I've got a monk, my very first PFS character, whom I haven't played in almost two years since his third death in a TPK at Con of the North 2013. In the meantime, I've put some GM credit on him to get him up to level 9, and I'm stuck on what feat to give him. His stats are something like this:
Dwarf
18/14/15/10/20/5
Monk of the Four Winds, Qinggong
Traits: Adopted by Gnomes - Rapscallion, Freedom Fighter
Feats: Dodge, Ironhide, Weapon Focus (unarmed), Shaitain Style, Improved Trip, Improved Grapple, Deflect Arrows
Ki Powers: Scorching Ray, Barkskin, Hydraulic Push
Key Gear: Shocking Amulet of Mighty Fists, +2 Wis headband, +2 Str belt, Bracers of Armor +2
My ideas for feats so far are:
-Shaitan Skin: I can combo it with Medusa's Wrath at level 10 to get extra attacks. Also, I can pick up Shaitain Earthblast at level 11 for cool stuff.
-Arcane Strike: It's a damage boost on a character who has lackluster damage, but the swift action cost conflicts with my ki abilities.
-Toughness: Because he's died 3 times already. Come on!
Any other thoughts?
Yeah, I don't really want to switch to a different style chain. He doesn't have the prestige left (after 3 deaths) for retraining any feats. Likewise, I don't want to invest in Combat Reflexes to pick up Vicious Stomp.
Steel Soul is worth looking at, and it just occured to me that Greater Grapple might be worthwhile as well.
Most recently, he died from bad teammates. Like an Ezren pregen that decided to throw daggers instead of casting spells. Also a charging fiendish bison didn't help. The first time, he got swallowed whole, and the second time pounded into oblivion while trying to buy time.
I've got the ioun stone for attacks, but not the saves, I don't think. No clear spindle, since he's got insane Will saves against enchantment spells already. I don't remember about the Jingasa, but if not, it's high on his wish list.
Tough one. I usually go Snake Style for the extra attacks, which turns a monk getting pounded on to a monk dishing half his DPR on his enemies' turn. Pummelling Style is worth it just for the first feat in the chain, you will need it when you run into enemies with DR, even if you have other styles. The Earthblast is OK, but it's what I would call a "gimmick" only situationally useful rather than being meat & drink to the class.
It sounds like what you urgently need is survivability, and that means hit points and AC.
