadows.
Benefit: While you can see one or more allies who
also have this feat, whenever you and your allies make a
Stealth check, you all take the highest roll and add all your
modifiers to Stealth.

The way I read it you all roll take the highest and everyone adds their modifiers into one stealth check. RAI I don't think that's what its saying, but RAW its what it looks like.