Ascetic Rogue

Not sure if this one has been adjudicated or not but here goes...

I've asked Wizards and have not yet gotten a reply:

In the Complete Adventurer feat table, Ascetic Rogue states that monk and rogue levels stack for the calculation of sneak attack damage while in the text for the feat, it says that rogue and monk levels stack for unarmed strike damage.

Which is the answer?
a) Monk/Rogue levels stack for determining sneak attack damage.
b) Monk/Rogue levels stack for determining unarmed strike damage.
c) Monk/Rogue levels stack for determining both sneak attack and unarmed strike damage.

The text always takes precedence of the table. Ignore the table.

The general rule is that text trumps tables, so by the RAW it would be B. Given that such a ruling makes little sense if you want a true monk/rogue character (in fact it screws you over a lot), I would be inclined to say that C follows the intent of the feat (which may or may not be worth anything in these days)

wayne62682 said:

Given that such a ruling makes little sense if you want a true monk/rogue character (in fact it screws you over a lot),...

Click to expand...

Errrr????

How?

Make a one level dip into rogue, then go monk = gain cool monk powers.

Make a one level dip into monk, then go rogue = gain cool rogue powers, plus your unarmed damage increases.

Those seem pretty even to me.

It's definitely B (text trumps table). C is waaaay too good--it's almost like getting a gestalt character for the price of one feat.

Given that feats like Daring Outlaw let you mix two classes for sneak attack, I don't see why this one should be any different.

wayne62682 said:

Given that feats like Daring Outlaw let you mix two classes for sneak attack, I don't see why this one should be any different.

Click to expand...

you mean feats like Devoted Inquisitor? strangely, no sneak progression ...

Daring Outlaw mixes Sneak Attack (strong offense) with Dodge Bonus and Grace (decent but hardly strong defense).

If you wrongly interpret Ascetic Rogue to allow Sneak Attack and Monk unarmed damage (both pretty good offense) to both progress as though your Monk and Rogue levels stacked, every Monk and Rogue would have a huge incentive to dip in the other class and get the feat because it'd be just that good.

Want to be a monk? Fine, dip into Rogue and get Ascetic Rogue--full sneak attack as well as all of your Monk abilities (even if AC and such is a level behind)! What monk wouldn't do this?

Want to be a Rogue? Fine, dip into Monk and get Ascetic Rogue--full Monk unarmed damage as well as full sneak attack, awesome skill points, and Rogue special abilities (even if skills and Special Abilities are a level behind)! What Rogue wouldn't do this?

There's no way the feat was designed to be that good--the text of it is correct and not the table. And I don't have my book, but isn't the full effect of Ascetic Rogue that unarmed damage progresses as though class levels stack, and a sneak attack stunning fist gets the stun DC increased?

By the general FAQ rule, it would be B, which would be consistent with the name. If the name of the feat starts with Ascetic, it should improve monk abilities.

wayne62682 said:

Given that feats like Daring Outlaw let you mix two classes for sneak attack, I don't see why this one should be any different.

Click to expand...

Daring Outlaw is there to prop up the otherwise too weak Swashbuckler class and give one a reason to take more than three levels in Swashbuckler.