Psuedo Monk build advice


Advice

Grand Lodge

I want to build a oriental-themed character that meets the following criteria:
1. Can dual wield
2. Is able to pass himself off as a wandering Monk
3. Carries a bamboo staff that is actually 2 light swords (Wakazashi) when separated or can be used a staff.
4. Pathfinder Society legal

The rest is just roleplaying ... basically he will be a character that wonders from town, hiding his true identity behind the guise of a humble monk, but fights to help the little guy. Straight out of an Akira Kurosawa movie.

What would be the best class? Skills? Any help is greatly appreciated.


3- There is an item that is PFS legal for this- Double walking stick katana. Not entirely familiar with the whole mechanics (does it turn into another set of weapons?), but it looks exactly like what you asked for.

A ranger with some ranks in knowledge (religion) could probably pass it off. They tend to have decent wisdom scores and get TWF like effects while easily sporting a strength build.


Quite specific.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons/weapon-descriptions/doubl e-walking-stick-katana

Samurai (Sword saint to trade the mount away) or Ranger/Slayer all work for TWF. Each could impersonate a wandering monk.


A slayer can get ranger combat style feats and his favored target and slayer talents is flavor full stuff for the mysterious strander type wandering hero.


lemeres wrote:

3- There is an item that is PFS legal for this- Double walking stick katana. Not entirely familiar with the whole mechanics (does it turn into another set of weapons?), but it looks exactly like what you asked for.

A ranger with some ranks in knowledge (religion) could probably pass it off. They tend to have decent wisdom scores and get TWF like effects while easily sporting a strength build.

Lets not even get into enchanting it.

Grand Lodge

Fantastic!! Exactly what I was hoping for. I like the idea of the Samurai, in keeping with the Oriental theme, but I will definitely try the Ranger/Slayer as well when I do my test builds.


LoneKnave wrote:
Lets not even get into enchanting it.

Heck, how does it even become masterwork? I mean, double weapons need masterwork quality for both ends of them. So would you have to get both the wakizashi masterworked, and the two quarterstaff ends as well?

Overall, I think you would be better off just ignoring the quarterstaff stuff financially. Just leave it as is, and think of it as a cool disguised sheath/improvised weapon when skeletons show up.

Scarab Sages

Do you want to actually be unarmored? if so that limits your options a bit. If you want to be unarmored, you would need to be a Monk, Oracle (with the right mystery), Iroran Paladin, or a Kensai Magus. Magi don't work well with two handed weapons.

Also, the Double Walking Stick Katana is not actually a Katana or a Wakizashi. For a house game, I'm sure any GM would allow you to use it with a Samurai's Weapon Expertise, but for PFS I would not be so sure.


Imbicatus wrote:

Do you want to actually be unarmored? if so that limits your options a bit. If you want to be unarmored, you would need to be a Monk, Oracle (with the right mystery), Iroran Paladin, or a Kensai Magus. Magi don't work well with two handed weapons.

Also, the Double Walking Stick Katana is not actually a Katana or a Wakizashi. For a house game, I'm sure any GM would allow you to use it with a Samurai's Weapon Expertise, but for PFS I would not be so sure.

Nope. It is far more complicated and confusing than that (unless there is some message I am missing).

UE wrote:
When the blades are concealed in their case, this weapon can be used as a quarterstaff.

That line, along with the fact that this weapon is only listed as having bludgeoning damage, indicates that the stats are for the quarterstaff, and the wakizashi stuff is separate (and thus would likely default to normal stats).

Plus, it is hard to imagine two separate blades as a double weapon. Sure, there is precedent, but it still does not seem to work when you consider the fact that double weapons can be two handed.

Of course, at the same time....two wakizashi cost 70 gp, and this costs 50 gp. So again....far, far more complicated and confusing.

Scarab Sages

Yeah. The crit range is off too. A wakizashi is normally d6 18-20/x2 and deadly. This is d6/d6 x3. A Quarterstaff is normally d6/d6 x2.

I really wish they would have actually edited Ultimate Combat before printing it. It's the worst written rules book Paizo has ever released.


Could be that the price and the damage/crit is for the case that you put the wakizashis into? And it has a higher crit rating because it's heavier because it has what is effectively a steel core on the ends?

Grand Lodge

Imbicatus wrote:

Do you want to actually be unarmored? if so that limits your options a bit. If you want to be unarmored, you would need to be a Monk, Oracle (with the right mystery), Iroran Paladin, or a Kensai Magus. Magi don't work well with two handed weapons.

Also, the Double Walking Stick Katana is not actually a Katana or a Wakizashi. For a house game, I'm sure any GM would allow you to use it with a Samurai's Weapon Expertise, but for PFS I would not be so sure.

Unarmoured? No ... I was thinking of eventually wearing a mithril chain shirt under my robes. However unarmoured would be more in keeping with my character theme. Maybe my "Monk" disguise might actually have to be my class as well.

As to the Walking stick Katana, all I can do is ask the GM and get a ruling. Maybe this character is more appropriate for house games rather than PFS events.


You could always pick up a Staff Magus if you like the quarterstaff idea. If not, I'd see if your GM would allow you to take a modified sword cane.


A Bard with the Arcane Duelist archetype could also work. Getting a bonded object is pretty good in PFS I hear. Might have more trouble passing as a monk because the spells are good and you will want to cast them.

Grand Lodge

Gregory Connolly wrote:
A Bard with the Arcane Duelist archetype could also work. Getting a bonded object is pretty good in PFS I hear. Might have more trouble passing as a monk because the spells are good and you will want to cast them.

That is another intriguing idea ... I'm surpsised and pleased that there are so many ways to do this.

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