Ideas for a level 4 / 5 human monk

[NewJeffCT]

I was thinking of going the unarmed monk route, but was considering maybe a quarterstaff monk or one of the monk-specific weapons.

This is for an NPC that will be helping the players out, so could be around for a couple of levels, hence the human monk would start at level 4 and end at level 5 (though, could end up being around another level...)

What would be a good build for melee damage, or for high AC? This would be a single-classed character.

I can max out one stat - so, an 18 in WIS or DEX? with a +2 human bonus to give them a 20. I can also give them a 16 in another stat.

What feat choices and archetypes are best, including the monk bonus feats? And, what fighting styles are best for either melee damage or high AC?

I searched on the advice forum here and most of the monk builds are monk multi-classing with another class.

Thanks

[nate lange]

if you're looking for something really effective, you might want to use a weapon... a high dex and weapon finesse will get you a good attack bonus but won't help your damage. a temple sword with the Guided property has the same base damage as your unarmed strike with better crit chance, adds wisdom to attacks and damage, can be used to flurry, and costs half as much to enchant as an amulet of mighty fists (which is the only way the enchant is reasonable at that level).

[NewJeffCT]

nate lange wrote:

if you're looking for something really effective, you might want to use a weapon... a high dex and weapon finesse will get you a good attack bonus but won't help your damage. a temple sword with the Guided property has the same base damage as your unarmed strike with better crit chance, adds wisdom to attacks and damage, can be used to flurry, and costs half as much to enchant as an amulet of mighty fists (which is the only way the enchant is reasonable at that level).

Thanks - is the sword only available to certain archetypes?

[NewJeffCT]

hmm, didn't see "guided" as an option for a temple sword in the Pathforge character generator. Is it in there and I missed it?

[Dabbler]

Take a look on the PFSRD, guided is in there somewhere. All monks can us the temple sword, it's the one moderately good monk weapon they automatically get proficiency in.

[NewJeffCT]

Thanks Dabbler. I was able to find it on the SRD, just couldn't find it on pathforge's character generator.