Assumption:Assumption: All 3.0/3.5 and all 3rd party material authorized by wizards are available and the DM is going by DMG CR against the party of 4. When I speak of a monk I mean a character who utilizes its core class features as the basis for the character. No optimizing, just not being foolish.
Objective:
Objective:
-Explore overarching perception
-Examine class abilities
-FAQ/Misconceptions
-Next discussion will be developing strategies and monk builds
- Explore overarching perception
- Examine class abilities
- FAQ/Misconceptions
- Next discussion will be developing strategies and monk builds
Adaptability: How many situations can you use it in and adapt it with prestige classes?
Commitment: How many levels do you need to take it?
Strength: How powerful is this ability?
Curve of regularity: How can you augment it with magic items, feats, or other abilities?
- Adaptability: How many situations can you use it in and adapt it with prestige classes?
- Commitment: How many levels do you need to take it?
- Strength: How powerful is this ability?
- Curve of regularity: How can you augment it with magic items, feats, or other abilities?
Monk
Monk
- Wisdom
2.Str
- Str/Dex
3.Con
4.Int
5.Cha
- Con
- Int
- Cha
Primary class abilities
Primary class abilities
Flurry of blows/greater flurry of blows (Which I will refer to as FoB)
Flurry of blows is very similar to two-weapon fighting with two exceptions. One it must be used as a full-round action. Secondly, characters using two-weapon fighting usually have full BAB. To help understand the impact of two-weapon fighting and furry of blows I have made the following examples at level 20.
Full BAB TWF/ITWF
+18/+18/+13/+13/+8/+3
Flurry of Blows/Greater Flurry of Blows
FoB W/ TWF/ITWF
+13/+13/+13/+13/+8/+8/+3I'll refer to these as FoB.
MediumFlurry of blows is very similar to two-weapon fighting with two exceptions. One it must be used as a full-round action. Secondly, characters using two-weapon fighting usually have full BAB TWF/ITWF
+13/+13+8/+8/+3. To help understand the impact of two-weapon fighting and furry of blows I have made the following examples at level 20.
FoB
+15/+15/+15/+10/+5
Full BAB TWF/ITWF FoB W/ TWF/ITWF
+18/+18/+13/+13/+8/+3 +13/+13/+13/+13/+8/+8/+3
Medium BAB TWF/ITWF FoB
+13/+13+8/+8/+3 +15/+15/+15/+10/+5
Weaknesses: Going against high AC and high BAB characters.
Additional Considerations: It’s important to note that these considerations vary at different levels of play. In addition, two-weapon fighting is dependent on dexterity, with the exception of the ranger. Rangers are the only class capable of NOT putting extremelyWeaknesses: Going against high points in dexterity and still receive the feats. Fob can be useful if successfully sneaking up behind lone individuals, a character have extra modes of movement like haste or the Warrior of Darkness, if backed into a corner, or trading blows. It is useable by any class with a one level dip has little feat or prestige support. It is an extremely strong form of attack, but puts the monk in danger with no regular forms of armorAC and few hit points.
Fullhigh BAB TWF/ITWF LVL 6
+4/+4/-1/-2
Monk FoB LVL6
+3/+3characters.
Full BAB TWF/ITWF LVL 11
+9/+9/+6/+4/+1Additional Considerations: It’s important to note that these considerations vary at different levels of play. In addition, two-weapon fighting is dependent on dexterity, with the exception of the ranger. Rangers are the only class capable of NOT putting extremely high points in dexterity and still receive the feats. Fob can be useful if successfully sneaking up behind lone individuals, a character have extra modes of movement like haste or the Warrior of Darkness, if backed into a corner, or trading blows. It is useable by any class with a one level dip has little feat or prestige support. It is an extremely strong form of attack, but puts the monk in danger with no regular forms of armor and few hit points.
Monk FoB LVL11
+8/+8/+8+3
Full BAB TWF/ITWF LVL 6 Monk FoB LVL6
+4/+4/-1/-2 +3/+3
Full BAB TWF/ITWF LVL 11 Monk FoB LVL11
+9/+9/+6/+4/+1 +8/+8/+8+3
Monk FoB W/TWF/ITWF LVL11
+6/+6/+6/+6/+2/+1
Monk FoB W/TWF/ITWF LVL11
+6/+6/+6/+6/+2/+1
- Adaptability: 3
- Strength: 9
- Commitment: 6
- Curve: 6
- Feature Rating: 6/10
Adaptability: 3
Strength: 9
Commitment: 6
Curve: 6
Feature Rating: 6/10 PS: TWF on a medium BAB character, charisma, yah!!PS: TWF on a medium BAB character, charisma, yah!!
Unarmed Speed Bonus
Unarmed Speed Bonus
Weaknesses:Weaknesses: Mounted players can achieve similar speeds, and have the advantage of “higher ground”. However, only the paladin or a prestige class giving a special mount will survive battle.
Adaptability: 6
Strength: 8
Commitment: 8 (four levels for thirty feet with a monk belt)
Curve: 8
Feature Rating: 7.5/10
- Adaptability: 6
- Strength: 8
- Commitment: 8 (four levels for thirty feet with a monk belt)
- Curve: 8
- Feature Rating: 7.5/10
AC Bonus
AC Bonus
Adaptability: 7
Strength: 9
Commitment: 6
Curve: 8
Feature Rating: 7.5/10
- Adaptability: 7
- Strength: 9
- Commitment: 6
- Curve: 8
- Feature Rating: 7.5/10
Unarmed Strike
Unarmed Strike
Adaptability: 10
Strength: 5
Commitment: 3
Curve: 5
Feature Rating: 5.75
Three bonus feats
- Adaptability: 10
- Strength: 5
- Commitment: 3
- Curve: 5
- Feature Rating: 5.75
- Three bonus feats
Secondary Class abilities
Secondary Class abilities
Evasion/improved evasion
Useful against traps or spells with reflex saves. Nothing like shooting a fireball into a throng of orcs a monk distracted and led into the killing ground. Monks excel at being the “bait”, only to have the monk use the orc bodies as shields preventing all damage.
Evasion/improved evasion
Still mind
+2 savesUseful against enchantmentstraps or spells with reflex saves. Considering mind enchantments are often battle turner this ability helps shore up monks defenseNothing like shooting a fireball into a throng of orcs a monk distracted and led into the killing ground. Monks excel at being the “bait”, only to have the monk use the orc bodies as shields preventing all damage.
Ki-strike
Helpful in overcoming damage reduction, damage reduction is slightly a problem but can be overcome.
Still mind
Slow fall, purity of body, wholeness of body:
These+2 saves against enchantments. Considering mind enchantments are all small abilities they may be of some use once in a while but rarely make the differenceoften battle turner this ability helps shore up monks defense.
Ki-strike
Diamond Body
MonksHelpful in overcoming damage reduction, damage reduction is slightly a problem but can be overcome.
Slow fall, purity of body, wholeness of body:
These are all small abilities they may be of some use once in a while but rarely make the difference.
Diamond Body
Monks become immune to poison. Think out of the box. Perhaps you’re a monk who studies fighting styles of the viper, cobra, or rattlesnake. Use poison, as often as possible. Harvest and sell when possible. This is a great secondary ability although it comes a bit late.
General thoughts
General thoughts
The monk is vary stat dependent. This is both a positive and a negative. At the beginning of the game this creates a lot of difficulty for the monk. However, at the end of the game when all stats can be raised the monk actually benefits more than any other character.
-Medium BAB for a melee character (Bad)
-Great saves (good)
-stealth skill set (good)
-medium HP (BAD for melee)
-A monk is capable of handling conflicts without killing (good)
ex. Stealth, paralyzing through feats, running away, or running past the problem.
- Medium BAB for a melee character (Bad)
- Great saves (good)
- Stealth skill set (good)
- Medium HP (BAD for melee)
- A monk is capable of handling conflicts without killing (good)
ex. Stealth, paralyzing through feats, running away, or running past the problem.
FAQ/Misconceptions
Q: So you’re saying I can’t tank?
FAQ/Misconceptions
Q: So you’re saying I can’t tank?
Q: Should I grapple, disarm, or sunder?
Q: Should I grapple, disarm, or sunder?
A: These are very situational abilities that can be selected as bonus feats with different monk variants. Monks are better at dealing damage in a grapple than most others but full BAB characters are better at getting a favorable grapple. In fact, monks who have a hard time hitting often do a much better job at doing damage in a grapple because its no longer an armor check, but a grapple check. Making those flurry whiffs into flurry hits. Imagine UFC when someone is being kneed in the ribs by a monk, +4 grapple helps out with the negatives of flurry of blows and low BAB.
Disarming or sundering a foes weapon is difficult because an unarmed strike counts as a light weapon, which means they receive a -4 on their check. However, a monk only needs to disarm or sunder a warrior’s weapon once or twice to leave the user ineffective for the rest of the encounter.(remember the monks hands are free so he can hold them) A monk doesn’t need to succeed on the first, second, or third attempt to take powerful weapon wielders out of a fight. However, these abilities are often not useful when fighting monsters.
Q: I’m adept at slaying mages?Disarming or sundering a foes weapon is difficult because an unarmed strike counts as a light weapon, which means they receive a -4 on their check. However, a monk only needs to disarm or sunder a warrior’s weapon once or twice to leave the user ineffective for the rest of the encounter.(remember the monks hands are free so he can hold them) A monk doesn’t need to succeed on the first, second, or third attempt to take powerful weapon wielders out of a fight. However, these abilities are often not useful when fighting monsters.
Q: I’m adept at slaying mages?
Q: Sword Sage is better?
Q: Sword Sage is better?
Q: I’m stealthy, have speed, so I’m a scout.
Q: I’m stealthy, have speed, so I’m a scout.
Q: Without magic or magic items monks suck.
Q: Without magic or magic items monks suck.
Q: Doesn’t a fighter make a better grappler?
Q: Doesn’t a fighter make a better grappler?
Q: Do druids and spell casters make better grapplers?
Q: Do druids and spell casters make better grapplers?
Q: Does improved natural attack increase my unarmed strike damage?
Q: Does improved natural attack increase my unarmed strike damage?
Q: Does Improved Unarmed Strike Stack with the monk belt?
Q: Does Improved Unarmed Strike Stack with the monk belt?
Q: If I am bigger will I do more damage?
Q: If I am bigger will I do more damage?
