A request for information/opinion

[kitcik]

That type of monk has a track history of being banned.

By who? the wizards and druids who don't want them sucking down XP with no benefit?

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Are you familiar with Player Handbook II's Combat focus feats? That could be fun for a Fighter.

 

[dragonfriend7738]

You rolled this? Using what system? Surely, you didn't roll 4d6, drop lowest, to end up with THESE stats.

Actually, I did. There were a few 1's thrown in the rolls (a total of ten, to be precise, a number of them were back-to back), but we used the rule of re-rolling ones. I would have had to re-roll the character if I hadn't have done my rolling in front of the DM and all the party players at the same time. And, no, my dice aren't loaded. I've gotten enough mediocre rolls to prove that to my party before. I was just really, really lucky.

 

[Water Bob]

Actually, I did. There were a few 1's thrown in the rolls (a total of ten, to be precise, a number of them were back-to back), but we used the rule of re-rolling ones.

Ten "1's" when you only discarded 6 dice?

Ah, but the exploding die does allow for characters with those kinds of stats.

And, no, my dice aren't loaded. I've gotten enough mediocre rolls to prove that to my party before. I was just really, really lucky.

Hey, I'm not judging. Play your game the way you want to.

 

[dragonfriend7738]

A couple thoughts:

1) Why fighter? I know that your DM wanted you to do this but it just seems ... petty. If you have to have your first four levels in something else, go with Paladin and pick up Ascetic Knight. This will let you stack monk and paladin for some nice things.

2) What is the magic level of the campaign? Do you know if the DM is loot light? A VoP monk can be great if magic and wealth are not in abundance. Be sure to give your money to your church. It always helps to have a cleric or two that owes you a favor. I recently played with a VoP Monk and she was a tough brute. Finally, as long as you're having fun with your Vow, who cares what the optimizers say.

Why a fighter? Mostly for the bonus feats, and I had to choose between Fighter, Paladin, or Knight for the first four levels. I'm not familiar with Ascetic Knight, what's it from?

And while it might be petty, it was the DM's perrogative, and I'm not the kind of player that is going to challenge the entire campaign premise.

I'm not sure what the magic level is going to be overall, but the DM has been toying with a system to incorporate something similar to FFVII's materia slots into the game. I'm not sure if he's going to use this campaign to do that, though.

3) I'd really recommend you stay away from disarm. You won't have full BAB and as an unarmed monk you're going to be taking penalties for trying to disarm. And if your DM is a jerk, you could unintentionally violate your vow by grabbing that magic sword.

4) Sundering will really be awesome when you get your Admantine fists. However, you're again taking a penalty for using your fists.

5) Touch of golden ice is also awesome. Since its contact based, ask your DM if the ravage goes off if you hit their touch AC but don't beat their regular AC. The DC is low but as a monk with flurry you're going to be throwing so many saves at the DM that he's bound to fail eventually. The previously mentioned monk above used that very tactic to great success.

I've seen enough negative things about disarm that I'll drop it from the build (yay free feat slot!)

As for the sundering, I was planning on taking the Improved Sunder feat, which (according to how I'm reading it) would negate any penalties and give me a +4 to my rolls.

I like that thought as well, but if there's a way to get that Ravage ability without VoP, then that would open up my monk's ability to use magic items as well. :shrug:

6) The biggest suggestion I'd give you is to pick up Improved Natural Attack and bump your damage.

7) If you don't take VoP see if you can get some way to have enlarge person available. A vest of Enlarge Person 3/day is pretty cheap and gives you a nice boost to damage. Enlarge Person and INA make you a combat monster.

8) Otherwise I'd recommend getting Stunning Fist and Pain Touch to lock down opponents. Plus there are a lot of other feats and a few PrCs that allow you to burn Stunning Fist attempts to do other things.

9) Defensive Throw is a nice defense option too.

I hope that helps! Let us know if you have any other questions!

I only just recently learned about the Improved Natural Attack, and will definitely be throwing that into the build as soon as I can. As for the Pain touch, I'll have to figure out if I could use that and still qualify as exalted- after all, intentionally causing undue pain could be construed as a less than exalted deed to some people. If I can work it, then I'll put that in as well.

Thank you very much for your input, by the way.

 

[dragonfriend7738]

Ten "1's" when you only discarded 6 dice?

Our policy is to roll 4d6 seven times, throw out the lowest die and pick the six highest sets for our stats. My seventh set was a 10. :shrug:

 

[Jacob Marley]

I'm not familiar with Ascetic Knight, what's it from?

It's from the Complete Adventurer.

 

[Dandu]

As for the sundering, I was planning on taking the Improved Sunder feat, which (according to how I'm reading it) would negate any penalties and give me a +4 to my rolls.

Don't destroy your own loot.

 

[dragonfriend7738]

Don't destroy your own loot.

My loot? If I take VoP, I won't be using any loot.

Not to say that it wouldn't be inconsiderate towards the rest of the party, though.

However, on that note, one of the other players did mention that he was going to take arms/armor craft skills.

 

[Dandu]

My loot? If I take VoP, I won't be using any loot.

Then don't destroy the loot that can be used to fund orphanages. What, do you hate orphans or something?

Not to say that it wouldn't be inconsiderate towards the rest of the party, though.

Yeah, that's another big one.