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Hello all,
I'm planning on playing a 2handed weapon Sohei monk and wondering how I should build my stats. It's a 20stat build of course, but I'm not sure what race I should pick (core races only as I only have Core Rulebook and Ultimate Combat).
I'm thinking of wielding a 2handed weapon like an Elven Curve Blade, Falchion, Nodachi, Sansetsukon, or Naginata. (I'm really interested in using the Naginata or some type of Spear though just not sure how great of an idea that would be).
I like the idea that I get free +atk/dmg with a ki use to my weapon at 4th lvl and beyond. I plan on using my 2handed weapon at lvl 6+ to flurry of blows enemies.
I still retain the following specials from monk: flurry of blows, 4 bonus feats, evasion, maneuver training, still mind, high jump, wholeness of body, and imp evasion. So it looks like I get to keep quite a bit of flavor still, except Monastic Mount seems like it won't be of much help (maybe someone might have some good advice for a mount in PFS?)
I'm not sure about wearing no armor though. I'm thinking about keeping dex somewhat low (12?) and focusing on 16-18str and 14-16con after racial stats? I know medium wis and dex will hurt my AC but I'm worried my damage will be hurt pretty bad when I'm 2handing a weapon and using FoB's to dish out damage.
(I'm thinking of a character like Crim from .hack//sign if anyone has ever seen that show before.)
Any advice would be great, I've been debating between a 2handed Armor Master with a buckler or a Sohei and I think a Sohei would probably be a little more fun. Would love to hear your advice and thoughts!
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Hello all,
I'm planning on playing a 2handed weapon Sohei monk and wondering how I should build my stats. It's a 20stat build of course, but I'm not sure what race I should pick (core races only as I only have Core Rulebook and Ultimate Combat).
I'm thinking of wielding a 2handed weapon like an Elven Curve Blade, Falchion, Nodachi, Sansetsukon, or Naginata. (I'm really interested in using the Naginata or some type of Spear though just not sure how great of an idea that would be).
I like the idea that I get free +atk/dmg with a ki use to my weapon at 4th lvl and beyond. I plan on using my 2handed weapon at lvl 6+ to flurry of blows enemies.
I still retain the following specials from monk: flurry of blows, 4 bonus feats, evasion, maneuver training, still mind, high jump, wholeness of body, and imp evasion. So it looks like I get to keep quite a bit of flavor still, except Monastic Mount seems like it won't be of much help (maybe someone might have some good advice for a mount in PFS?)
I'm not sure about wearing no armor though. I'm thinking about keeping dex somewhat low (12?) and focusing on 16-18str and 14-16con after racial stats? I know medium wis and dex will hurt my AC but I'm worried my damage will be hurt pretty bad when I'm 2handing a weapon and using FoB's to dish out damage.
(I'm thinking of a character like Crim from .hack//sign if anyone has ever seen that show before.)
Any advice would be great, I've been debating between a 2handed Armor Master with a buckler or a Sohei and I think a Sohei would probably be a little more fun. Would love to hear your advice and thoughts!
Just because you are proficient with all martial weapons does not mean you can flurry with them all - look for a monk 2h weapon.
Ac - how are you going to mitigate being dropped quickly? With a 1d8 hit die you are not going to have the hit points like a barbarian. Soheido not get level ac bonuses after 4th - which is why they can wear armor - wearing armor does not stop evasion but it does have other consequences. Face it you need a decent wis and sex - and you need con and str. And since you are at a slower bab progression later in life you will be behind the curve.
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Just because you are proficient with all martial weapons does not mean you can flurry with them all - look for a monk 2h weapon.
Ac - how are you going to mitigate being dropped quickly? With a 1d8 hit die you are not going to have the hit points like a barbarian. Soheido not get level ac bonuses after 4th - which is why they can wear armor - wearing armor does not...
Sohei - Weapon Training (Ex): At 6th level, a sohei gains weapon training in one of the following weapon groups, as the fighter class feature: bows, crossbows, monk weapons, polearms, spears, or thrown weapons. He may select an additional group of weapons for every six levels after 6th, to a maximum of three at 18th level. A sohei may use flurry of blows and ki strike with ANY weapon in which he has weapon training. This ability replaces purity of body, diamond body, quivering palm, timeless body, and tongue of sun and moon.
I believe I didn't look closely enough in regards to the Sansetsukon, Falchion, or Elven Curve Blade. But I don't see why Flurry of Blows with a Lucerne Hammer, Nodachi, or Naginata, since they're all a part of the Polearm group.
I don't see where Sohei lose AC bonus after 4th level. It's not stated anywhere in Sohei that I can see.
Also, I think I might go Halfling or Gnome and get a Riding Dog with barding. The Monastic Mount gives some good bonuses and with decent handle animal checks (class skill as Sohei) I could charge in on a riding dog and both of us could do damage. Mount gets Ki Strike, same as Sohei monk. I don't know if it's always active or if it only affects the mount when I spend a point for myself or if i have to spend a point for the mount though.
So as a small race I'd have +1 size ac, +dex mod ac, +wis mod ac (or wear armor). My pet receives ac bonus even with barding (I believe as long as I'm using the Wis AC bonus they mount gets it from what I understand.)
This isn't an OP build but I think it would be decent (and a lot of fun). Flurry of Blows with a 2hander, monk abilities, and mount with some specials. Any thoughts, suggestions, advice?
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Here is a Shohei Monk built as a Mwangi spearman. While it may not be exactly what you are looking for, it can give you ideas.
Male Human (Mwangi) Monk (Quinggong/Sohei) 8
LN Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +11; Senses Perception +13
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Defense
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AC 22, touch 19, flat-footed 18 (+3 armor, +3 Dex, +1 deflection, +1 dodge)
hp 66 (8d8+23)
Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +8
Defensive Abilities evasion
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 Adamantine Longspear +14/+14/+9/+9 (1d8+11/x3) - using AS
. . +1 Adamantine Longspear +12/+12/+7/+7 (1d8+17/x3) - using PA & AS
Special Attacks flurry of blows +9/+9/+4/+4, ki strike, cold iron/silver, ki strike, magic, weapon trainings (spears +1)
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Statistics
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Str 20, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10
Base Atk +6; CMB +13 (+15 Grappling); CMD 30 (32 vs. Grapple)
Feats Arcane Strike, Combat Reflexes (4 AoO/round), Dodge, Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Improved Unarmed Strike, Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack -2/+4, Weapon Focus (Longspear)
Traits Honored Fist of the Society, Militia Veteran (any town or village) (Survival)
Skills Acrobatics +14 (+22 to jump), Climb +10, Handle Animal +4, Intimidate +15, Knowledge (history) +4, Perception +13, Sense Motive +6, Sleight of Hand +4, Stealth +10, Survival +12, Swim +10
Languages Common, Polyglot
SQ ac bonus +4, devoted guardian +4, high jump, ki defense, ki pool, ki weapon +2, maneuver training, monastic mount (16 hp), monk vows (vow of silence [+1 ki], vow of truth [+1 ki]), unarmed strike (1d6), wholeness of body
Combat Gear Sandals of quick reaction; Other Gear +1 Adamantine Longspear, Belt of physical might (Str & Dex +2), Bracers of armor +3, Ring of protection +1, Swarmbane clasp, 142 GP, 5 SP
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Special Abilities
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AC Bonus +4 The Monk adds his Wisdom bonus to AC and CMD, more at higher levels.
Arcane Strike As a swift action, add +1 damage, +1 per 5 caster levels and your weapons are treated as magic for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Barkskin (self only, 1 Ki) (Sp) Self Only. Costs 1 ki point to activate.
Combat Reflexes (4 AoO/round) Can make extra attacks of opportunity/rd, and even when flat-footed.
Devoted Guardian +4 (Ex) At 1st level, a sohei can always act in a surprise round even if he does not notice his enemies, though he remains flat-footed until he acts. In addition, a sohei gains a bonus on initiative rolls equal to 1/2 his monk level. At 20th level, a sohei's
Evasion (Ex) If you succeed at a Reflex save for half damage, you take none instead.
Flurry of Blows +6/+6/+1/+1 (Ex) Make Flurry of Blows attack as a full rd action.
Honored Fist of the Society +1 Ki point.
Improved Grapple You don't provoke attacks of opportunity when grappling a foe.
Improved Unarmed Strike Unarmed strikes don't cause attacks of opportunity, and can be lethal.
Ki Defense (Su) A monk can spend 1 point from his ki pool to give himself a +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round.
Ki Pool (Su) You have a ki pool equal to 1/2 your monk level + your Wisdom modifier.
Ki Strike, Cold Iron/Silver (Su) If you have ki remaining, unarmed strikes count as cold iron and silver to overcome DR.
Ki Strike, Magic (Su) If you have ki remaining, unarmed strikes count as magic to overcome DR.
Ki Weapon +2 (Su) At 4th level, as a swift action, a sohei may spend 1 point from his ki pool to grant any weapon he wields (including his unarmed strike) a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls, increasing by +1 per four levels after 4th to a maximum
Maneuver Training (Ex) CMB = other BABs + Monk level
Monastic Mount (16 HP) (Su) At 4th level, a sohei may spend 1 point from his ki pool to grant his mount temporary hit points equal to twice his level for 1 hour per level. In addition, as long as the sohei and his mount are adjacent, including when mounted, the mount gai
Power Attack -2/+4 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Sandals of quick reaction Can take standard & move action in surprise rd. +10 ft speed if already could do this.
Swarmbane clasp Weapon/natural att deal full dam to swarms, and immune to the distraction ability of swarms.
Unarmed Strike (1d6) The Monk does lethal damage with his unarmed strikes.
Vow of Silence (+1 Ki) The monk must speak no words and attempt to be quiet in his actions. Accidental noises and the sounds of battle (such as the sound of a fist or weapon striking an opponent) do not affect his vow, though most monks with this vow choose their weapons a
Vow of Truth (+1 Ki) The monk is not allowed to deliberately speak any lies, including bluffing, stating half-truths with the intent to deceive, exaggerating, telling white lies, and so on. This applies to all forms of communication. If presented with circumstances where
Weapon Training (Spears) +1 (Ex) +1 Attack, Damage, CMB, CMD with Spears
Wholeness of Body (8 Hp/use) (Su) Use 2 ki to heal own wounds as a standard action.
Typically he will have barkskin up, giving him an AC of 26
When able to full attack, spend a Ki point for a 5th attack.
Swap spear for weapon of choice, the bonuses remain the same:
- +1 Adamantine Nodachi +12/+12/+12/+7/+7 (1d10+17/15-20/x2) - PA, AS, Ki
- +1 Adamantine Naginata ++12/+12/+12/+7/+7 (1d8+17/19-20/x4) -PA, AS, Ki