I like monk, but try as i might, im severely struggling to find a interesting free archetype direction for a melee focused monk. this is what i've tried so far.
investigator=my free hand fighter build is much more interesting for this using devise a stratagem on my press actions to cherry pick the best press action.
animal companion-while it leverages monks good action economy, i feel like rogue gets more bang for your buck.
martial artist- feels like just free slots for stances.
barbarian-id need to utilize a non agile attacks to really use well, id get some defensive actions while raging, more hp.
rogue-the ability to establish flat footed in more scenarios would increase my chance of hitting, so far this seems best.
medic-good, i can't fault it, but i could easily shuffle things and take it if my group didn't have a healer on hand.
heavenseeker feels like win more, plus campaign specific.
im struggling, going to work on the rogue one more for now. you guys stay groovy.
I went with Paladin Champion. They are lawful good and depend on your party composition.
If you're doing agile or finesse strikes, rogue is a pretty good pick. Mobility for a monk is an amazing feat.
I went with Paladin Champion. They are lawful good and depend on your party composition.
If you're doing agile or finesse strikes, rogue is a pretty good pick. Mobility for a monk is an amazing feat.
looking at rogue, i think i can do something worthwhile.
human beastkin(wolf)
1: wolf stance+animal senses(darkvision)
2: battle medicine/stunning fist/rogue dedication(titan wrestler)
3: Canny Acumen(perception)
4: continual recovery/sneak attacker/brawling focus
5: quick shape
6: mobility/godless healing/wolf drag
7: fleet
8: ki strike/the harder they fall/ward medic
9: pack tactics (probably not necessary but felt thematic)
10: Skill Mastery (M=stealth, E=Nature, Foil senses)/Mortal Healing/Wholeness of Body
11: feather step
12: Gang Up/Paragon Battle Medicine/Meditative Focus
13: Dire Form
14: Advanced First Aid/Stance Savant/Light Step
15: Incredible Initiative
16: Winding Flow/Legendary Medic/Opportune Backstab
17: Animal Swiftness
18: Cloud Jump/Swift River/Skill Mastery(M=Thievery/E=Survival, Wary Disarmament)
19: Kip Up
20: Skill Mastery (M=Religion/E=Lore:Warfare, Student of the Canon)/Golden Body/Water Sprint
end result, all saves/perception at master or above, 70ft total movement, ignore difficult terrain, ignore reactions when moving at have speed, multiple movement economy hacks, a focus around flanking/tripping through wolf drag, bonus 1d6 sneak+1d6 bludgeon when using wolf drag. lot of speed to better utilize battle medicine anywhere in the fight.
this build satsifies me for now, i may edit things more, and as always, actual campaigns sometimes merit feat changes from the plan.
your post about mobility piqued my interest, overall, a decent free archetype option for a melee monk.
I went with Rogue FA for my Monk (Stumbling Stance naturally). Sneak Attacker provides great synergy and Mobility, as Deriven Firelion notes, is amazing on a monk especially as you get faster and faster. Skill Mastery also opens up some nice avenues for both combat and encounter-focused prowess.
If you have the stats for it, I would think that Swashbuckler could be a good match. With the high action economy that Monk already has, fitting in the skill actions to gain panache and the attacks to use finisher moves could fit into the combat routine without too much difficulty.