|
So I want to play a support monk. One who does befuddling things in combat, but doesn't actually do a lot of damage.
I'm currently thinking of a drunken sensei monk that uses dirty tricks.
I'm not 100% sold on dirty tricks, though. On the one hand, they can be pretty good, and sensei will let me focus almost entirely on Wisdom, so my stunning fist DCs will be good.
On the other hand, how do you bump up your CMB on dirty tricks?
Obviously improved dirty trick, and greater, but what else?
Flanking, sure.
Dirty fighting feat, sure.
However, trip weapons can let you use your weapon focus and enhancement bonuses to CMB.
Sunder and disarm can have the same added with ALL weapons.
It seems like nobody cares about drag, reposition, or bull rush.
Thinking on it, you can take weapon focus (grapple). Can you take weapon focus (dirty trick)?
You cannot take weapon focus (dirty trick). The Weapon Focus feat specifically calls out grapple, not maneuvers in general.
A Dusty Rose Prism ioun stone in a Wayfinder will get you a +2 insight bonus to your CMB (and CMD) period.
A PSFG-style dueling weapon will boost your CMB extra (beyond its enhancement bonus) for maneuvers that use it, including dirty tricks that use it.
EDIT: Also Gauntlets of the Skilled Manuever give a bonus to whichever maneuver they were made for.
|
Personally I would also look into being a Slayer of the Bodyguard archetype. Being able to Dirty Trick whenever you would be able to Sneak Attack can get absolutely nasty. With a full BAB progression, a handful of extra feats and a pretty good increase to the CMB for Dirty Tricks based on your Sneak Attack progression makes for a very good Dirty Tricker.
As for the Belt of Superior Maneuvers, you would probably be better off ignoring it and just saving up for a Belt of Incredible Dexterity or Belt of Giant Strength since they take up the same slot. A +2 enhancement to the applicable ability score essentially gives you a +1 enhancement to the CMB check except it works for an infinite times a day and gives you the other general bonuses that the ability score gives you.
|
|
Hmm, interesting. I rather liked the inspire courage from sensei, but I wonder if it's better in this case to specialize further? Though, if I'm a slayer, why would I give up sneak attack against a studied target for a dirty trick? I almost feel like the regular sneak attack is better unless the group has another sneak attacker that I'm not already flanking with.
I'm intrigued with this archetype, but I'm not sold on it yet.
As an aside, I'd still have full BAB while using combat maneuvers as a monk starting at third level.
Though actually HAVING the BAB will let me qualify for greater dirty trick earlier...
By the by, this is for a PFS character that has 1xp shy of third level.
I was at 2 xp and did the first level of emerald spire, which grants 3. And I haven't played since, so I'm still eligible for a freebie remake.
|
|
Ah, if it's for PFS then the Slayer may not be quite as good for you since it ends at level 12. The Slayer Sneak Attack->Dirty Trick really gets good when you get Dirty Trick Master which doesn't happen until a character is about to retire. Dirty Trick Master makes it so that you can make a condition worsen by landing another Dirty Trick which is incredibly interesting considering you can go Sickened->Nauseated. Nauseated makes it so you can't use any standard actions which is what's needed to get rid of any conditions caused by Dirty Tricks (due to Greater Dirty Trick).
Essentially, you use Quick Dirty Trick (if you don't have a flanking buddy ready) and Kitsune Tricks to give Blinded and Sickened your first attack in a round. Now they're flat-footed against you so your next iterative attack (which has a decent chance of connecting between the Blinded and Sickened) would get Sneak Attack damage as well even without an ally helping you flank. Since you're getting Sneak Attack damage, you can trade out that extra damage in order to attempt another Dirty Trick. If that second one sticks you give them Nauseated which they simply can't get rid of. After a single full-attack the enemy is Nauseated, Blinded, and some other third condition as well (I like entangled for that since it means they can't even try to move away). As you said, getting that extra Sneak Attack damage would technically help to bring down the enemy faster, but who cares how much damage you're dealing when enemies can't do anything except puke in place?
Like I said though, going for that but ending at level 12 is a bit of a bummer and so having a bit more diversity with the Sensei Monk would probably serve you better (and be more fun in the long run) than the Bounty Hunter Slayer.
And at Godferret, yes, I meant the Bounty Hunter.
|
|
Also dirty trick master isn't PFS legal to begin with, probably because it is so sick.
I'll definitely keep that in mind for my next home game, though. Sounds amazing. Like, consistently pissing off my DM until he asks me to rebuild my character amazing.
The current build projection is as follows:
H-Dirty fighting
1-Improved dirty trick
1M-Dodge
3-Crane Style
5-Crane Wing
7-Crane Riposte
9-Greater dirty trick
11-Superior dirty trick
I'm not convinced about crane style. The extra defense is nice, but kitsune tricks could be better. Crane riposte is the weakest feat, by far, in this build. My AoO has no bonuses to it.
I don't feel like Kitsune Style and Kitsune Vengeance are too good, but tricks may be awesome enough to overcome crane style and wing.
Thoughts?
|
|
Kitsune Style is practically just a feat tax for Kitsune Tricks, and Kitsune Vengeance I'm not too fond of either unless you have a lot of ways to generate AoOs. Crane Wing gives you tons of AC but Kitsune Tricks might end up being the difference between an enemy thinking they're good enough to try and swing and one who takes their turn to get rid of a condition.
I'm also not entirely sure myself how much Superior Dirty Trick is needed. Greater Dirty Trick already makes them take their standard action meaning they're giving up attacking that turn already. Sure, they can still move, but without Quick Dirty Trick and/or Slayer giving you extra action economy in a round for full-attacking it doesn't make much of a difference. If they're going to get rid of the condition then they're going to do it either way, and having to use your move action first before re-applying a condition they wipe off doesn't matter too much in the grand scheme of things in your current build. Basically what I'm saying is that you're not giving yourself any significant bonuses for full-attacking currently that Quick Dirty Trick (use Dirty Trick for first attack but still be able to do your iteratives) or Slayer would give you, so losing your full attack isn't anything to fuss too much about.
As you said yourself, Crane Riposte is a somewhat weak feat overall in your lineup but lowering the attack penalty is still good enough to not completely disregard. If you had Kitsune Vengeance then it would be pretty good because then you could try to slap a Dirty Trick on the AoO, but as it is, it may not be the best choice. I would consider Quick Dirty Trick place of Crane Riposte because then you get at least a little synergy going on with Superior Dirty Trick making them stay still so you can full-attack, or trade out Superior Dirty Trick for something else.