Make a monk/sorcerer not suck.

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silverblade56

First Post

• Sep 18, 2013

• #1

I was thinking about making a monk/sorcerer for my next PFS character. The problem is that this combo is very suboptimal. I was thinking of modeling it after the monks of the dark moon (just cause I like the concept) from 3.0/3.5 forgotten realms which, sadly, they never even made a good prestige class for to make this combo viable. I am not sure how to go about it. I am thinking a fighter (unarmed fighter)/crossblooded sorcerer abyssal or shadow/draconic with some dragon disciple levels thrown in. I am not sure how well this will work. Perhaps there is a way to do this better with magus? Input would be appreciated.

 

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Jackinthegreen

Explorer

• Sep 18, 2013

• #2

Is 3.5 stuff allowed? If so, there's the Ascetic Mage feat which might go into the Enlightened Fist PrC from Complete Arcane.

Given how little I know of the Magus, I would think you could probably do something unarmed there if you really wanted.

 

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silverblade56

First Post

• Sep 18, 2013

• #3

Well it's Pathfinder so no 3.5 stuff. There is a sorcerer bloodline that lets you use wisdom instead of charisma for sorcerer casting, That could eliminate MAD somewhat but still have to deal with reduced spellcasting progression plus bad BAB and hitpoints. Kensai magus may work but favored weapon has to be a bladed weapon plus unarmed strike really sucks as weapon unless you are a monk.

 

MerricB

Eternal Optimist

Supporter

• Sep 19, 2013

• #4

Well, anything that includes "monk" is definitely suboptimal to begin with. The unarmed fighter-type would seem a better way to do it.

Are you looking for:
* an unarmed fighter who casts spells,
* a spellcaster who can fight unarmed, or
* a character who casts touch spells through their unarmed strikes?

Or is there something else about the monk you particularly want your character to do?

Think about what you want to do first, and it's easier to then choose the classes to fit the concept.

 

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Ace

Adventurer

• Sep 19, 2013

• #5

There really isn't any way to make a sorcerer/monk worth while in Pathfinder.

However if your DM allows in you might try mixing Battle Sorcerer with Youxia archetype substitution

This makes for a spell using, medium BAB caster with pretty potent Chi powers and the ability to have a weapon thatuses various feats.

Its rather stat dependent though requiring Charisma and Wisdom along with others.

Assuming 20 point buy 12-12-14-12-12-15 will work acceptably especially since you can use light armor

 

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silverblade56

First Post

• Sep 22, 2013

• #6

Well, I was planning on doing it for PFS so no 3.5 or 3rd party stuff. It looks like the only way to do this is the quiggong monk archetype for the "spells".

 

Henry

Autoexreginated

• Sep 22, 2013

• #7

silverblade56 said:

Well, I was planning on doing it for PFS so no 3.5 or 3rd party stuff. It looks like the only way to do this is the quiggong monk archetype for the "spells".

Click to expand...

Full concurrence here - quinggong monk is the most legal effective "sorcerer-monk" option.

 

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Shayuri

First Post

• Sep 26, 2013

• #8

Yeah. Empyreal sorceror can pair up with monk, statwise...but only do it for the flavor, because the monk mechanics won't make up for the spell losses.

I've played a high level PF monk only once, and it was pretty unsatisfying. They look really cool when you browse the giant list of abilities they get...but the meat and drink of the class is lacking. Seems like, while PF helped the BAB issue a bit by making a Flurry's attack bonus equal to your class level, it's still pretty difficult/expensive to add the necessary enhancement bonuses to your unarmed attacks.

In fairness, it was my first time playing one, so there may be nuance I missed.

 

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silverblade56

First Post

• Oct 25, 2013

• #9

I have indeed found a much better way than quinggong monk. Aasimar monk (sohei) 1/sorcerer (empeyreal bloodline) 1/Eldritch Knight x. I have not gone crazy. The folks at Paizo have stated that spell like abilities from race or domains, etc. can count as "Ability to cast x spells of x level or higher" for purposes of qualifying for prestige classes. That means that the aasimars's daylight spell like ability allows early entry into eldritch knight. Sohei monk grants all martial weapon proficiencies, so that takes care of the other prereq. Some DM's may not allow this for home games, but it is PFS legal.

 

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Deuce Traveler

Adventurer

• Oct 26, 2013

• #10

For the sake of the discussion, wouldn't a monk/sorcerer be pretty weak until epic levels, but dominate other builds in the epic levels?

Wouldn't a level 20/level 20 monk/sorcerer be superior to a level 40 monk or level 40 sorcerer?