Eldritch Heritage (Orc) and Monks, and beyond

[SoulGambit0]

So, Monks are feat starved and MAD. How could the ugly Monk ever think to actually pump CHA up to 13? Lets see.

Example Progression:

Human Monk, 25-Pt Buy (if 20-pt, lower Wis by 2 or be an Oread and drop either Enforcer or Power Attack)
STR 17 / DEX 14 / CON 12 / INT 7 / WIS 16 / CHA 14
Alternate Racial Trait: Focused Study
Traits: Optimistic Gambler, Honored Fist of the Society
Skills: Acrobatics, Perception, Intimidate

1. Improved Grapple, Enforcer, Skill Focus (Survival)
2. Dodge
3. Eldritch Heritage [Orc]
4. +1 STR
5. Power Attack
6. Improved Trip
7. Dragon Style
8. +1 CHA, Skill Focus (Intimidate)
9. Dragon Ferocity
10. Medusa's Wrath
11. Improved Eldritch Heritage

Damage at levels 6, 10, 11:

We will compare a Monk beside a Falcata-wielding fighter going up the (Greater) Weapon Focus/Spec/Improved Crit tree, Power Attack, Furious Focus. It's simple, but it's a nice baseline for a DPR-specced character. Damage calculation will use the Monster Creation Chart to determine CR-appropriate AC. Power Attack is used for the Fighter at all levels and the Monk at level 6 (it's actually inefficient at level 10 and 11). I will show a Monk, the exact same Monk build as a Wanderer (except no Improved Grapple).

The damage will be shown over two rounds. One round will be spent approaching the enemy (charging, in the case of the Fighter) while the next will be a full-attack.

Level 6
- CHA Monk: 0 + 26.81 (38.62 with Ki)
- Wanderer: 0 + 26.81 (38.62 with Ki)
Equipment: +2 STR Item, Masterwork Temple Sword (wielded in 2 hands, mixed with kicks).
- Fighter: 24.18 + 35.67 = 57.81
Equipment: +1 Falcata, +2 STR item

Level 10
- CHA Monk: 0 + 58.72 (73.3 with Ki); includes Stunning Fist -> Medusa's Wrath*
- Wanderer: 0 + 78.32 (96.62 with Ki)
Equipment: Amulet of Mighty Fists [Cruel], Belt of Physical Perfection +2, Headband of Inspired Wisdom +2, Greater Hat of Disguise
- Fighter: 41.9 + 72.75 = 114.65
Equipment: +2 Falcata, Belt of Giant Strength +4, Greater Hat of Disguise, Gloves of Dueling

Level 11
- CHA Monk: 0 + 87.33 (106.66 with Ki); Includes Stunning Fist -> Medusa's Wrath
- Wanderer: 0 + 109.41 (132.09 with Ki)
Equipment: Throw in a Monk's Robe and upgrade the Headband to +4.
- Fighter: 45.89 + 111.09 = 156.98
Equipment: Upgrade weapon to +3.

There are three other pro-Cha-Monk things to note here. Immunity to Crits is the Fighter's version of DR. It drops his DPS by 20~30 points at the higher end, while the Monk loses ~11 points at the top of progression. The Monk's damage should actually be higher at levels 10 and 11, The other thing to note is that the Monk is almost always better than the fighter in terms of Defense and status effects. Enforcer + Cruel means that most enemies will be at -4 to-hit, -2 damage, -4 Save, and the Monk will have a comparable AC. And finally, as always, the Monk benefits more from allies--even something as simple as Flanking while spending Ki bumps the Monk's damage to be roughly equal to the Fighter's.

The Stunning Fist calculation does not include lower AC from successfully stunning someone, but it's worth +6~7 damage.

Note that while I'm using the Fighter as a comparison, the goal of this is not to say the Monk is better than a fighter. It's to build a Monk with 14 CHA at level 1, 17 CHA by level 20, that is still competitive.

Now, for the beyond. The real point and gem of this exorcise is that the Eldritch Heritage combined with the Optimistic Gambler makes previously inefficient many-attack builds a lot more interesting. The same principle can be applied to TWF Rogues, Archery Bards (because they needed help, obviously), Mysterious Strangers, et cetera. This is also a good source of damage for low-Strength builds.

Of particular note, this is an equalizing effect because the feats aren't really worth it for a THW Fighter, who can hit on a 2.