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Hello all,
I'm making a character for PFS, 20pt stat buy, and max level 11 (characters retire at 12). I'm trying to decide between a Tetori monk or playing a Monk of Many Styles.
I really like the idea of grappling enemies, using bonebreaker to destroy their str or dex and just move onto the next enemy or knocking people out and questioning them later to gain more information for the session quests.
but I'm a bit torn because I'm not sure how useful I'll be or how long a tetori monk would survive. I'll be depending on my team and every session will have different players, it may be 3 players one session, a party with no healer, or 7 players.
So this leads me to think that playing another class I find really attractive, the Monk of Many Styles. I'm not sure exactly what styles would work best but I really like the Boar style for the ongoing 1d6 bleed, and the rend damage of 2d6 if I hit an enemy 2 or more times. I find the Crane style to be quite intriguing also as I'll need to have some form of defense.
The snake form and monkey form both seem to negate the issue of getting knocked prone or penalties to being prone in their own way. Unfortunately the snake form and boar form don't seem to be that great together as snake form gives piercing damage which boar already does.
That's just some initial thoughts on the forms. I'm kind of curious how a boar form tetori would work also. Cause someone to bleed, then grapple them and restrain them while they bleed to death in conjunction with whatever else you do.
Please give me your thoughts on the two classes and how effective and survivable they'd be in PFS. Thanks!
BTW - I've never played a monk in Pathfinder so any feat/skill/etc tips and advice would be great. (Also, I've never grappled before but if I go with Tetori I plan on studying it like the back of my hand so I know what I'm doing.)
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On playing a Grappler in PFS:
I play a grappler Barbarian in PFS and there are times I wish I was playing a Tetori monk.
Grappling generally works very well in PFS. Partly due to the fact that your grapple CMB would usually overwhelm the CMD of most foes.
Tetori monks have it a little easier with enemies that use freedom of movement and such.
You can even combine a Tetori monk with some styles like Snapping Turtle for better grapple chances or Dragon for more damage.
There will be times when you face monsters like Ooze, incorporeal or swarms that are immune to your grapple. Just remember to have a fall back option then. Something like a good magic weapon etc.
On an extra note, as a grappler, being able to reach your targets is kinda important, so be prepared to invest in an item like a Winged Boot.
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I believe monks lose the style form once they grapple a target. I was thinking either Boar or Turtle would be really beneficial before grappling. I was also trying to see if Mantis style was worth it enough and if Stunning Fist could somehow help me grapple an enemy.
I don't find Dragon style appealing despite the great dmg spike. Would Monkey style work well to jump around and use acrobatics to jump over people without provoking AoOs or to climb walls and jump down on people? Probably Monkey Style wouldn't synergize well with Tetori though.
What feats work the best? If I go Tetori, I'd essentially like to grapple someone and either pin and tie them (I'd typically wear rope as a belt to quickly use) or just destroy their STR or DEX, which just cripples them to hardly effective at all (or break their jaw if they have bite attacks or cast spells).
I have never anyone claim you lose styles when you grapple. As far as I know, that sounds like a house rule that will not happen in pfs.
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Nothing in the styles feats says you lose a style form once you grapple a target. (Unless I am missing something here.)
Snapping Turtle is just great for the extra grapple attempts it gives you.
And Monkey Style... weirdly it can help a grappler. You don't suffer for grappling from the ground and range attackers have problem hitting you.
Do note that as a Tetori, you will be given the "basic" grappler feats like Improve and Greater Grappler, but you need to invest your normal feat slots for all the extra grapple feats.
Rope can be a problem. Some GMs hand wave it, but others will rule that taking out a rope, even one worn as a belt, is a move action. This can prevent you from tying someone up.
Solution: Get a Robe of Infinite Twine.
You just need 10 feet of robe to tie up a medium sized creature and you can just pin larger sized ones.
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Thanks guys, anyone else want to comment on what feats I would want to take? I'm still not sure which I should create, Tetori or MoMS. I think a full defense MoMS would be a little gimmicky, and I'm not sure what styles I would combine with Boar Style to be effective throughout PFS from 1-11. Feel free to add your thoughts and suggestions, thanks!