Any really good Monk PRC's?

[The Forsaken One]

You call something that can't use magic items balanced?

*shrug*

I don't know about your games but in mine any PC without magic items is dead meat vs opponents who do have them, possible the casters can make a punch.
Ever seen what a fighter without magical equipment does at level 18? I guess not much.

Ever seen a Drow Monk6/Forsaker10 at ECL 18 do anything totally owning, I don't think so. THey just make awsome mage slayers with their SR of 49 at level 18 equiv and they penetrate DR with unarmed attacks since do have DR themselves.

I have a player who is at level 9 in the class and drow monk 6 for the rest. I took of the fast heal limit a day and the need to destroy magic items (he still does when he can) and let him continue his unarmed attack bonus as a monk (but with the +1 a level from forsaker) and he isn't doing ANYTHING weird or overpowered.

 

[Deset Gled]

The only problem with the Forsaker is that alot of the monk Special Abilities are SU so you couldn't use them.

IIRC, Forsaker gives up all spell-like abilities, but retains supernatural ones. Unless this has been errata'd, you would still get all monk abilities except Abundant Step.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

There's never that many magical items in my games (which might limit the Forsaker anyway), but that damage resistance is enough to make it insanely unbalanced.

I don't use a lot of monsters with DR or magic weapons.

As for what an 18th level Fighter can do without magic equipment-- give him a couple levels of Duelist or Tempest. Or make him a Psychic Warrior with levels in Soulknife.

Hell, make him the Monk/PsW/Duelist/Soulknife munchkin-- and the Forsaker will stomp all over him, from what I've seen in any game that allowed that abortion of a PrC in it.

 

[Darkness]

Moved to GD.

 

[novyet]

There's never that many magical items in my games (which might limit the Forsaker anyway), but that damage resistance is enough to make it insanely unbalanced.

I don't use a lot of monsters with DR or magic weapons.

As for what an 18th level Fighter can do without magic equipment-- give him a couple levels of Duelist or Tempest. Or make him a Psychic Warrior with levels in Soulknife.

Hell, make him the Monk/PsW/Duelist/Soulknife munchkin-- and the Forsaker will stomp all over him, from what I've seen in any game that allowed that abortion of a PrC in it.

If you don't have a whole lot of magic items in your campaign, then doesn't that limit the forsaker's damage reduction?

 

[Desdichado]

Dude, if you think the monk is so cool, just keep getting monk levels. Prestige classes are supposed to take your character in a different direction, not give you more abilities in addition to the progression your regular class would give you. Personally, I think the monk blows. Worst class in the PHB from both a flavor and a playing standpoint. But we've got an avowed monk fan in our group too. Although to be fair, I think she just likes the concept of being a martial artist more than the specifics necessarily of the monk class.

 

[hong]

Although to be fair, I think she just likes the concept of being a martial artist more than the specifics necessarily of the monk class.

... which reminds me JD, have you done any work lately on your martial artist class? Any changes?

 

[Desdichado]

Not many, I still kinda like it the way it is. Hmmm... I'll have to go back and see if I ever posted the final version of it, or if I posted an earlier draft...

 

[Psion]

Various have recommended Beyond Monks: The Art of the Fight and The Quintessential Monk, wihch I will second. I'll add that Path of the Sword and Jade & Steel have decent monk prestige classes for monks.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

I like it, but I think I'd rather stick with the bonus powers gained from being a regular monk. The Acolyte of the fist seems too combat orientated for my tastes (I know the Monk itself is, but the regular class presented in the PHB has some powers I'd rather not give up).

Which powers don't you want to give up from the core monk?

Further, what level are you, and what level do you expect to end up at?

Most PrCs build off of one aspect of the Monk class, so it would be helpful to know which direction you want to go.

You mentioned sneakiness, and there are many PrCs which at least allow for increased sneakiness (ala Hide and Move Silently as class skills). What beyond that are you looking for?

Patrick Y.