Multi-class Rogue / Monk

[Dragonslayer0429]

I was wondering if anyone has a guide or suggestions for how many levels of monk/rogue and when to take them.

[Jiggy]

Russell Engel 960 wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a guide or suggestions for how many levels of monk/rogue and when to take them.

That's going to depend entirely on what your goal is. Can you tell us more about your concept and what you want this character to be capable of?

[Dragonslayer0429]

Jiggy wrote:

Russell Engel 960 wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a guide or suggestions for how many levels of monk/rogue and when to take them.

That's going to depend entirely on what your goal is. Can you tell us more about your concept and what you want this character to be capable of?

I want to be able to do sneak attack with my flurry of blows using unarmed strike.

[Ughbash]

Russell Engel 960 wrote:

Jiggy wrote:

Russell Engel 960 wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a guide or suggestions for how many levels of monk/rogue and when to take them.

That's going to depend entirely on what your goal is. Can you tell us more about your concept and what you want this character to be capable of?

I want to be able to do sneak attack with my flurry of blows using unarmed strike.

Then I would suggest Ninja/Monk rather then rogue/monk.

I would suggest monk 4/Ninja 16.

At level 3 pick up Monastic legacy.

When you get your first advanced talent pick up th ninja talent that lets your ninja levsl count as (monk levels -4) for unarmed combat.

Look into using stunning fist with an attack of opportunity and then the feat Dastardly Finish to Coup de Grace a stunned opponent.

You may also want to consider the feats Knock Out Artist, Sap Adept, Sap Master.

The build will do what you want, but from a POWER level you will be behind most other characters if they optimize at all.

[Dragonslayer0429]

Ughbash wrote:

Russell Engel 960 wrote:

Jiggy wrote:

Russell Engel 960 wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a guide or suggestions for how many levels of monk/rogue and when to take them.

That's going to depend entirely on what your goal is. Can you tell us more about your concept and what you want this character to be capable of?

I want to be able to do sneak attack with my flurry of blows using unarmed strike.

Then I would suggest Ninja/Monk rather then rogue/monk.

I would suggest monk 4/Ninja 16.

At level 3 pick up Monastic legacy.

When you get your first advanced talent pick up th ninja talent that lets your ninja levsl count as (monk levels -4) for unarmed combat.

Look into using stunning fist with an attack of opportunity and then the feat Dastardly Finish to Coup de Grace a stunned opponent.

You may also want to consider the feats Knock Out Artist, Sap Adept, Sap Master.

The build will do what you want, but from a POWER level you will be behind most other characters if they optimize at all.

Is there any way to get close to optimization in damage or what not or probably not since its multi-class instead of sticking with one class all the way through?

[BigP4nda]

Ninja monk is definitely the better option.
Though I would recommend a different approach than Ughbash here.
Start working on Intimidate, make it always maxed out and try to get these feats as early as possibly (perhaps using tricks if need be):
Intimidating Prowess, Dazzling Display, Shatter Defenses.
Then, once you reach 12th monk and gain Abundant step, put everything granting you feats into these:
Dimensional Agility, Dimensional Assault, Dimensional Dervish.

Now unleash your Dazzling Display to Shatter your opponents' Defenses, Follow up next round with A Ki point from each class (Increase movement speed and add one attack) and Hit EVERY enemy with a Sneak Attack Flurry of Blows :D

EDIT: note this is much more fun with a gestalt character since you get it earlier. but you can do it either way.

[gamer-printer]

I've seen a Ninja/Monk build that uses a feat that lets you apply poison to your fists (I forget the name of the feat) and then you are using poison attacks with your flurry for some cool options.

As Jiggy, mentions consider that both rogue or ninja, and monk are 3 of the weakest classes in the game. By trying to contrive a multi-class build between essentially suboptimal classes wll only further increase the level of suboptimization. Just something to consider.

[Rynjin]

I have a few suggestions for that. If it MUST be Flurry:

-Ninja/Brawler. That way you actually GAIN BaB instead of losing it. You wouldn't be in Monk long enough to gain any of the goodies anyway.

If it doesn't need to be:

-Slayer. Just a single, full class Slayer, perhaps with a 1-2 level dip into Master of Many Styles. Take the Ranger Combat Style Talents at levels 2/6/10 and take the Two-Weapon Fighting tree.

[Ughbash]

Russell Engel 960 wrote:

Is there any way to get close to optimization in damage or what not or probably not since its multi-class instead of sticking with one class all the way through?

No, not only are you multi-classing 2 3/4 bab classes, you are using gunarmed strike which is a x2 crit on a 20.

The Ninja 16/Monk 4 negates the loss of BAB any more by going with a break point. You will also have full level 20 hth damage by using BOTH the advanced talent and Monastic Legacy. If you got a Monks robe you could retrain Monastic Legacy.

BigP4nda I believe spending a Ki is a swift action so you can only spend one ki not one from each class. From a NON-Gestalt standpoint I would find you loose too much Sneak attack (for my personal taste).

[Dragonslayer0429]

So, having ki pool (cold iron), is that good or not with the way I want to build the monk/rogue or monk/ninja?

[Dennis Deadsky]

So long as you are OK with a PC who is weak and relatively ineffective in combat, this is a fine way to go. You're trying to combine the two weakest classes in the game, and the process of multi-classing makes the result even weaker. If you try to dual-wield two weapons you've also chosen the weakest fighting style in the game. The result can work just fine, so long as no one else in your party created an optimized character. If they did, you may have trouble. For example, a plain Fighter who whacks things with a big stick will be much more combat effective, on both offense and defense. So long as you know what you are getting into, go for it!

[Ughbash]

Russell Engel 960 wrote:

So, having ki pool (cold iron), is that good or not with the way I want to build the monk/rogue or monk/ninja?

I would not. You really do not want to sacrafice BAB by going with a 7/13 build. So you would instead want to go 8/12. If you do that you are giving up 2 dice of sneak attack and two advanced talents. Sure you get a few extra things but for me it is not worth it.

[Dragonslayer0429]

Ok. I was just trying to think of what character to play in Reign of Winter and what I have not played before.

[BigP4nda]

Ughbash wrote:

BigP4nda I believe spending a Ki is a swift action so you can only spend one ki not one from each class. From a NON-Gestalt standpoint I would find you loose too much Sneak attack (for my personal taste).

Depends on the GM, some rule one per round, some rule two.