For what it's worth, here's my Master of many styles/Ki Mystic/Monk of the Sacred Mountain build.
First couple of levels were rough due to real hitting problem, but he's nearly untouchable, having so many options to deflect/raise his AC, counter attack...
25 point buy (that helps a lot in creating a good monk)
Here's what he looks like at level 6
Gear is up to what your GM will let you have. I always skip this part in builds. It's so campaign/GM will dependant that a build that relies on gear is, to me, a dysfunctional build.
Abilities:
Str 17 (+1 at level 4), Dex 16, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 16, Cha 7
Base Atk +4
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +8
Traits: only one from the actual campaign, +1 to unarmed opportunity attacks.
Relevant Skills: Acrobatics: +10, Climb +7, Knowledge History/Religion: +5 (+6 if 1 Ki pt left in the pool), Perception +11, Sense Motive +14, Stealth +8, Swim +7
Speed: 50ft
His feats are:
Human: Dodge
Lvl 1: Crane style
Monk lvl 1: Stunning fist, unarmed strike
MOMS lvl 1: Crane Wing
MOMS lvl2: Crane Riposte
MOTSM lvl 2: Toughness
Lvl 3: Dragon Style
Lvl 5: Snake Style
MOMS 6: Snake Fang
AC 20, touch 18, flat-footed 16 (+0 armor, +0 deflection, +3 Dex, +3 Wis +2 natural (1 form magic item, 1 from MOTSM), +1 Monk, +1 Dodge, +2 Shield when you don't move for a round, +4 dodge if Crane Style is active, +4 dodge when using a ki point as a swift action)
His max CA is 30 when everything is activated (Fighting defensively, Crane style with 3+ ranks in Acrobatics, not moving for a round, ki point as a swift action)
Alternatively, you can gamble and go for the snake style, granting an AC from 15 to 34 (44 if you rule a natural 20 give a +10) on a roll. But you should only do so on a touch attack at this level. But the main point of this style is to get free counter attack against missing opponents, and that's why next Feat should be Combat Reflexes.
Once your "natural" AC gets less useful, grab feats like Skill focus: Sense Motive or alertness to seriously boost the AC granted by snake style.
The Dragon style feat is here to boost your offense, so when your hits connect they make sure opponents don't dismiss you for being that untouchable, non-threatening jerk. Plus it lets you close in really easilly, even through difficult ground. The faster you're in the melee, the sooner you'll be the party tank. This also mean you actually have to make a choice each round since you can have 2 styles active and not 3. Well, untill level 8 that is. So he uses Crane+Dragon style when facing humanoïd opponents with weapons, and Snake+dragon when facing beasts and monster with natural attacks.
Be your wizard/sorcerer's best friend so he will enlarge you each fight. Aside from the damage boost, it will help you keeping those ennemies focused on you. And you'll be able to control a bigger area.
The Ki mystic levels are here to boost your ki pool and ensure you always have something to do with your swift actions. Plus, a tank that grants his friends a reroll on a failed will save will get him lots of party love.
The Sacred mountain levels are optional. This means you lose Evasion, but you get a boost to your AC, Toughness for free, a small DR and the ability to not fall prone or be forcibly moved, which is awesome for a tank. To me, it's well worth the swap.
Whoops wrong thread sorry :/
What is the Heavy Handed trait and where can I find it?
Is it the same as Mizu Ki Hikari Rebel and Quain Martial Artist (+1 to unarmed damage)?
This thread title just reminded me of the Rainbow Warsnake build from 3.5 and I got nostalgic for being able to spontaneously cast all cleric spells.
Since this has been necro'd already, I'd like to +1 on the 'where/what is heavy handed' question.
|
d20pfsrd calls both Mizu Ki Hikari Rebel and Quain Martial Artist "Heavy Hitter". I think that is where there confusion is from.
I think you need to get piranha strike earlier in the build. Your hits will lack "oomph" until you get it.
Since this has been necro'd already, I'd like to +1 on the 'where/what is heavy handed' question.What is the Heavy Handed trait and where can I find it?
Is it the same as Mizu Ki Hikari Rebel and Quain Martial Artist (+1 to unarmed damage)?
This thread title just reminded me of the Rainbow Warsnake build from 3.5 and I got nostalgic for being able to spontaneously cast all cleric spells.
This and this is what he meant. Just a typo.
This build has been updated somewhat since its original posting. We have a human and a goblin version now - the Human is a bit more effective than what you see above, and the goblin is utterly ridiculous. He was part of a very successful Rise of the Runelords run.
RISE MY MINION!!!
In the wake of the Great Crane Wing Debacle, I'm looking at putting together a PFS build based on the earliest version in this thread. I also heavily considered making it a Tengu character. By trading sword training for claws and keeping the beak, I'd have three natural attacks in addition to the TWF unarmed strikes. While the extra attacks sound good in theory, I couldn't figure out a way to make the build actually effective.
STR - 12
DEX - 16 (+2 racial = 18)
CON - 14 (-2 racial = 12)
INT - 12
WIS - 14 (+2 racial = 16)
CHA - 7
Traits:
Heavy Hitter (+1 damage with unarmed attacks)
Auspicious Tattoo (+1 Will saves)
Feat Selections
Monk (Master of Many Styles)
1st - Weapon Finesse
1st - Improved Unarmed Strike
1st - Stunning Fist
1st - Snake Style
2nd - Snake Fang
Fighter (Brawler)
3rd - Combat Reflexes
3rd - Two-Weapon Fighting
4th - Multiattack
5th - Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike
6th - Weapon Specialization: Unarmed Strike
7th - Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
8th - Disruptive
9th - Piranha Strike
10th - Greater Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike
11th - Stand Still
12th - Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
This is almost a direct copy from the intitial post. The build loses Skill Focus (Sense Motive) and (Perception), and trades the 4th level style for multiattack.
Wisdom is +1, but snake style is -2 from the loss of Skill Focus: Sense Motive. Also, while the natural attacks gain the dex bonus from the Agile AoMF and pirahna strike, they're not close weapons so they lose the Brawler's bonus. All in all, probably not worth the trade-off.
I'll probably be going human and just following the original plan. I really like the shield addition, and may just end up naming him Steve Rogers and following through on the adamantium, throwing, returning properties.
Woops!
Well that kills an already struggling build idea. Thanks for the heads up.
Was just wondering since the new APG came out, can this build be more effective with the new classes?
I always do a double-take when I see this thread resurrected.
Honestly, I recently re-rebuilt this, taking advantage of Pummeling Style. I still prefer it as a Goblin, but I did it with both since Human is more likely to be allowed.
I'll see if I can dig up the new character build if you're interested.
Quick question. On this build how would Snake style allow all these AoO. They are Immediate actions, which can only be taken once a round? Did I miss something?
The additional (second) attack that piggy-backs off of an AoO is an immediate action - the AoO itself is not, and is therefor not limited beyond your ability to make them.
|
|
If you're building this for PFS, then you should know that Multiattack isn't PFS legal, afaik - the Additional Resource list specifically disallows all feats from the Bestiary.
Since this is necroed anyway, multiattack is if you use the natural weapon combat style. you might be able to make this work with a natural weapon slayer
Was just wondering since the new APG came out, can this build be more effective with the new classes?
Here you go.
He'd generally use Snake + Pummeling or Snake + Crane, depending on the circumstances. Truth is, with the nerf, you could probably ditch Crane altogether but because of the effects of Snake Style granting AoO's on misses, there are times when a -2 attack will be worth a +4 AC bonus (+5 with its pre-requisite Dodge).
|
If you're building this for PFS, then you should know that Multiattack isn't PFS legal, afaik - the Additional Resource list specifically disallows all feats from the Bestiary.Since this is necroed anyway, multiattack is if you use the natural weapon combat style. you might be able to make this work with a natural weapon slayer
Not sure about the Slayer, but Multiattack is PFS legit for Ranger's who take the Natural Weapon Style like you mentioned... The problem is it doesn't come available until level 10, as a bonus feat, even if you meet the prerequisites before then - at least that is what I was told over in the PFS section.