Monk Feats

[Artoomis]

In another thread I was working the concept of a Vow of Poverty monk.

Now I'd like suggestions for feats. Assume an 8 STR throughout his entire career, so no STR-dependent feats.

Some suggestions of my own:

Monk Feats:
Stunning Fist rather than Improved Grapple - frappling is pretty much out of the question for an 8 STR monk.
Deflect Arrows rather than Combat Reflexes. Mostly for the coolness factor of deflecting arrows. Extra AoOs are not that vauable unless taking a feat that uses AoOs as part of its mechanic.
Improved Disarm rather than Improved Trip because Trip is STR-based, not a good choise.

Dodge (mostly to get Spring Attack)
Mobility (mostly to get Spring Attack)
Spring Attack (To leverage his high speed - can be combined with his very high Tumble score to do some very cool maneuvers)
Great Fortitude (to keep his Fort save at the same level as the other two)
Improved Initiative (To leverage his high speed again)
Improved Natural Attack (offsets low STR fopr damage - may not be allowed, though)

Other possible choices:
Ability Focus (Stunning Fist) Always a good choice
Blind Fight (Always handy, that one)
Snatch Arrows (A high coolness factor feat)
Improved Sunder (Some items can't be shatched with Disarm, but all can be sundered)
Run (Max'ing out that speed thing again - also +4 on Jumps)


I'd reallly like suggestions from other 3.5 books. Especially ones that might a monk that likes to disarm or sudner more fight in melee - even up the odds, as it were.

Suggestions from Complete Warrior are of particular interest - I'll be able to look them over in complete detail Thursday night.

 

[Legildur]

I've been eyeing off the Weakening Touch feat from Complete Warrior, but Improved Natural Attack is a touch in front. However, by sacrificing a stunning attack use, you can make a successful unarmed strike once per round to reduce your opponent's strength by 6 points for a duration of 1 minute (can't remember exact wording right now).

And what about Extra Stunning Attacks (from CW as well)? 3 extra per day (IIRC).

Eagle Claw Attack (CW) (from memory) adds Wis bonus to damage against objects (to help your Sunder).

Paralyzing Touch (CW again) causes paralysis instead of stun, but requires 10+ BAB.

Why Great Fortitude? Low Con score?

 

[Artoomis]

...Why Great Fortitude? Low Con score?

Great Fortitude is simply to keep his Fort save on par with the other two, not 'cause it's a bad score.

Great suggestions!! It's obvious I will not be done figuring this out until I get my hand on CW Thursday night.

 

[Legildur]

Great Fortitude is simply to keep his Fort save on par with the other two, not 'cause it's a bad score.

I don't understand, as Monks have good saves for all 3 save types??

 

[Crunchy Frog]

STR 8? Take Weapon Finesse. Grab that as soon as you can after your BAB hits +1. Works on special monk weapons, and unarmed attacks, since those are light.

 

[Artoomis]

I don't understand, as Monks have good saves for all 3 save types??

Yes. But his Dex and Wis scores are better than Con. In the end, his saves are (at level 18) +19/+19/+21, (including the extra +2 Fort) so the Great Fortitude is not really needed.

Some of the choices you brought up may be better.

 

[Artoomis]

STR 8? Take Weapon Finesse. Grab that as soon as you can after your BAB hits +1. Works on special monk weapons, and unarmed attacks, since those are light.

Good thought, and a no-brainer, really, expect that he gets Intuitive Attack as an Exalted feat which lets him use his WIS bonus for attacks.

 

[Darklone]

There's a feat in CW that allows you to sacrifice a stunning fist attempt for 1d6 extra damage.

 

[Artoomis]

It looks like CW has a number of monkish feats that fit well with my concept - I may even give up the Spring Attack feat chain to pick up CW feats instead.

 

[Legildur]

And there is also a good tactical feat that I forgot to mention. Can't remember the name, but provides for 3 maneuvers:

1. strike consecutively twice during a FoB and force your opponent back 5ft (you can move with them).
2. successfully stun opponent for 2 rounds consecutively and then they are dazed? for a further x rounds.
3. use dimension door ability and can make single melee attack against adjacent opponent.

This could be useful considering you're at 18th level.